R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-23-39 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-23 / Section 45-23-39
§ 45-23-39. General provisions  Major land development and major subdivision review stages.
Status: in_force

(a) Stages of review. Major land development and major subdivision review consists of three stages of review, master plan, preliminary plan, and final plan, following the pre-application meeting(s) specified in § 45-23-35, if applicable. Also required is a public hearing at the master plan stage of review or, if combined at the first stage of review.

(b) The administrative officer may combine review stages but only the planning board may waive requirements as specified in § 45-23-62. Review stages may be combined only after the administrative officer determines that all necessary requirements have been met by the applicant or that the planning board has waived any submission requirements not included by the applicant.

(c) Master plan review.

(1) Submission requirements.

(i) The applicant shall first submit to the administrative officer the items required by the local regulations for master plans.

(ii) Requirements for the master plan and supporting material for this phase of review include, but are not limited to: information on the natural and built features of the surrounding neighborhood, existing natural and man-made conditions of the development site, including topographic features, the freshwater wetland and coastal zone boundaries, the floodplains, as well as the proposed design concept, proposed public improvements and dedications, tentative construction phasing; and potential neighborhood impacts.

(iii) Initial comments will be solicited from:

(A) Local agencies including, but not limited to, the planning department, the department of public works, fire and police departments, the conservation and recreation commissions;

(B) Adjacent communities;

(C) State agencies, as appropriate, including the departments of environmental management and transportation and the coastal resources management council; and

(D) Federal agencies, as appropriate. The administrative officer shall coordinate review and comments by local officials, adjacent communities, and state and federal agencies.

(iv) Applications requesting relief from the zoning ordinance.

(A) Applications under this chapter that require relief that qualifies only as a modification under § 45-24-46 and local ordinances may proceed by filing a master plan application under this section to the administrative officer and, separately, a request for a modification to the zoning enforcement officer. If such modification is granted, the application shall then proceed to be reviewed by the planning board pursuant to the applicable requirements of this section. If the modification is denied or an objection is received as set forth in § 45-24-46, such application shall proceed under unified development review pursuant to § 45-23-50.1.

(B) Applications under this section that require relief from the literal provisions of the zoning ordinance in the form of a variance or special use permit, shall be reviewed by the planning board under unified development review pursuant to § 45-23-50.1.

(2) Certification. The application must be certified, in writing, complete or incomplete by the administrative officer within twenty-five (25) days of the submission, according to the provisions of § 45-23-36(c), so long as a completed checklist of requirements is provided with the submission. If an applicant also submits for a modification to the zoning enforcement officer, the running of the time period set forth herein will not begin until the decision on the modification is made as set forth in § 45-24-46. The running of the time period set forth herein will be deemed stopped upon the issuance of a certificate of incompleteness of the application by the administrative officer and will recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by the applicant. However, in no event will the administrative officer be required to certify a corrected submission as complete or incomplete less than ten (10) days after its resubmission.

(3) Technical review committee. To the extent the community utilizes a technical review committee, it shall review the application prior to the first planning board meeting and shall comment and make recommendations to the planning board.

(4) Public hearing.

(i) A public hearing will be held prior to the planning board decision on the master plan. If the master plan and preliminary plan review stages are being combined, a public hearing shall be held during the combined stage of review.

(ii) Notice for the public hearing is required and must be given at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting in a newspaper of local circulation within the municipality. Notice must be mailed to the applicant and to all property owners within the notice area, as specified by local regulations.

(iii) At the public hearing, the applicant will present the proposed development project. The planning board must allow oral and written comments from the general public. All public comments are to be made part of the public record of the project application.

(5) Decision. The planning board shall, within ninety (90) days of certification of completeness, or within a further amount of time that may be consented to by the applicant through the submission of a written waiver, approve of the master plan as submitted, approve with changes and/or conditions, or deny the application, according to the requirements of §§ 45-23-60 and 45-23-63.

