2012 -- S 2816

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LC02071

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - OPERATION OF A STATE

HOUSE VISITOR CENTER

     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 42-8-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-8 entitled "Department

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of State" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     42-8-23. Gift shop. -- The secretary of state, along with the Capitol Hill junior chamber

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of commerce, may establish within the state house a gift shop. The board of directors of the gift

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shop shall promulgate rules and regulations for its operation and approval of items to be sold

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therein. All revenues generated by the gift shop shall be deposited as general revenues.

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      The operation of the gift shop shall be such as not to conflict with any operation pursuant

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to the provisions of section 40-9-11.

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     Visitor Center and gift shop. -- (a) The secretary of state, in conjunction with the office

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of the governor, may establish and operate a visitor center and gift shop within the state house.

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     (b) The visitor center and gift shop shall be managed by a committee consisting of one

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member selected by the governor and four (4) members selected by the secretary of state. In

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making their selections, the governor and the secretary of state shall give due consideration to

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demonstrated and acknowledged expertise in a diverse range of historical, preservation,

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community planning, and retail-oriented endeavors. Committee members shall serve for a term of

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three (3) years. The committee shall file an annual report of operations and fiscal activities with

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the governor, secretary of state, senate president and house speaker at the end of each fiscal year.

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     (c) The director of the department of administration may allocate and make available

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within the state house appropriate space for the visitor center and gift shop and appropriate

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storage space for inventory, fixtures and supplies necessary for the operation of the visitor center

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and gift shop.

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     (d) There is hereby established in the office of the secretary of state a restricted receipt

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revolving fund which shall be kept separate and distinct from all other funds. All revenue

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generated by the visitor center and gift shop shall be deposited into this restricted receipt

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revolving fund and used to purchase inventory, fixtures and supplies for the visitor center and gift

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shop and to defray the cost of staffing the visitor center.

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     (e) The operation of the visitor center and gift shop shall be such as not to conflict with

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any operation pursuant to the provisions of section 40-9-11.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02071

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - OPERATION OF A STATE

HOUSE VISITOR CENTER

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     This act would permit the secretary of state, in conjunction with the office of the

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governor, to establish and operate a visitor center and gift shop within the state house.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02071

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