2025 -- S 0980 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 -- GENERAL POWERS

     Introduced By: Senators DiMario, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: April 16, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 45-2-35 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-2 entitled "General

Powers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-2-35. Town of New Shoreham — Landing fee.

     The town of New Shoreham is hereby authorized to charge, assess, or otherwise collect a

fifty cent ($.50) one dollar ($1.00) landing fee on each passenger over the age of twelve (12)

arriving on Block Island by public or private boat. All fees collected less expenses of collection

shall be utilized by the town of New Shoreham to promote the health, safety, and welfare of all

passengers, including, but not limited to, emergency medical services, acquisition of property to

support tourism related activities, to construct and maintain tourism support facilities, and to

establish a fund to assist the town of New Shoreham in resolving problems which may arise due to

growth in the tourism industry. The town may enter into agreements with any common carrier

serving the town of New Shoreham and any operator of a marina in the town of New Shoreham

authorizing the carrier or marina operator to collect the landing fee on behalf of the town of New

Shoreham. The agreement may provide for the payment of a fee by the town for the carrier or

marina operator and the indemnification of the carrier or marina operator from and against any

liability to, or claim of liability by third parties, arising from collection of the landing fee. Any

common carrier may collect the landing fee on behalf of the town of New Shoreham by including

the amount of the fee in its rate and charge to passengers without the necessity of approval of the

landing fee from the public utilities commission or the division of public utilities and carriers under

title 39. The landing fee authorized by this chapter does not apply to any persons receiving free

transportation from a public utility under § 39-2-5. The town council of the town of New Shoreham

shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

     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 -- GENERAL POWERS

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     This act would increase the landing fee for the town of New Shoreham from fifty cents

($.50) to one dollar ($1.00).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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