ARTICLE 6

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPEMNT

     SECTION 1. Sections 5-23-2 and 5-23-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-23 entitled

“Holiday Business” are hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-23-2. Licenses for holiday business.

     (a) A retail establishment may be open on any day of the year except as specifically

prohibited herein. A retail establishment shall not be open on a holiday unless licensed by the

appropriate town council pursuant to this section. The city or town council of any city or town shall

grant holiday licenses for the sale by retail establishments. No license shall be issued on December

25 of any year or on Thanksgiving Day, except to:

     (1) Pharmacies licensed under chapter 19.1 of this title; provided, however, that no drug

(as defined in § 5-19.1-2) or controlled substance (as defined in § 5-19.1-2) requiring a prescription

(as defined in § 5-19.1-2) shall be dispensed or sold unless a licensed pharmacist-in-charge (as

defined in § 5-19.1-2) is available on the premises;

     (2) Retail establishments that principally sell food products as defined in § 44-18-30(9) and

that employ fewer than six (6) employees per shift at any one location;

     (3) Retail establishments principally engaged in the sale of cut flowers, floral products,

plants, shrubs, trees, fertilizers, seeds, bulbs, and garden accessories;

     (4) Retail establishments principally engaged in the sale and/or rental of video cassette

tapes; and

     (54) Retail establishments principally engaged in the preparation or sale of bakery

products.

     (b) Retail establishments licensed pursuant to this section may be permitted to open for

business during holidays on their normal business working hours.

     (c) Retail establishments licensed pursuant to this section shall be exempt from the

provisions of chapter 1 of title 25, entitled “Holidays and Days of Special Observance,” and those

establishments may sell any and all items sold in the ordinary course of business with the exception

of alcoholic beverages.

     (d) All employees engaged in work during Sundays or holidays pursuant to the provisions

of this section shall receive from their employer no less than time and a half for the work so

performed and shall be guaranteed at least a minimum of four (4) hours employment; except those

employees referred to in § 28-12-4.3(a)(4), provided that the work performed by the employee is

strictly voluntary and refusal to work for any retail establishment on a Sunday or holiday is not a

ground for discrimination, dismissal, or discharge or any other penalty upon the employee.

Provided, however, that the time and one half and voluntary work provisions do not apply to retail

establishments engaged principally in the preparation or sale of bakery products and pharmacies.

The city or town council may fix and cause to be paid into the city or town treasury for each license

issued pursuant to this section a fee not to exceed the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) and may

fix the time or times when the license granted terminates; provided, that the city or town council

shall not charge a licensing fee to any charitable, benevolent, educational, philanthropic, humane,

patriotic, social service, civic, fraternal, police, fire, labor, or religious organization that is not

operated for profit.

     (e) Retail establishments engaged principally in the preparation or sale of bakery products

and pharmacies shall be licensed prior to the sale of those products in accordance with this section;

provided, that the time and one half and voluntary work provisions do not apply.

     (f)(c)  Each city or town council shall fix, limit, and specify those rules, regulations, and

conditions relating to the granting, holding, and exercising those licenses opening of retail

establishments on holidays as it deems necessary or advisable and as are not inconsistent with law,

and may suspend or revoke any license granted by it for more than two (2) violations of those rules,

regulations, and conditions during a calendar year.

     (g)(d) Each city or town shall grant Class A licenses authorizing retail establishments that

sell alcoholic beverages for consumption off of the premises within its jurisdiction to sell on

Sundays, alcoholic beverages in accordance with the terms of this chapter and that of title 3;

provided that it shall not permit such sale prior to the hour of twelve noon (12:00 p.m.) or on

Christmas day, if Christmas shall occur on a Sunday; provided, further, that no employee shall be

required to work and refusal to work on a Sunday shall not be the grounds for discrimination,

dismissal, discharge, deduction of hours, or any other penalty.

     5-23-6. Enforcement — Penalties.

     (a) Upon complaint filed with the director of labor and training by any employee or any

consumer, or if a minor, by his or her parent or guardian, or by the lawful collective bargaining

representative of an employee, that a licensee under this chapter a person, firm, or corporation has

violated the terms of § 5-23-2, the director shall cause the complaint to be investigated, and if

satisfied that a probable violation has occurred, shall issue a complaint against the licensee person,

firm, or corporation with a notice for a hearing. The hearing shall be held before a hearing officer

of the department of labor and training. If the director concludes on the basis of the hearing record

that a violation has occurred, he or she shall issue a cease and desist order to the licensee person,

firm, or corporation, or he or she shall refer the complaint to the attorney general for appropriate

action as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The director shall issue regulations in

conformity with law and preserving the rights of due process of all parties to implement the

provisions of this subsection.

