AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MUNICIPAL STREETLIGHT INVESTMENT ACT (Permits the Quonset Development Corporation to acquire, own, maintain, and control all streetlights located within the Quonset Business Park.)

S3095

2026 -- S 3095
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LC004903
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MUNICIPAL STREETLIGHT
INVESTMENT ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Britto, McKenney, Urso, DiPalma, Murray, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
March 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
(Quonset)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Findings.
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The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that:
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(1) There continues to exist uncertainty as to the ownership of streetlights located within
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the Quonset Business Park;
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(2) Uncertainty as to the ownership of streetlights located within the Quonset Business
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Park has hindered the efficient and effective use, maintenance, and care of said streetlights and thus
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compromised the safe passage of motorists and pedestrians traversing therein;
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(3) In order to streamline the use, maintenance, and care of streetlights located within the
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Quonset Business Park and to ensure motorist and pedestrian safety therein, the General Assembly
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hereby enacts the following legislation to permit the Quonset Development Corporation to acquire,
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own, maintain, and control all streetlights within the Quonset Business Park.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 39-30 of the General Laws entitled "Municipal Streetlight
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Investment Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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39-30-6. Lighting equipment located within the Quonset Business Park.

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Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Quonset Development Corporation
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shall be permitted to acquire, own, maintain, and control all of the lighting equipment, including
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streetlights, located within the Quonset Business Park. If any lighting equipment located within
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the Quonset Business Park is owned at the time of passage of this act by the electric distribution

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company or the municipality where the lighting equipment is located, the Quonset Development
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Corporation shall be afforded the same rights and abilities as the municipalities of the state are
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afforded under § 39-30-3 and shall be permitted to acquire such lighting equipment from the electric
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distribution company or the municipality, whichever the case may be; provided that, the Quonset
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Development Corporation compensates the electric distribution company or the municipality as
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necessary in accordance with the requirements set forth in § 39-30-3(b).
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SECTION 3. Section 42-64.10-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.10 entitled
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"Quonset Development Corporation" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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42-64.10-6. Additional general powers and duties.
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In addition to the powers enumerated in § 42-64.10-5, except to the extent inconsistent
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with any specific provision of this chapter, the corporation shall have and may exercise additional
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general powers:
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(1) As set forth in § 42-64-7 necessary or convenient to effect its purposes; provided,
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however, that the corporation shall not have the power to issue bonds or notes or exercise eminent
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domain;
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(2) As a subsidiary of the Rhode Island commerce corporation as provided for in § 42-64-
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7.1;
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(3) As the Rhode Island commerce corporation’s true and lawful attorney as agent and
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attorney-in-fact and in the name, place, and stead of the Rhode Island commerce corporation with
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respect to all property of the Rhode Island commerce corporation at Quonset Business Park
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(hereinafter referred to as “the Property”) and for the purposes hereinafter set forth:
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(i) To ask, demand, recover, collect, receive, hold, and possess all sums of money, debts,
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dues, goods, wares, merchandise, chattels, effects, bonds, notes, checks, drafts, accounts, deposits,
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safe deposit boxes, interests, dividends, stock certificates, certificates of deposit, insurance benefits
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and proceeds, documents of title, personal and real property, tangible and intangible property, and
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property rights, liquidated or unliquidated, that now are, or hereafter, shall be, or become, due,
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owing, or payable in respect to the property, and upon receipt thereof, or of any part thereof, to
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make, sign, execute, and deliver such receipts, releases, or other discharges for the same as the
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corporation shall deem proper.
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(ii) To lease, purchase, exchange and acquire, and to bargain, contract, and agree for the
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lease, purchase, exchange, and acquisition of, and to take, receive, possess, and manage any real or
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personal property related in any way to the property, tangible and intangible, or any interest therein.
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(iii) To enter into and upon all and each of the real properties constituting a part of, or
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related in any way, to the property, and to let, manage, and improve the real property or any part