(6) Failure to act. Failure of the planning board to act within the prescribed period constitutes approval of the master plan, and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the failure of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval will be issued on request of the applicant.

(7) Vesting.

(i) The approved master plan is vested for a period of two (2) years, with the right to extend for two (2), one-year extensions upon written request by the applicant, who must appear before the planning board for the annual review. Thereafter, vesting may be extended for a longer period, for good cause shown, if requested by the applicant, in writing, and approved by the planning board. Master plan vesting includes the zoning requirements, conceptual layout, and all conditions shown on the approved master plan drawings and supporting materials.

(ii) The initial four-year (4) vesting for the approved master plan constitutes the vested rights for the development as required in § 45-24-44.

(d) Preliminary plan review.

(1) Submission requirements.

(i) The applicant shall first submit to the administrative officer the items required by the local regulations for preliminary plans.

(ii) Requirements for the preliminary plan and supporting materials for this phase of the review include, but are not limited to: engineering plans depicting the existing site conditions, engineering plans depicting the proposed development project, and a perimeter survey.

(iii) At the preliminary plan review phase, the administrative officer shall solicit final, written comments and/or approvals of the department of public works, the city or town engineer, the city or town solicitor, other local government departments, commissions, or authorities as appropriate.

(iv) If the applicant is requesting alteration of any variances and/or special-use permits granted by the planning board or commission at the master plan stage of review pursuant to adopted unified development review provisions, and/or any new variances and/or special-use permits, such requests and all supporting documentation shall be included as part of the preliminary plan application materials, pursuant to § 45-23-50.1(b).

(2) Certification. The application will be certified as complete or incomplete by the administrative officer within twenty-five (25) days, according to the provisions of § 45-23-36(c) so long as a completed checklist of requirements is provided with the submission. The running of the time period set forth herein will be deemed stopped upon the issuance of a certificate of incompleteness of the application by the administrative officer and will recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by the applicant. However, in no event shall the administrative officer be required to certify a corrected submission as complete or incomplete less than ten (10) days after its resubmission.

(3) Technical review committee. To the extent the community utilizes a technical review committee, it shall review the application prior to the first planning board meeting and shall comment and make recommendations to the planning board.

(4) Public notice. Prior to the first planning board meeting on the preliminary plan, public notice shall be sent to abutters only at least fourteen (14) days before the hearing.

(5) Public improvement guarantees. Proposed arrangements for completion of the required public improvements, including construction schedule and/or financial guarantees, shall be reviewed and approved by the planning board at preliminary plan approval.

(6) Decision. A complete application for a major subdivision or development plan shall be approved, approved with conditions, or denied, in accordance with the requirements of §§ 45-23-60 and 45-23-63, within ninety (90) days of the date when it is certified complete, or within a further amount of time that may be consented to by the developer through the submission of a written waiver. Provided that, the timeframe for decision is automatically extended if evidence of state permits has not been provided, or otherwise waived in accordance with this section.

(7) Failure to act. Failure of the planning board to act within the prescribed period constitutes approval of the preliminary plan, and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the failure of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval shall be issued on request of the applicant.

(8) Vesting. The approved preliminary plan is vested for a period of two (2) years with the right to extend for two (2), one-year extensions upon written request by the applicant, who must appear before the planning board for each annual review and provide proof of valid state or federal permits as applicable. Thereafter, vesting may be extended for a longer period, for good cause shown, if requested, in writing by the applicant, and approved by the planning board. The vesting for the preliminary plan approval includes all general and specific conditions shown on the approved preliminary plan drawings and supporting material.

(e) Final plan.

(1) Submission requirements.

(i) The applicant shall submit to the administrative officer the items required by the local regulations for the final plan, as well as all material required by the planning board when the application was given preliminary approval.

(ii) Arrangements for completion of the required public improvements, including construction schedule and/or financial guarantees.

(iii) Certification by the tax collector that all property taxes are current.

