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LC00567/21

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ARTICLE 5 AS AMENDED

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     ARTICLE________

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     RELATING TO HIGHWAYS

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     SECTION 1. Section 24-12-40.F of the General Laws in Chapter 24-12 entitled "Rhode

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Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     24-12-40.F. Title to Sakonnet River Bridge vested in Rhode Island turnpike and

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bridge authority -- Institution of tolls. -- All powers, control, and jurisdiction of and title to the

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Sakonnet River Bridge is authorized to be transferred to the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge

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authority. The Beginning February 1, 2014, the authority may charge and collect tolls for the use

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of the Sakonnet River Bridge to provide funds sufficient with any other monies available therefor

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for paying the costs of acquiring, leasing, maintaining, repairing and operating, the Jamestown

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Verrazzano Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the Newport Bridge, and the Sakonnet River Bridge,

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the turnpike and additional facilities. Until February 1, 2014, the Authority shall not charge and

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collect tolls in excess of those in place on the Newport Bridge on June 1, 2013. Should any part

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of this section contravene or be inconsistent with any term or provision of the general laws, the

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provisions of this section shall control.

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     SECTION 2. Commission Established - There is hereby established a Special Legislative

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Commission to Study the Funding for East Bay Bridges.

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     (a) That a special legislative commission shall consist of nine (9) members as follows:

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Three (3) of whom shall be members of the house, one of whom shall be the chairperson of the

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house finance committee, and not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be

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appointed by the speaker of the house; Three (3) of whom shall be members of the senate, one of

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whom shall be the chairperson of the senate finance committee, and not more than two (2) from

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the same political party, to be appointed by the president of the senate; One of whom shall be the

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director of transportation, or designee; One of whom shall be the director of the Rhode Island

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turnpike and bridge authority, or designee; and One of whom shall be the director of the

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department of administration, or designee. The chairpersons of the respective house finance

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committee and senate finance committee shall serve as co-chairpersons of this special legislative

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commission.

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     (b) The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of all types

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of equitable and reliable funding mechanisms and/or strategies to support the East Bay

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Infrastructure (EBI) fund, as set forth in R.I.G.L. section 24-17-3, including, but not limited to,

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the use of the Sakonnet River Bridge, in order to provide the necessary funding for capital

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transportation projects, preventative maintenance projects, and for the purposes set forth in

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section 24-12-40.F.

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     (c) The commission shall report its findings and results to the General Assembly on or

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before January 15, 2014 December 1, 2013.

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     (d) The commission shall expire on June 4, 2014.

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     SECTION 3. This article shall take effect upon passage.