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thereof, and to repair or otherwise improve or alter, and to insure any buildings or structures
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thereon.
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(iv) To market and sell, either at public or private sale, or exchange any part or parts of the
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real or personal properties, including indebtedness or evidence thereof, constituting a part of or
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related in any way to the property, including sales on credit, and for that purpose to execute and
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receive all promissory notes, bonds, mortgages, deeds of trust, security agreements, and other
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instruments that may be necessary or proper, and to bargain, contract, and agree with respect to the
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sale or exchange of such properties; and to execute and deliver good and sufficient deeds, bills of
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sale, assignments, or other instruments or endorsements for the conveyance or transfer of the same;
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and to give receipts for all or any part of the purchase price or other consideration.
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(v) To sign, endorse, execute, acknowledge, deliver, receive, and possess such applications,
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contracts, agreements, options, covenants, deeds, conveyances, trust deeds, mortgagees deeds,
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security agreements, bills of sale, leases, mortgages, assignments, insurance policies, bills of lading,
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warehouse receipts, documents of title, bills, bonds, debentures, checks, drafts, bills of exchange,
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notes, stock certificates, proxies, warrants, commercial paper, receipts, withdrawal receipts, and
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deposit instruments relating to accounts or deposits in, or certificates of deposit of, banks, savings
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and loan or other institutions or associations, proofs of loss, evidences of debts, releases, and
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satisfactions of mortgages, judgments, liens, security agreements, and other debts and obligations,
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and other instruments in writing of whatever kind and nature as be necessary or proper in the
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exercise of the rights and powers herein granted.
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(vi) To enter into subordination agreements, inter-creditor agreements, reinstatement
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agreements, “stand still” and “stand-by” agreements, modification agreements, forbearance
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agreements, and other contracts having the effect of subordinating, modifying, renewing,
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restructuring or otherwise altering the rights, obligations, or liabilities of the commerce corporation,
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under or with respect to any indebtedness, property, or other assets constituting or securing any
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property.
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(vii) To make demands, give notices of default, notices of intention to accelerate, notices
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of acceleration, or such other notices as the corporation deems necessary or appropriate, and to take
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other actions and exercise other rights that may be taken under the terms of any loan agreements,
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security agreements, guaranties, or other documents or agreements evidencing, or otherwise
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relating to, the property, including foreclosure, lease, sale, taking possession of, realization upon,
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or any other disposition of any property or any collateral therefor or guarantee thereof.
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(viii) To exercise any powers and any duties vested in the commerce corporation as a
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partner, joint venturer, participant, or other joint-interest holder with respect to any property, or to

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concur (or not) with persons jointly interested with the commerce corporation in any property.
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(ix) With respect to the property: (A) To sue on, or otherwise prosecute, any claim or cause
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of action, or commence or seek any legal, equitable, or administrative or other remedy in any legal,
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administrative, arbitration, mediation, or other proceeding whatsoever (including, non-judicial
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repossessions and foreclosures or similar actions to recover collateral); (B) To defend, or otherwise
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participate for, or in the name of, the commerce corporation in any legal, administrative, arbitration,
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mediation, or other proceedings; (C) To process, determine, or adjudge any claim or cause of action
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for, or in the name of, the commerce corporation; (D) To compromise, settle, discharge or resolve,
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or make, execute, or deliver any endorsements, acquittances, releases, receipts, or other discharges
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of any claim, cause of action, determination, judgment, or other proceeding for, or in the name of,
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the commerce corporation; and (E) To prepare, execute, and file ad valorem, franchise and other
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tax returns, protests and suits against taxing authorities, and to prepare, execute, and file other
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governmental or quasi-governmental reports, declarations, applications, requests and documents in
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connection with any property, and to pay taxes in connection with the property as the corporation
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deems necessary or appropriate, or as otherwise required by law.
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(x) To acquire, own, maintain, and control all of the lighting equipment, including
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streetlights, located within the Quonset Business Park, whether then owned by the “electric
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distribution company”, as defined in § 39-30-2, or the municipality where the lighting equipment
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is located, as permitted under § 39-30-6, and to install, relocate, abandon, and remove such lighting
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equipment from time to time in the corporation’s sole discretion.
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(x)
(xi)
Any third party shall be entitled to rely on a writing signed by the corporation to
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conclusively establish the identity of a particular Property as property for all purposes hereof.
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(4) To own, hold, improve, operate, manage, and regulate utilities at the Quonset Business
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Park and to establish rates, fees, and charges, to adopt regulations, and to impose penalties for any
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services or utilities it provides, or causes to have available, and to have functions and exercise
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powers as necessary and appropriate under the provisions of §§ 42-64-4, 42-64-7.4, 42-64-7.8, 42-
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64-7.9 and 42-64-9.1 — 42-64-9.10, inclusive.
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(5) To enter into agreements with any city, town, district, or public corporation with regard
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to application and/or administration of zoning or other land use ordinances, codes, plans, or
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regulations, and cities, towns, districts, and public corporations are hereby authorized and
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empowered, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, to enter into such agreements with the
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corporation and to do all things necessary to carry out their obligations under such agreements; in
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the absence of any such agreement the corporation shall act in accordance with the provisions of §
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42-64-13.

