2012 -- H 7130

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LC00618

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

     Introduced By: Representatives Gallison, Morrison, Edwards, and Malik

     Date Introduced: January 17, 2012

     Referred To: House Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 24-12-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-12 entitled "Rhode

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Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     24-12-26. Power to collect tolls and charges -- Gasoline and service concessions. -- (a)

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The authority is hereby authorized, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to fix, revise, charge

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and collect tolls for the use of the Newport Bridge, the Mount Hope Bridge, the turnpike and the

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different parts or sections thereof, and for the use of any additional facility and the different parts

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or sections thereof, and to contract with any person, partnership, association or corporation for

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placing on any project telephone, telegraph, electric light or power lines, gas stations, garages,

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and restaurants if deemed necessary by the authority in connection with the project, or for the use

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of any project or part thereof, including the right-of-way adjoining the paved portion of the

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turnpike or of any additional facility or for any other purposes and to fix the terms, conditions,

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rents and rates of charges for such use; provided, that the authority shall construct any gasoline

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service facilities which it may determine are needed on the project, and provided, further, that, to

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afford users of the project a reasonable choice of motor fuels of different brands, each gasoline

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service station shall be separately offered for lease upon sealed bids and, after notice of the offer

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has been published once a week in three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general

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circulation in the state, and, in the event an acceptable bid shall be received in the judgment of the

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authority, each lease shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder therefor, but no person

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shall be awarded or have the use of, nor shall motor fuel identified by the trade-marks, trade

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names, or brands of any one supplier, distributor, or retailer of such fuel be sold at more than one

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service station if they would constitute more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the service

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stations on the project. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, members of the town of

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Jamestown police and fire department and ambulance service personnel of the town of

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Jamestown and Jamestown school department who, in the course of their duty, are required to pay

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a toll for use of the Newport Bridge, shall, upon the presentment of receipts for the payment of

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the toll to the town of Jamestown, be reimbursed for all charges on an annual basis by the town of

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Jamestown who in turn shall be reimbursed for all payments made by the state. Notwithstanding

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the provisions of this section, members of the city of Newport police and fire department and

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rescue personnel who, in the course of their duty, are required to pay a toll for use of the Newport

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Bridge, shall, upon the presentment of receipts for the payment of the toll to the city of Newport,

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be reimbursed for all charges on an annual basis by the city of Newport who in turn shall be

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reimbursed for all payments made by the state.

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      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, members of the police and fire

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department and rescue personnel of any city or town in this state who, in the course of their duty,

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are required to pay a toll for use of the Mount Hope Bridge, shall, upon the presentment of

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receipts for the payment of the toll to their town or city, be reimbursed for all such charges on an

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annual basis by the town or city, who in turn shall be reimbursed for all payments made by the

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state.

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     (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or any other section of the general or

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public laws to the contrary, the authority shall be prohibited from charging tolls on the Mount

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Hope Bridge.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00618

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

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     This act would prohibit the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority from charging

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tolls on the Mount Hope Bridge.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00618

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