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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PROPERTY -- CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION RESTRICTIONS

ON REAL PROPERTY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Bennett, Hull, Fogarty, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 15, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 34-39-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-39 entitled

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"Conservation and Preservation Restrictions on Real Property" is hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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     34-39-5. Release of restriction. -- (a) Subject to the express terms of a conservation or

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preservation restriction, a restriction held by the state may be released in the same manner as land

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held by the state may be sold under chapter 7 of title 37, a restriction held by cities and towns

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may be released in the same manner as land held by cities and towns may be sold under ยง 45-2-5,

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and a restriction held by any other governmental body may be released in accordance with

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applicable statutes, regulations, and procedures.

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      (b) A charitable corporation, association, or other entity holding a restriction may release

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that restriction in accordance with the express terms of a restriction, applicable bylaws, or charter

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provisions of the holding entity, and applicable statutes and regulations.

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      (c) A conservation or preservation restriction may not be terminated or amended in such

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a manner as to materially detract from the conservation or preservation values intended for

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protection, without the prior approval of the court in an action in which the attorney general has

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been made a party. Termination or amendment that materially detracts from the conservation or

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preservation values intended for protection may be approved only when it is found by the court

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that the conservation or preservation restriction, or the provision proposed to be amended, as the

 

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case may be, does not serve the public interest or publicly beneficial conservation or preservation

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purpose, taking into account, among other things, the purposes expressed by the parties in the

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restriction. An amendment that materially detracts from a specific conservation or preservation

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value intended for protection may be approved only when it is found by the court that the

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proposed amendment: is between a separate distinct conservation or preservation restriction

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holder and the fee landowner; creates a net gain in the overall conservation or preservation

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purpose for which it was intended; and is consistent with the conservation or preservation

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purposes expressed by the parties in the restriction and the public conservation or preservation

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interest. No such approval may be sought except with the consent of the holder. If the value of

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the landowner's estate is increased by reason of the amendment or termination of a conservation

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or preservation restriction, that increase shall be paid over to the holder, or to such non-profit or

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governmental entity as the court may designate, to be used for the protection of conservation

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lands or historic resources consistent, as nearly possible, with the stated publicly beneficial

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conservation or preservation purposes of the restriction.

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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 PROPERTY -- CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION RESTRICTIONS

ON REAL PROPERTY

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     This act would require the court, when deciding whether or not to grant amendments to

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certain conservation restrictions that materially detract from a specific conservation purpose or

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preservation value, to find that the proposed amendment: is between a separate distinct

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conservation or preservation restriction holder and the fee landowner; creates a net gain in the

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overall conservation or preservation purpose; is consistent with the purposes expressed by the

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parties in the restriction, and is in the public interest.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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