     (b) Every licensed or unlicensed person, firm, or corporation, including its officers and

officials, who or that violates any of the provisions of his, her, or its license or the provisions of

this chapter, except as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, shall be fined not exceeding five

hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense and not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for

each additional offense.

     (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, suit for violation

of the provisions of this chapter, praying for criminal or civil injunctive or other relief, may be

instituted in the superior court by any city or town or by the attorney general.

     (d) The penalty for opening and operating a business on December 25th of any year or on

Thanksgiving Day, unless excepted, is, in addition to subsection (b) of this section, a fine not

exceeding thirty percent (30%) of the sales or proceeds for that day.

     SECTION 2. Sections 5-23-3, 5-23-4, and 5-23-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-23

entitled “Holiday Business” are hereby repealed.

     5-23-3. Works of necessity for which license not required.

     A license is not required for the sale upon a holiday of gasoline, oil, grease, automotive

parts, automotive servicing, or automotive accessories, or for the conducting on that day by any

farmers’ cooperative association of a wholesale auction market of fruit, vegetables, and farm

products, all of which are declared to be works of necessity.

     5-23-4. Terms and conditions of license — Revocation.

     Any city or town council in each case of granting the license shall fix, limit, and specify in

the license the hours of the day during which the licensee or licensees may operate and may make

those rules, regulations, and conditions relative to the granting, holding, and exercising those

licenses that it deems necessary or advisable and that are not inconsistent with law, and may at any

time at its pleasure suspend or revoke the license that it granted. The license shall be displayed in

a conspicuous place on the premises licensed.

     5-23-5. Place of operation — Delivery carts.

     The license shall not authorize any sale, rental, or operation at any place not specified in

the license. The license is deemed to include permission to deliver by means of or sell from any

cart or other vehicle, ice, milk, or newspapers; provided the number of carts or vehicles to be used

for that purpose shall be specified in the license and there shall be displayed on each cart or vehicle

while in that use any evidence that the city or town council prescribes that it is being used pursuant

to that license.

     SECTION 3. Section 5-50-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-50 entitled “Health Clubs”

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-50-4. Contract contents — Notice to buyer of right to cancel contract — Right of

contract cancellation — Refund.

     (a) A copy of every health club contract shall be delivered to the buyer at the time the

contract is signed.

     (b)(1) All health club contracts must be in writing signed by the buyer; must designate the

date on which the buyer actually signs the contract; and must contain a statement of the buyer’s

rights that substantially complies with this section.

     (2) The statement must appear in the contract under the conspicuous caption “BUYER’S

RIGHT TO CANCEL,” and read as follows:

     (2) “If you wish to cancel this contract, you may cancel in person or by mail to the seller.

You must give notice, in writing, that you do not wish to be bound by the contract. This notice must

be delivered or mailed before midnight of the tenth (10th) business day after the date of the contract

so entered into. All cancellations must be delivered or mailed to: (Insert name and mailing address

of health club).”

     (3) Proof of in-person cancellation shall be effectuated by writing “cancellation” and the

date of cancellation across the contract.

     (4) The buyer shall receive a copy of the contract.

     (5) The signature of the person employed by the health club who registers the cancellation

must also appear on the contract.

     (c) Every contract for health club services shall provide that the contract may be cancelled

before midnight of the tenth (10th) day after the date of the contract so entered into. The notice of

the buyer’s cancellation of his or her contract shall be in writing and shall be made in person or by

electronic mail to the seller at an electronic mail address that shall be specified in the contract or

by mail to the seller at the address specified in the contract.

     (d) Every contract for health club services shall provide clearly and conspicuously, in

writing, that after the expiration of the ten-day (10) period for cancellation as provided in subsection

(b)(2):

     (1) The buyer shall be relieved from any and all obligations under the contract, and shall

be entitled to a refund of any prepaid membership under the contract if:

     (i) A buyer relocates further than fifteen (15) miles from a comparable health club facility

operated by the seller;

     (ii) If a health club facility relocates further than fifteen (15) miles from its current location,

or the seller does not maintain a health club service within a fifteen (15) mile radius from its current

location; or

     (iii) If the health club services or facilities are not available to the buyer because the seller

fails to open a planned health club or location, permanently discontinues operation of the health

club or location, or substantially changes the operation;

     (2) If a buyer becomes significantly physically or medically disabled for a period in excess

of three (3) months during the membership term, he or she has the option:

     (i) To be relieved of liability for payment on that portion of the contract term for which the

purchaser is disabled and receive a full refund of any prepaid membership on the contract; or

     (ii) To extend the duration of the contract at no additional cost for a period equal to the

duration of the disability. The health club may require that a doctor’s certificate be submitted as

verification of the disability;

     (3) In the event of the buyer’s death, his or her estate shall be relieved of any further

obligation for payment under the contract and shall be entitled to a refund for any prepaid

membership for the unused portion of the contract. The health club may require verification of

death;

     (4) In the event of a sale of health club ownership, the contract is voidable at the option of

the buyer.

