2012 -- H 7771

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LC01638

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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 PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - MAKING IT EASIER TO DO

BUSINESS IN RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Walsh, Ferri, Ucci, Tanzi, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2012

     Referred To: House Small Business

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 37-2-59.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-2 entitled "State

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Purchases" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     37-2-59.1. Selection of professionals with place of business located in Rhode Island. -

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- The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations has a large number of architectural,

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engineering, and consulting firms well qualified in their fields of endeavor. In Except where

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expressly forbidden by federal purchasing policy in instances where contracts are entirely wholly

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or partially supported by state funds, it is in the best interest of the state pursuant to the provisions

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of sections 37-2-59 -- 37-2-69 that all other things being equal, the services of these qualified and

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capable resident professionals with offices in Rhode Island, possessing experience with

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comparable site and scope projects built in Rhode Island or secondly those non-resident

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professionals who propose a joint venture partnering with a Rhode Island firm, be utilized.

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wherein the Rhode Island firm is lead/prime, shall be selected, contingent upon the consideration

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of resident professionals' qualifications and performance data pursuant to section 37-2-62, and

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fair and reasonable prices pursuant to section 37-2-59.

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     For the purposes of this section, a "non-resident professional" shall mean a business that

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is not a resident of the state of Rhode Island, that submits a bid in response to an invitation to bid

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by a state agency; "resident professional" shall mean a business that submits a bid in response to

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an invitation to bid by a state agency and whose main office is located in this state that has paid

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unemployment and income taxes in this state during the twelve (12) calendar months immediately

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preceding submission of such a bid that has a business address in this state, and that has

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affirmatively claimed such status in the bid submission.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01638

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - MAKING IT EASIER TO DO

BUSINESS IN RHODE ISLAND

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     This act would primarily promote the selection of resident Rhode Island consulting firms

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and secondly promote those firms which partner with Rhode Island firms for selection in

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contracts wholly or partially supported by state funds.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC01638

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