(iv) For phased projects, the final plan for phases following the first phase, shall be accompanied by copies of as-built drawings not previously submitted of all existing public improvements for prior phases.

(v) Prior to approval of the final plan, copies of all legal documents describing the property, proposed easements, and rights-of-way.

(vi) Prior to approval of the final plan, an applicant must submit all permits required by state or federal agencies, including permits related to freshwater wetlands, the coastal zone, floodplains, preliminary suitability for individual septic disposal systems, public water systems, and connections to state roads. For a state permit from the department of transportation, a letter evidencing the issuance of such a permit upon the submission of a bond and insurance is sufficient, but such actual permit shall be required prior to the issuance of a building permit.

(2) Certification. The application for final plan approval shall be certified complete or incomplete by the administrative officer in writing, within fifteen (15) days, according to the provisions of § 45-23-36(c) so long as a completed checklist of requirements is provided with the submission. This time period may be extended to twenty-five (25) days by written notice from the administrative officer to the applicant where the final plans contain changes to or elements not included in the preliminary plan approval. The running of the time period set forth herein shall be deemed stopped upon the issuance of a certificate of incompleteness of the application by the administrative officer and shall recommence upon the resubmission of a corrected application by the applicant. However, in no event shall the administrative officer be required to certify a corrected submission as complete or incomplete less than ten (10) days after its resubmission. If the administrative officer certifies the application as complete and does not require submission to the planning board as per subsection (c) of this section, the final plan shall be considered approved.

(3) Decision. The administrative officer, or, if referred to it, the planning board, shall review, grant, grant with conditions, or deny final plan approval. A decision shall be issued within forty-five (45) days after the certification of completeness, or within a further amount of time that may be consented to by the applicant, to approve or deny the final plan as submitted.

(4) Failure to act. Failure of the administrative officer, or, if referred to it, the planning board to act within the prescribed period constitutes approval of the final plan, and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the failure of the planning board to act within the required time and the resulting approval shall be issued on request of the applicant.

(5) Expiration of approval. The final approval of a major subdivision or land development project expires two (2) years from the date of approval with the right to extend for one year upon written request by the applicant, who must appear before the planning board for the annual review, unless, within that period, the plat or plan has been submitted for signature and recording as specified in § 45-23-64. Thereafter, the planning board may, for good cause shown, extend the period for recording.

(6) Acceptance of public improvements. Signature and recording as specified in § 45-23-64 constitute the acceptance by the municipality of any street or other public improvement or other land intended for dedication. Final plan approval shall not impose any duty upon the municipality to maintain or improve those dedicated areas until the governing body of the municipality accepts the completed public improvements as constructed in compliance with the final plans.

(7) Validity of recorded plans. The approved final plan, once recorded, remains valid as the approved plan for the site unless and until an amendment to the plan is approved under the procedure stated in § 45-23-65, or a new plan is approved by the planning board.

(f) Modifications and changes to approved plans.

(1) Minor changes, as defined in the local regulations, to the plans approved at any stage may be approved administratively, by the administrative officer. The changes may be authorized without an additional planning board meeting. All changes shall be made part of the permanent record of the project application. This provision does not prohibit the administrative officer from requesting recommendation from either the technical review committee or the permitting authority. Denial of the proposed change(s) shall be referred to the planning board for review as a major change.

(2) Major changes, as defined in the local regulations, to the plans approved at any stage may be approved only by the planning board and must include a public hearing.

(3) The administrative officer shall notify the applicant in writing within fourteen (14) days of submission of the written request for a change if the administrative officer determines the change to be a major change of the approved plans.