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(6) To enter into agreements, including with any state agency, city, town, district, or public
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corporation, for the provision of police, security, fire, sanitation, health protection, and other public
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services.
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(7) To be exempt from taxation and to enter into agreements for payments in lieu of taxes
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as provided for in § 42-64-20.
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(8) To establish a stormwater management and conveyance system and regulate
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connections, user fees, charges and assessments in connection therewith. In particular, the
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corporation shall have full and complete power and authority to:
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(i) Limit, deny, or cause appropriate direct or indirect connections to be made between any
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building or property located in the Quonset Business Park, or from any location outside the
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boundaries of the Quonset Business Park and discharging into the corporation’s stormwater
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management and conveyance systems. The corporation may prescribe those rules and regulations
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for stormwater runoff, that in the opinion of the corporation, are necessary and appropriate for the
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maintenance and operation of the stormwater management and conveyance systems, and may
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establish, from time to time, rules and regulations relating to stormwater management in the
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Quonset Business Park. Any person or entity having an existing connection to the stormwater
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management and conveyance systems or currently discharging into such systems, will obtain a
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permit from the corporation in accordance with its rules and regulations. No person or entity shall,
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without first being granted a written permit from the corporation in accordance with its rules and
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regulations, make any future connection or permit any runoff from any structure or property to any
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stormwater management and conveyance systems, or any appurtenance thereto, without first being
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granted a written permit from the corporation in accordance with its rules and regulations.
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(ii) Compel any person or entity within the Quonset Business Park, for the purpose of
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stormwater runoff, to establish a direct connection on the property of the person or entity, or at the
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boundary thereof, to the corporation’s stormwater management and conveyance systems. These
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connections shall be made at the expense of such person or entity. The term “appurtenance” as used
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herein shall be construed to include adequate pumping facilities, whenever the pumping facilities
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shall be necessary to deliver the stormwater runoff to the stormwater management and conveyance
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systems.
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(iii) Assess any person or entity having a direct or indirect connection (including, without
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limitation, via runoff) to the Quonset Business Park stormwater management and conveyance
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systems the reasonable charges for the use, operation, maintenance, and improvements to the
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systems. The corporation shall also be entitled, in addition to any other remedies available, to assess
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fines for violations of the rules and regulations established by the corporation with respect to

