2022 -- H 7623

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LC005249

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL

OF PROPERTY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Williams, Amore, Corvese, Hull, Kislak, Alzate,
Giraldo, and Henries

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     (RI Housing)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 37-7 of the General Laws entitled "Management and Disposal of

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Property" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     37-7-16. State surplus property sold for housing development purposes.

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     (a) Intent. Because of the current need of housing in the state, this section is intended to

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promote housing development opportunities using state surplus property, while also preserving the

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existing process stated in § 37-7-5.

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     (b) Initial determination. For any land or property which the department of administration,

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in its sole discretion, determines to be suitable for housing development purposes, the department

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shall obtain an appraisal of the land or property.

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     (c) First and second rights to purchase. Upon receipt of the property appraisal, the

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department shall first offer the land or property for sale to the city or town wherein the land or

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property is situated at the appraised value of the property. A first right to purchase the land or

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property shall be conclusively presumed to have been waived in the event a written offer to sell the

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land or property, containing the terms of the offer, shall have been sent by registered or certified

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mail to the city or town clerk, as the case may be, wherein the land or property is situated, and the

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offer shall not have been accepted within thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing. In the event

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that the city or town wherein the land or property is situated shall refuse to buy the land or property

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or waive its right to purchase, then, in that event the department shall offer the land or property for

 

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sale to Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof

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("Rhode Island housing") at the lower of the fair market or appraised value of the land or property.

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This second right to purchase the land or property shall be conclusively presumed to have been

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waived in the event a written offer to sell the land or property, containing the terms of the offer,

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shall have been sent by registered or certified mail to Rhode Island housing, and the offer shall not

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have been accepted within fifteen (15) days from the date of the mailing. In the event that Rhode

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Island housing shall refuse to buy the land or property or waive its second right to purchase, then,

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in that event, the state shall be at liberty to sell the land or property in accordance with the provisions

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contained in § 37-7-5.

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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 -- MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL

OF PROPERTY

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     This act would promote the use of state surplus property by permitting the department of

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administration to obtain an appraisal and sell property to be used for housing development purposes

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where appropriate.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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