Chapter 427
2024 -- H 8061
Enacted 06/28/2024

A N   A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- CITY HOUSING AUTHORITIES

Introduced By: Representatives Alzate, Giraldo, and Voas

Date Introduced: March 13, 2024

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Chapter 45-25 of the General Laws entitled "City Housing Authorities" is
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
     45-25-10.7. City of Central Falls housing authority.
     Notwithstanding the provisions of § 45-25-10, the housing authority of the city of Central
Falls shall consist of five (5) members, one of which whom shall be a resident under an existing
lease of a public housing facility or resident under an existing lease who is being assisted under the
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenant based program in the city of Central Falls and be at
least eighteen (18) years of age. Said resident shall be appointed for a five-(5)year (5) term by the
mayor who shall make the appointment from a list of persons submitted to the mayor by the
executive director of the housing authority. The list shall contain no fewer than three (3) nominees.
If fewer than three (3) nominees desire or express a willingness to be considered for appointment,
the mayor may select one resident from the number of nominees who desire or express a willingness
to be considered. The method of selection of the residents to the list shall be determined by the
mayor. If the appointed resident member no longer lives in public housing, their office shall be
deemed vacated. The commission members of the city housing authority of the city of Central Falls
shall be approved by a majority of the members of the Central Falls city council and shall also be
residents of the city of Central Falls during the term of their appointment to the housing authority.
If any appointed member no longer lives in the city, their office shall be deemed vacated.
     SECTION 2. Section 45-26-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-26 entitled "Town
Housing Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     45-26-4. Appointment, terms, and compensation of commissioner.
     (a)(1) When the town council adopts a resolution creating a town authority, the town
council shall appoint five (5) persons as commissioners of the town authority; provided, however,
that the town of Lincoln shall appoint seven (7) persons as commissioners of the town authority.
The commissioners who are first appointed shall be designated to serve for terms of one, two (2),
three (3), four (4), and five (5) years, respectively, from the date of their appointment, but,
subsequently, commissioners shall be appointed for a term of office of five (5) years, except that
all vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term, those appointments to be made by the town
council.
     (2) Provided, however, that the commission members of the town authority of the town of
Lincoln must be residents of the town of Lincoln during the term of their appointment. Provided,
further, that at least one of the commission members of a town authority must be a resident as well
as a resident of a public housing facility during the term of their appointment. A public housing
resident commissioner shall be appointed by the appointing authority from a list of nominees
chosen in open election by the occupants of public housing. Upon the failure of the election process,
there shall be a provision for an application process. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed
as preventing the appointing authority from appointing more than one resident of public housing to
the commission.
     (3) Provided, however that the commission members of the city housing authority of the
city of Central Falls must be approved by a majority of the members of the Central Falls city council
and must also be residents of the city of Central Falls during the term of their appointment to the
housing authority.
     (b) A commissioner of the town of North Providence shall receive twenty-five dollars
($25.00) per meeting but not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) per year as compensation for
his or her the commissioner’s services; provided, that a commissioner of the town of Coventry
shall only receive twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per attended meeting but not in excess of six hundred
dollars ($600) per year as compensation for his or her the commissioner’s services, provided,
further, that the chairperson of the Coventry housing authority shall receive thirty-five dollars
($35.00) per attended meeting but not in excess of eight hundred forty dollars ($840) per year as
compensation for his or her the chairperson’s services.
     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005687
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