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stormwater management.
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(iv) Collect the fees, charges, and assessments from any person or entity so assessed. Each
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person or entity so assessed shall pay the fees, charges, or assessments within the time frame
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prescribed by the rules and regulations of the corporation. The corporation may collect the fees,
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charges, and assessments in the same manner in which taxes are collected by municipalities, with
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no additional fees, charges, assessments, or penalties (other than those provided for in chapter 9 of
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title 44). All unpaid charges shall be a lien upon the real estate of the person or entity. The lien shall
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be filed in the records of land evidence for the city or town in which the property is located and the
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corporation shall simultaneously, with the filing of the lien, give notice to the property owner.
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Owners of property subject to a lien for unpaid charges are entitled to a hearing within fourteen
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(14) days of the recording of the lien.
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(v) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (8)(iv) of this section, the corporation is
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authorized to terminate the water supply service or prohibit the use of the corporation’s stormwater
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management and conveyance systems of any person or entity for the nonpayment of storm water
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management user fees, charges, and assessments. The corporation shall notify the user of
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termination of water supply or use of the stormwater management and conveyance systems at least
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forty-eight (48) hours prior to ceasing service. The corporation may assess any person or entity any
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fees, charges, and assessments affiliated with the shut off and restoration of service.
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(vi) Without in any way limiting the foregoing powers and authority, the corporation is
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also hereby empowered to: (A) Establish a fee system and raise funds for administration and
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operation of the stormwater management and conveyance systems; (B) Prepare long-range,
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stormwater management master plans; (C) Implement a stormwater management district; (D)
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Retrofit existing structures to improve water quality or alleviate downstream flooding or erosion;
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(E) Properly maintain existing stormwater management and conveyance systems; (F) Hire
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personnel to carry out the functions of the stormwater management and conveyance systems; (G)
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Receive grants, loans, or funding from state and federal water-quality programs; (H) Grant credits
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to property owners who maintain retention and detention basins or other filtration structures on
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their property; (I) Make grants for implementation of stormwater management plans; (J) Purchase,
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acquire, sell, transfer, or lease real or personal property; (K) Impose liens; (L) Levy fines and
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sanctions for noncompliance; (M) Provide for an appeals process; and (N) Contract for services in
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order to carry out the function of the stormwater management and conveyance systems.
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(9) To purchase and obtain water supply and water service from any city, town, water
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district, or other water supply authority. In particular, the corporation is authorized to:
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(i) Enter into agreements or contracts with any city, town, county, water district, or other

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water supply authority to purchase, acquire, and receive water supply and water service.
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(ii) Enter into cooperative agreements with cities, towns, counties, water districts, or other
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water supply authorities for the interconnection of facilities or for any other lawful corporate
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purposes necessary or desirable to effect the purposes of this chapter.
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(iii) Connect the water supply system at Quonset Business Park with any city, town, county,
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water district, or other water supply authority that receives or has a connection with the city of
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Providence and/or the Providence Water Supply Board (or any successor thereof) and purchase,
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connect to, receive, and enter into agreements to receive water supply from any city, town, county,
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water district, or other water supply authority regardless of the origin of such water supply. The
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city of Providence and the Providence Water Supply Board (and any successor thereof) are
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authorized and directed to supply water to the Quonset Business Park either directly or via
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connections between the Quonset Development Corporation and any city, town, county, water
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district, or other water supply authority, notwithstanding any terms to the contrary in any
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agreement, including, without limitation, any agreement between any city, town, county, water
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district, or other water supply authority and the city of Providence and/or the Providence Water
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Supply Board (or its or their predecessors), or the provisions of chapter 16 of title 39. In addition,
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the provisions of section 18 of chapter 1278 of the public laws of Rhode Island of 1915 as amended,
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and any other public law that would conflict with the terms hereof, are hereby amended to authorize
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the provision of water supply by the city of Providence and the Providence Water Supply Board
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(or any successor thereof) to the Quonset Business Park and to authorize any additional connections
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in accordance herewith. There shall be no requirement that the corporation demonstrate public
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necessity before entering into such agreements, connecting to such water supplies, or receiving
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such water as described in this subsection, but the corporation shall be subject to the other
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applicable provisions of chapter 15 of title 46.
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SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MUNICIPAL STREETLIGHT
INVESTMENT ACT
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This act would permit the Quonset Development Corporation to acquire, own, maintain,
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and control all streetlights located within the Quonset Business Park.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004903
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