2020 -- H 7704

========

LC004540

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- ACQUISITION OF LAND

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Corvese, Serpa, Craven, and Millea

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2020

     Referred To: House Finance

     (Dept. of Administration)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 37-6-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-6 entitled "Acquisition of

Land" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     37-6-2. Rules, regulations, and procedures of committee.

     (a) The state properties committee is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt and

prescribe rules of procedure and regulations, and from time to time amend, change, and eliminate

rules and regulations, and make such orders and perform such actions as it may deem necessary to

the proper administration of this chapter and §§ 37-7-1 -- 37-7-9. In the performance of the

commission's duties hereunder, the commission may in any particular case prescribe a variation in

procedure or regulation when it shall deem it necessary in view of the exigencies of the case and

the importance of speedy action in order to carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter and §§

37-7-1 -- 37-7-9. The commission shall file written notice thereof in the office of the secretary of

state. All filings shall be available for public inspection.

     (b) The following siting criteria shall be utilized whenever current existing leases expire or

additional office space is needed:

     (1) A preference shall be given to sites designated as enterprise zone census tracts pursuant

to chapter 64.3 of title 42, or in blighted and/or substandard areas pursuant to § 45-31-8, or in

downtown commercial areas where it can be shown the facilities would make a significant impact

on the economic vitality of the community's central business district;

     (2) Consideration should be given to adequate access via public transportation for both

employees as well as the public being served, and, where appropriate, adequate parking; and

     (3) A site must be consistent with the respective community's local comprehensive plan.

     (4) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 191, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 244, § 1].

     (c) The state properties committee shall explain, in writing, how each site selected by the

committee for a state facility meets the criteria described in subsection (b) of this section.

     (d) For any lease, rental agreement, or extension of an existing rental agreement for leased

office and operating space that carries a term of five (5) years or longer, including any options or

extensions that bring the total term to five (5) years or longer, where the state is the tenant and the

aggregate rent of the terms exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) five million dollars

($5,000,000), the state properties committee shall request approval of the general assembly prior

to entering into any new agreements or signing any extensions with existing landlords. The state

properties committee, in the form of a resolution, shall provide information relating to the purpose

of the lease or rental agreement, the agency's current lease or rental costs, the expiration date of any

present lease or rental agreement, the range of costs of a new lease or rental agreement, the proposed

term of a new agreement, and the location and owner of the desired property.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004540

========

LC004540 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- ACQUISITION OF LAND

***

     This act increases the threshold for general assembly approval on state leases from five

years and an aggregate rent exceeding five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to five years and

an aggregate rent exceeding five million dollars ($5,000,000).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004540

========

LC004540 - Page 3 of 3