     (e) A health club contract that does not comply with the provisions of this chapter is

voidable at the option of the buyer.

     (f) Upon cancellation pursuant to this section, the buyer shall be free of any and all

obligations under the contract, and any prepaid monies pursuant to this contract shall be refunded

within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the notice of cancellation. The right of cancellation

shall not be affected by the terms of the contract and may not be waived or surrendered.

     (g) Notice of the buyer’s right to cancel and the method of cancellation under this section

shall also be posted clearly and conspicuously on the premises of the health club.

     SECTION 4. Section 5-78-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-78 entitled “Dating

Services” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-78-2. Contract requirements.

     (a) Each contract for social referral services shall provide that such contract may be

cancelled at any time up until midnight of the third (3rd) business day after the date of receipt by

the buyer of a copy of the written contract, by written notice, delivered by electronic mail to the

seller at an electronic mail address that shall be specified in the contract or by certified or registered

United States mail to the seller at an address that shall be specified in the contract.

     (b)(1) In every contract for social referral services, the seller shall furnish to the buyer a

fully completed copy of the contract at the time of its execution, which shows the date of the

transaction and contains the name and address of the seller, and in the immediate proximity to the

space reserved in the contract for the signature of the buyer and in not less than ten-point (10)

boldface type, a statement in substantially the following form:

     “You, the buyer, may cancel this contract at any time prior to midnight of the third business

day after your receipt of this contract. See the attached notice of cancellation for an explanation of

this right.”

     (2) At the time the buyer signs the social referral services contract, a statement captioned

“Notice of Cancellation” shall be contained in the contract and shall contain, in not less than ten-

point (10) boldface type, the following information and statements:

“Notice of Cancellation”

“_________________________________________ (Date of Transaction)

     You may cancel this contract, without any penalty or obligation, at any time prior to

midnight of the third business day after your receipt of this contract by mailing this signed and

dated notice of cancellation by certified or registered United States mail to the seller at the following

address: _______________________________________________________________________

. If you cancel, any payments made by you under the contract will be returned within ten (10)

business days following receipt by the seller of your cancellation notice.”

     (3) All moneys paid pursuant to any contract for social referral services shall be refunded

within ten (10) business days of receipt of the notice of cancellation.

     (c) The consumer’s right of rescission shall not be waived, sold, or abrogated in any way

or manner.

     SECTION 5. Section 42-64.20-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.20 entitled

“Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit Act” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.20-10. Sunset.

     No credits shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after December 31,

2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 6. Section 42-64.21-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.21 entitled “Rhode

Island Tax Increment Financing” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.21-9. Sunset.

     The commerce corporation shall enter into no agreement under this chapter after December

31, 2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 7. Section 42-64.22-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.22 entitled “Tax

Stabilization Incentive” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.22-15. Sunset.

     The commerce corporation shall enter into no agreement under this chapter after December

31, 2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 8. Section 42-64.23-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.23 entitled “First

Wave Closing Fund Act” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.23-8. Sunset.

     No financing shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after December 31,

2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 9. Section 42-64.24-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.24 entitled “I-195

Redevelopment Project Fund Act” is hereby amended as follows:

     42-64.24-8. Sunset.

     No funding, credits, or incentives shall be authorized or authorized to be reserved pursuant

to this chapter after December 31, 2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 10. Section 42-64.25-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.25 entitled

“Small Business Assistance Program Act” is hereby repealed:

     42-64.25.14 Sunset.

     No grants, funding, or incentives shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after

December 31, 2025.

     SECTION 11. Section 42-64.26-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.26 entitled

“Stay Invested in RI Wavemaker Fellowships” is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-64.26-12. Sunset.

     No incentives or credits shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after December 31,

2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 12. Section 42-64.27-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.27 entitled “Main

Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Fund” is hereby amended as follows:

     42-64.27-6. Sunset.

     No incentives shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after December 31,

2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 13. Section 42-64.28-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-64.28 entitled

“Innovation Initiative” is hereby amended as follows:

     42-64.28-10. Sunset.

     No vouchers, grants, or incentives shall be authorized pursuant to this chapter after

December 31, 2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 14. Section 44-48.3-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-48.3 entitled “Rhode

Island Qualified Jobs Incentive Act of 2015” is hereby amended as follows:

     44-48.3-14. Sunset.

     No credits shall be authorized to be reserved pursuant to this chapter after December 31,

2025December 31, 2026.

     SECTION 15. All sections of this article shall take effect upon passage, except Section 1

and Section 2, which shall take effect on January 1, 2026.