2025 -- H 5962

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LC001621

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- INDEBTEDNESS OF TOWNS AND CITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Santucci, Fascia, Nardone, Solomon, Place,
Chippendale, Newberry, Quattrocchi, and Paplauskas

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 45-12-22.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-12 entitled

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"Indebtedness of Towns and Cities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     45-12-22.4. Deficit, pension and other post-employment benefit financing — Approval

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required.

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     (a) Except as provided in chapter 9 of this title, no municipality shall sell a long-term bond

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in order to fund a deficit or to fund pension obligations or other post-employment benefits without

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prior approval by the state auditor general and director of the state department of revenue.

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     (1) Any municipality or quasi-public agency that has not made its annual contribution to

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its other post-employment benefits trust or if the trust is less than thirty-five percent (35%) funded,

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shall file an annual report with the department of municipal finance setting forth:

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     (i) A plan to make its trust payment within three (3) years; or

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     (ii) A plan to get the trust funded to at least the thirty-five percent (35%) level within ten

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(10) years.

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     (b) If any provision of this section or the application thereof shall for any reason be judged

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invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of the law, but shall be

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confined in its effect to the provisions or application directly involved in the controversy giving

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rise to the judgment.

 

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     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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- INDEBTEDNESS OF TOWNS AND CITIES

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     This act would require a municipality or quasi-public agency to file a report with the

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department of municipal finance if it has not made its payment to its other post-employment

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benefits trust fund or if it is less than thirty-five percent (35%) funded.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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