(g) Appeal. Decisions under this section shall be considered an appealable decision pursuant to § 45-23-71.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-32-34 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-32 / Section 45-32-34
§ 45-32-34. Trial by court on damages.
Status: in_force

Any owner of or persons entitled to any estate or interest in any part of the real property, and who cannot agree with the agency for the price of the real property, or estate or interest in it, so taken, may, within three (3) months after notice of the taking, or, if he or she has no notice, may within one year from the first publication of the copy of the resolution and declaration referred to in this chapter, apply by petition to the superior court in and for the county in which the real property lies, declaring the taking of his or her real property or estate or interest in it, and praying for an assessment of damages. Upon filing of the petition, the court shall cause twenty (20) days notice of the pendency of the petition to be given to the agency by serving a resident attorney of the agency with a certified copy, and may proceed after that notice to the trial. Petitions brought under this section shall be tried by a jury, if claimed, in writing, by any party within the twenty (20) day period. The trial shall determine all questions of fact relating to the value of the real property and any estate or interest in it and the amount of it. Upon the entry of judgment in the proceeding, execution shall be issued against the money so deposited in court, and in default, against any other property of the agency. In case two (2) or more conflicting petitioners make claim to the same real property, or to any estate or interest in it, or to different estates or interests in the same real property, the court, upon motion, may consolidate their several petitions for trial at the same time and may frame all necessary issues for the trial. All proceedings taken pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall take precedence over all civil matters pending before the court, or if the superior court in and for the county in which the real property lies is not in session in the county, then the petition may be heard in the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-13-5.2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-13 / Section 45-13-5.2
§ 45-13-5.2. Valuation of tax exempt property for purposes of computing state grants.
Status: in_force

Not later than August first in any year, any town or municipality to which a grant may be payable under the provisions of § 45-13-5.1, shall provide the director of revenue with the assessed valuation of the tax exempt real property which is required for the computation of the grant. The director of revenue may, on or before April 30 next succeeding the receipt of the statement, reevaluate any exempt property when, in the directors judgment the valuation made by the local assessor or assessors is inaccurate, and shall notify the municipality of the reevaluation. Any municipality aggrieved by the action of the director of revenue under the provisions of this section may, within two (2) weeks of the notice, file an appeal consistent with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-23-60 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-23 / Section 45-23-60
§ 45-23-60. Procedure  Required findings.
Status: reserved

(a) Except as set forth in this section, all local regulations shall require that for all administrative, minor, and major development applications the approving authorities responsible for land development and subdivision review and approval shall make positive findings on the following standard provisions, as part of the proposed projects record prior to approval:

(1) The proposed development is consistent with the comprehensive community plan and/or has satisfactorily addressed the issues where there may be inconsistencies;

(2) The proposed development is in compliance with the standards and provisions of the municipalitys zoning ordinance or has obtained relief from the same, or another provision of this chapter that exempts compliance with a specific provision or standard;

(3) There will be no significant negative environmental impacts from the proposed development as shown on the final plan, with all required conditions for approval;

(4) The subdivision, as proposed, will not result in the creation of individual lots with any physical constraints to development that building on those lots according to pertinent regulations and building standards would be impracticable. (See definition of Buildable lot). Lots with physical constraints to development may be created only if identified as permanent open space or permanently reserved for a public purpose on the approved, recorded plans; and

(5) All proposed land developments and all subdivision lots have adequate physical and permanent physical access to a public street unless there are local zoning ordinance provisions allowing exceptions to this requirement or the applicant has obtained the required relief from this provision.

(b) Except for administrative subdivisions, findings of fact must be supported by legally competent evidence on the record which discloses the nature and character of the observations upon which the fact finders acted.

(c) Minor subdivisions subject to administrative review and approval only, as set forth in § 45-23-38(a)(2) shall only be subject to the standard provisions set forth in subsections (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(5) of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-58.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-58.1
§ 45-24-58.1. Electronic permitting.
Status: in_force

(a) On or before October 1, 2025, every municipality in the state shall adopt and implement one electronic permitting platform established pursuant to § 23-27.3-108.2 to utilize for all development applications under this chapter. For purposes of this section, electronic permitting means use of computer-based tools and services that automate and streamline the application process to include, but not be limited to, task-specific tools for: applications; submission of plans; completed checklists and checklist documents; reports; plan review; permitting; scheduling; project tracking; staff and technical review committee comments; fee calculation and collection.

