2022 -- S 2277

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LC004661

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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: Senators Sosnowski, DiMario, Picard, F Lombardi, Felag, Lombardo, and
Ciccone

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     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

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

their duties.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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