2017 -- H 5217

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LC000943

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- LITTER CONTROL AND

RECYCLING

     Introduced By: Representatives Ucci, Winfield, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2017

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 37-15-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-15 entitled "Litter

Control and Recycling" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     37-15-3. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter the following terms shall, where the context permits, be construed

as follows:

     (1) "Community recycling center" means a central collection point in a community for

recyclable materials, or a point where the materials are taken after being collected to be

processed.

     (2) "Department" means the department of environmental management.

     (3) "Director" means the director of the department of environmental management.

     (4) "Litter" means garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper,

cartons, boxes, automobile parts, furniture, glass, any commercial, private, or political sign,

poster or notice, or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature thrown, dropped, discarded,

placed, or deposited by a person on public property, on private property not owned by the person,

or in or on waters of the state, unless the person has:

     (i) Been directed to do so by a public official as part of a litter collection drive;

     (ii) Discarded, thrown, dropped, placed, or discarded the material in a litter receptacle in

a manner that prevented the material from being carried away by the elements; or

     (iii) Been issued a license or permit covering the material pursuant to chapters 18.9 and

19.1 of title 23.

     (5) "Litter bag" means a bag, sack, or other container made of any material which is large

enough to serve as a receptacle for litter inside a vehicle or watercraft.

     (6) "Litter receptacle" means those containers adopted by the department of

environmental management and which may be standardized as to size, shape, capacity, and color

and which shall bear the state anti litter symbol, as well as any other receptacles suitable for the

depositing of litter.

     (7) "Person" means any natural person, political subdivision, government agency, public

or private corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, firm, individual proprietorship, or

other entity whatsoever.

     (8) "Program" means those activities of the department to encourage, manage, and fund

litter control and recycling pursuant to this chapter.

     (9) "Public place" means any area that is used or held out for use by the public whether

owned or operated by public or private interests.

     (10) "Recycling" means the reuse of recovered resources in manufacturing, agriculture,

power production, or other processes.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- LITTER CONTROL AND

RECYCLING

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     This act would expand the definition of "litter" to include any commercial, private or

political sign, poster or notice posted on public property as applicable to the penalty provisions of

§37-15-7.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000943

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