(b) The state building commissioner, with the assistance of the office of regulatory reform and the division of statewide planning, pursuant to the provisions of § 23-27.3-108.2 may promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

(c) The local towns and cities shall charge each applicant an additional one-tenth percent (.1%) of the total application fee for each application submitted. This additional amount shall be transmitted monthly to the state building office at the department of business regulation, and shall be used to staff and support the purchase or lease and operation of one web-accessible service and/or system to be utilized by the state and municipalities for the uniform, statewide electronic submission, review and processing of development applications as set forth in this section.

(d) On or before October 1, 2025, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, all acts, requirements, filings, and documents necessary to comply with the application process shall be conducted by means of electronic permitting.

(e) The department of business regulation shall reimburse annual fees and costs associated with compliance with this program in accordance with procedures established by the department.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-23-35 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-23 / Section 45-23-35
§ 45-23-35. General provisions  Pre-application meetings and concept review.
Status: in_force

(a) One or more pre-application meetings may be held for all major land development or subdivision applications at the request of the applicant. Pre-application meetings may be held for administrative and minor applications, upon request of the applicant. Pre-application meetings allow the applicant to meet with appropriate officials, boards and/or commissions, planning staff, and, where appropriate, state agencies, for advice as to the required steps in the approvals process, the pertinent local plans, ordinances, regulations, rules and procedures and standards which may bear upon the proposed development project.

(b) At the pre-application stage the applicant may request the planning board or the technical review committee for an informal concept plan review for a development. The purpose of the concept plan review is also to provide planning board or technical review committee input in the formative stages of major subdivision and land development concept design.

(c) Applicants seeking a pre-application meeting or an informal concept review shall submit general, conceptual materials in advance of the meeting(s) as requested by municipal officials.

(d) Pre-application meetings aim to encourage information sharing and discussion of project concepts among the participants. Pre-application discussions are intended for the guidance of the applicant and are not considered approval of a project or its elements.

(e) Provided that at least one pre-application meeting has been held for major land development or subdivision application or sixty (60) days has elapsed from the filing of the pre-application submission and no pre-application meeting has been scheduled to occur within those sixty (60) days, nothing shall be deemed to preclude an applicant from thereafter filing and proceeding with an application for a land development or subdivision project in accordance with § 45-23-36.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-69 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-69
§ 45-24-69. Appeals  Appeals to superior court.
Status: in_force

(a) An aggrieved party may appeal a decision of the zoning board of review to the superior court for the county in which the city or town is situated by filing a complaint stating the reasons of appeal within twenty (20) days after the decision has been recorded and posted in the office of the city or town clerk. The decision shall be posted in a location visible to the public in the city or town hall for a period of twenty (20) days following the recording of the decision in the office of the city or town clerk. The zoning board of review shall file the original documents acted upon by it and constituting the record of the case appealed from, or certified copies, together with other facts that may be pertinent, with the clerk of the court within thirty (30) days after being served with a copy of the complaint. When the complaint is filed by someone other than the original applicant or appellant, the original applicant or appellant and the members of the zoning board are made parties to the proceedings. The appeal shall not stay proceedings upon the decision appealed from, but the court may, in its discretion, grant a stay on appropriate terms and make any other orders that it deems necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal.

(b) If, before the date set for the hearing in the superior court, an application is made to the court for leave to present additional evidence before the zoning board of review and it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were good reasons for the failure to present it at the hearing before the zoning board of review, the court may order that the additional evidence be taken before the zoning board of review upon conditions determined by the court. The zoning board of review may modify its findings and decision by reason of the additional evidence and file that evidence and any new findings or decisions with the superior court.

(c) The review shall be conducted by the superior court without a jury. The court shall consider the record of the hearing before the zoning board of review and, if it appears to the court that additional evidence is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may allow any party to the appeal to present that evidence in open court, which evidence, along with the report, constitutes the record upon which the determination of the court is made.

