2015 -- H 5774

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LC001924

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- ACQUISITION OF LAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Costa, Trillo, Newberry, Giarrusso, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2015

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 37-6 of the General Laws entitled "Acquisition of Land" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     37-6-28.1. Public use further defined. -- (a) As used in article 1, section 16 of the

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constitution of the state, "public use" shall not include the taking of private property for transfer

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to a private entity for the purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenue

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except as allowed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 64.12 of title 42, (eminent domain). In

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any condemnation action, without the consent of the owner of the property, the burden of proof

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shall be on the condemning entity to demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the

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taking of private property is for a public use, unless the condemnation action involves a taking for

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the eradication of blight, in which case the burden of proof shall be on the condemning entity to

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demonstrate, by clear and convincing evidence, that the taking of the property is necessary for the

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eradication of blight.

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     (b) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of a private party to condemn property as

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otherwise expressly provided by law.

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     (c) In any condemnation proceedings instituted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter,

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no entity shall use condemnation proceedings to acquire private property solely for economic

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development or to directly benefit a private party or parties, except to the extent provided for in

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chapter 64.12 of title 42.

 

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     SECTION 2. 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 PROPERTY AND WORKS -- ACQUISITION OF LAND

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     This act would provide that condemnation for a "public use" would not include the taking

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of private property for transfer to a private entity for the purpose of economic development or

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enhancement of tax revenue, except to the extent allowed pursuant to the provisions of chapter

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42-64.12, "eminent domain".

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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