2022 -- H 8041

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LC005582

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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- BLOCK ISLAND UTILITY DISTRICT ACT OF

2017

     

     Introduced By: Representative Blake Anthony Filippi

     Date Introduced: March 23, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 45-67-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-67 entitled "Block Island

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Utility District Act of 2017" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     45-67-7. Compensation of the board -- Employees of the utility district.

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     (a) Members of the board of utility commissioners shall not be entitled to receive

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compensation for attendance at scheduled and special meetings of the board of utility

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commissioners, but shall be entitled to reimbursement of the actual and necessary expenses

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incurred in the performance of their duties. The salaries, compensation, and expenses of employees

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and agents of the utility district shall be paid solely out of funds of the utility district. No part of

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the earnings of the utility district shall inure to the benefit of any private person.

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     (b) The board may enter into employment contracts with its executive employees. The

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board shall have the authority to approve employee benefit plans, including fringe benefits such as,

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but not limited to, pension, health, disability, and other insurances.

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     (c) No member of the board of utility commissioners shall directly or indirectly engage or

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participate in the proceeds of any contract or agreement to supply anything of value or receive

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anything of value from the utility district. The prohibition set forth in this subsection may be waived

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by a vote of four (4) of the board of utility commissioners if, and only if, the board of utility

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commissioners shall have first obtained an opinion of the attorney general and/or the Rhode Island

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ethics commission based on full disclosure of all relevant facts that the waiver does not contravene

 

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state law and is otherwise in the best interests of the consumers served by the utility district.

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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- BLOCK ISLAND UTILITY DISTRICT ACT OF

2017

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     This act would provide that the members of the board of the Block Island Utility

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Commission be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of

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their duties.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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