(d) The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the zoning board of review as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the decision of the zoning board of review or remand the case for further proceedings, or may reverse or modify the decision if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because of findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions which are:

(1) In violation of constitutional, statutory, or ordinance provisions;

(2) In excess of the authority granted to the zoning board of review by statute or ordinance;

(3) Made upon unlawful procedure;

(4) Affected by other error of law;

(5) Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence of the whole record; or

(6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-54 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-54
§ 45-24-54. Administration  Administration and enforcement of zoning ordinance.
Status: in_force

(a) A zoning ordinance adopted pursuant to this chapter must provide for the administration and enforcement of its provisions pursuant to this chapter. The zoning ordinance must designate the local official or agency and specify minimum qualifications for the person or persons charged with its administration and enforcement, including: (1) The issuing of any required permits or certificates; (2) Collection of required fees; (3) Keeping of records showing the compliance of uses of land; (4) Authorizing commencement of uses or development under the provisions of the zoning ordinance; (5) Inspection of suspected violations; (6) Issuance of violation notices with required correction action; (7) Collection of fines for violations; (8) Upon written request, issue a zoning certificate or provide information to the requesting party as to the determination by the official or agency; and (9) Performing any other duties and taking any actions that may be assigned in the ordinance. A zoning certificate shall be issued within twenty (20) days of the written request. In the event that no written response is provided within that time, the requesting party has the right to appeal to the zoning board of review for the determination pursuant to § 45-24-63.

(b) The requesting party has the right to appeal the determination made in the zoning certificate pursuant to § 45-24-63.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-13-11 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-13 / Section 45-13-11
§ 45-13-11. Severability.
Status: in_force

The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section or sections shall not affect the validity of the remainder of §§ 45-13-6  45-13-11.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-19 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-19
§ 45-21-19. Retirement for ordinary disability.
Status: in_force

(a) Any member who has had five (5) or more years of total service, may, upon the members own application or upon application of the employer, or some person acting in the members behalf, while in active service or on leave of absence for illness, apply for ordinary disability retirement; provided, that the member is not entitled to a regular service retirement allowance and; provided, that the member has at least three (3) consecutive years of service as an employee of a participating municipality within the five (5) years needed to be eligible under this section.

(b) A statement from a physician shall accompany the application stating that the member is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty and that the member ought to be retired.

(c) A medical examination of the member shall be made by three (3) physicians engaged by the retirement board for this purpose, and should the medical examination show that the member is physically or mentally incapacitated for the performance of duty and ought to be retired, the physicians shall so report and certify to the retirement board and the retirement board may retire the member for ordinary disability.

(d) The retirement board shall establish uniform eligibility requirement standards and criteria for ordinary disability which apply to all members who make application for retirement for ordinary disability.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-9-23 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-9 / Section 45-9-23
§ 45-9-23. Litigation costs.
Status: in_force

Unless such person shall be the prevailing party in a final non-appealable judgment, any person who violates this chapter or ignores a written demand made by a fiscal overseer, budget commission member, receiver or administration and finance officer acting within the scope of his or her duties, shall be required to pay the reasonable attorney fees incurred by the fiscal overseer, budget commission member, receiver or administration and finance officer and/or his or her counsel to seek enforcement of this chapter or compliance with such written demand.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-22-5 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-22 / Section 45-22-5
§ 45-22-5. Organization, technical assistance, and cooperative agreements.
Status: in_force

(a) A planning board or commission shall organize annually by electing from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a secretary. The board or commission may adopt any procedural rules deemed necessary to the discharge of its duties.

(b) A planning board or commission may, subject to the approval of the appointing authority and within the limit of funds appropriated to it, enter into cooperative agreements with other city or town, state, regional, or federal agencies or private organizations to undertake studies deemed to be in the best interest of the locality, including cooperative agreements with cities or towns in neighboring states where problems of common interest are deemed to exist. The board or commission may be authorized to accept technical and financial assistance from other public agencies or private organizations, subject to the approval of the appointing authority.

