S0452

	2021 -- S 0452
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	LC002104
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS

	Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Rogers, Archambault, Paolino, and de la Cruz
	Date Introduced: March 04, 2021
	Referred To: Senate Commerce
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby
2	amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
3	CHAPTER 95
4	LOCAL UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS
5	23-95-1. Findings.
6	The general assembly finds that:
7	(1) The state of Rhode Island has an obligation to ensure that public streets are well lit for
8	safety purposes.
9	(2) The utility companies that supply the energy necessary to power the street lights should
10	be timely paid for their services.
11	(3) It has created and authorized local utility districts to provide adequate lighting for
12	streets within its district.
13	(4) Not all local lighting districts have been timely paying for the energy used to fund their
14	street lights.
15	23-95-2. State liability for local utility districts' energy costs.
16	If a legislatively authorized local utility district fails to pay the energy costs necessary to
17	supply public street lighting, then the state of Rhode Island shall pay the energy supplier's lighting
18	bill until such time as the lighting district regains its financial well-being.

1	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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- UTILITY DISTRICT ENERGY COSTS
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1	This act would require the state to pay the energy costs necessary to supply public street
2	lighting if the local utility district fails to do so.
3	This act would take effect upon passage.
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