2021 -- H 5692
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LC001879
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
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AN ACT
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION--
THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE CITY
OF CENTRAL FALLS TO THE NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION
Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, and McLaughlin
Date Introduced: February 24, 2021
Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 46-25-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-25 entitled
2 "Narragansett Bay Commission" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3 46-25-10. Acquisition of facilities from municipalities.
4 (a) The commission shall acquire the city of Providence Fields Point sewage treatment
5 plant, as well as interceptors, combined sewer overflow facilities, force mains, and appurtenant
6 facilities, and the land, property, easements, and other interests in property from municipalities
7 within the district as may be necessary or desirable in its discretion to carry out the duties under
8 this chapter.
9 (b) The acquisition of the treatment plant, facilities, interceptors, combined sewer overflow
10 facilities, mains, and other appurtenant facilities, and the lands, property, easements, or other
11 interests in property shall be paid for solely by user charges and fees to be assessed by the
12 commission in accordance with this chapter. As part of the acquisition, the commission may agree
13 to assume payment of financial obligation debt service liabilities of the city of Providence for long
14 term bonded debt, that is, for debt with maturity schedules of not less than twenty (20) years
15 incurred for capital improvement of the sewage treatment facilities, as determined in the sole
16 discretion of the commission, pursuant to findings of the auditor general, in an amount not to exceed
17 fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000); provided, however, that the payment of the debt service
18 liabilities shall be paid solely out of user charges and fees to be assessed by the commission in
 1 accordance with this chapter. User charges assessed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to
2 those charges under the authority of § 46-25-5(9), and shall be reasonable and just and subject to
3 the approval of the public utilities commission.
4 (c) In accordance with the provisions of this section, within one hundred twenty (120) days
5 of the passage of an ordinance by the Central Falls city council authorizing a transfer of ownership,
6 the commission shall acquire the sewer infrastructure in the city of Central Falls, including, but not
7 limited to, interceptors, combined sewer overflow facilities, pipes, laterals and mains.
8 Commencing January 1, 2022, the city or town council of any municipality may, by passage of an
9 ordinance, request that the commission acquire the sewer infrastructure in their municipality,
10 including, but not limited to, interceptors, combined sewer overflow facilities, pipes, laterals and
11 mains.
12 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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 EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
AN ACT
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION--
THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE CITY
OF CENTRAL FALLS TO THE NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION
***
1 This act would authorize the city of Central Falls to transfer ownership of the cities sewer
2 infrastructure to the Narragansett Bay Commission.
3 This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC001879
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LC001879 - Page 3 of 3


Statutes affected:
5692: 46-25-10