| Chapter 257 |
| 2025 -- S 0716 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/27/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL |
Introduced By: Senators Gu, Sosnowski, McKenney, Euer, DiMario, Mack, Bissaillon, Britto, and Kallman |
| Date Introduced: March 07, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 46-23 of the General Laws entitled "Coastal Resources Management |
| Council" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: |
| 46-23-27. Requirements for parking modifications near coastal resources |
| management council rights-of-way. |
| (a) Any city, town, municipal agency, private entity, or other organization seeking to |
| reduce, or restrict parking near designated CRMC rights-of-way shall: |
| (1) Submit a comprehensive parking plan which shall provide a detailed plan outlining the |
| proposed changes, including: |
| (i) The specific parking areas affected; |
| (ii) The reasons for the proposed changes; and |
| (iii) An analysis of the potential impacts on shoreline access for the public, with a specific |
| focus on ADA compliance. |
| (2) Demonstrate that the proposed changes shall not reduce access for individuals with |
| disabilities and shall meet or exceed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for |
| accessible parking spaces and pathways. |
| (3) Conduct a public comment period of no less than thirty (30) days to gather feedback |
| from local residents, stakeholders, and advocacy groups. |
| (b) CRMC shall engage in collaboration with the department of environmental |
| management ("DEM") to ensure: |
| (1) The proposed plan does not conflict with DEM programs or projects or negatively |
| interfere with compliance with state and federal accessibility standards; |
| (2) Achieves alignment with the goals of preserving and enhancing public shoreline access; |
| and |
| (3) Provides mitigation measures to address any negative impacts identified during the |
| review process. |
| (c) CRMC and/or DEM may promulgate any necessary rules and regulations to facilitate |
| the implementation of this section within six (6) months of collaboration provided in subsection |
| (b) of this section. |
| (d) Agencies or departments acting under the authority and expressed permission of the |
| State of Rhode Island or any city or town shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, |
| provided that any restrictions or reductions in parking near CRMC rights-of-way are temporary in |
| nature and are implemented solely to address legitimate public safety concerns or to alleviate |
| impediments to traffic flow. If the restrictions or reductions are to last more than twenty (20) |
| calendar days, notice must be provided to the CRMC, which shall then make such notice available |
| to the public. |
| 46-23-28. Enforcement and penalties for parking areas. |
| (a) Any entity found to have reduced, or restricted, parking near CRMC rights-of-way |
| without complying with the provisions of this section and ยง 46-23-27 shall be subject to: |
| (1) A cease-and-desist order issued by CRMC or DEM; |
| (2) A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) per day for each day of non- |
| compliance; |
| (3) Additional penalties or corrective measures as deemed necessary by CRMC or DEM to |
| restore equitable access. |
| SECTION 2. Severability. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or |
| circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of its provisions to other |
| persons or circumstances shall not be affected. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002184 |
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