2024 -- S 2629

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LC004765

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- HARBORS AND HARBOR LINES

     Introduced By: Senators DiMario, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 46-4 of the General Laws entitled "Harbors and Harbor Lines" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     46-4-9. Houseboats - Town or city regulations.

     (a) Notwithstanding any general, public or special law to the contrary, and in addition to

any authority or powers conferred upon the town or city councils of the state, the authority to

regulate any houseboat and enforce any ordinance, rule or regulation in any public water within the

jurisdiction of the town or city shall be conferred to the town or city councils of the state.

     (b) For purposes of this section, "houseboat" means a building, structure, or platform

constructed on a hull, float, raft, or barge that is used for any habitation or personal use, whether

stationary or self-propelled and whether registered or not. If used for transportation, this use is

secondary. Houseboats cannot be used as floating businesses.

     (c) Towns and cities may impose penalties pursuant to this section to be enforced by the

harbormaster and which shall not exceed a penalty in the amount of seven hundred fifty dollars

($750) per day for violations occurring within the first seven (7) days, and for any day beyond such

day the penalty shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day. No powers or duties granted herein

shall be construed to abrogate the powers or duties granted to the coastal resources management

council as provided in chapter 23 of this title, as amended, or the powers or duties granted the

department of environmental management as provided in chapter 17.1 of title 42.

     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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- HARBORS AND HARBOR LINES

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     This act would permit towns and cities to regulate all houseboats within their jurisdiction.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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