(c) Within the limit of the funds appropriated to it, a planning board or commission may engage technical or clerical assistance to aid in the discharge of its duties. Where a city or town provides for the establishment of a planning department, responsible to the chief administrative officer or city or town council, the department may, in addition to its other duties, be assigned to provide technical assistance to the planning board or commission and to make studies and prepare plans and reports for the board or commission as provided in § 45-22-7.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-20 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-31 / Section 45-31-20
§ 45-31-20. Administrative appropriations.
Status: in_force

When the agency created for any community becomes authorized to transact business and exercise its powers, the legislative body of the community may at that time, and from time to time thereafter, make an estimate of the amount of money required for the administrative purposes of the agency and may appropriate amounts to the agency as it deems necessary.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-55-8 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-55 / Section 45-55-8
§ 45-55-8. Sole source procurement and emergency procurements.
Status: in_force

(a) A contract may be awarded for a supply, service, or construction item without competition when, under published regulations, the purchasing officer determines, in writing, that there is only one source for the required supply, service, or construction item.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the purchasing agent may make or authorize others to make emergency procurements when there exists a threat to public health, welfare, or safety under emergency conditions as defined in regulations or where the procurement will be in the best interest of the city as established by properly promulgated rules and regulations; provided, that emergency procurements shall be made with as much competition as is practicable under the circumstances. A written determination of the basis for the emergency, and for the selection of the particular contractor, shall be included in the contract file.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-4 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-12 / Section 45-12-4
§ 45-12-4. Borrowing in anticipation of taxes.
Status: in_force

Any city or town by resolution of its city or town council may borrow money in each financial year in anticipation of the receipt of the proceeds of the annual tax due or to become due in that financial year upon the taxable property within the city or town, an amount which, together with any money borrowed in anticipation of taxes in any prior year which may remain unpaid, shall not exceed in the aggregate the total tax levy of the then current financial year, or which if no tax levy was made, shall not exceed the tax levy of the next preceding financial year, the money borrowed to be used and expended for the payment of the current liabilities and expenses of the city or town, and may issue its negotiable notes therefor. Notes issued under authority of this section shall bear upon their face the notation issued in anticipation of taxes assessed as of December 31,  and shall be made payable not later than one year from their date, but may be refunded or paid by the issue of new notes bearing the notation and payable not later than one year from the date of the original notes so refunded or paid. The failure of a city or town to comply with any time requirement or deadline imposed by general law, special law or charter in relation to the levy or assessment of taxes shall not affect the validity of notes issued pursuant to this section. Every city and town borrowing money under the provisions of this section shall assess and levy a tax in each financial year sufficient to provide funds for the payment of all outstanding notes previously issued in anticipation of taxes of the preceding financial year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-19-8 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-19 / Section 45-19-8
§ 45-19-8. Administration of fire fighters relief.
Status: in_force

The fund shall be used for the relief of fire fighters, injured in the performance of their duty at a fire or in going to or returning from the fire, and for the relief of the widows, widowers, or domestic partners and children of fire fighters killed in the performance of their duty, in the manner and to the amount determined by the board of fire fighters relief in the department of labor and training, which board shall administer the fund for the relief of fire fighters as provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-5.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-53 / Section 45-53-5.1
§ 45-53-5.1. Appeals  Judicial review.
Status: in_force

(a) Effective January 1, 2024, as a replacement to § 45-53-5. A decision of a local review board may be appealed by the applicant or an aggrieved party, as defined by § 45-24-31, to the superior court for the county in which the property is situated. The appeal shall be taken within twenty (20) days after the date of the recording and posting of the decision by the local review board, by filing with the superior court a complaint that contains a statement of the prior proceedings and the reasons upon which the appeal is based. The complaint shall name the local review board as the appellee and serve the local review board with the appeal within twenty (20) days of filing of the appeal. If an aggrieved party who or that is not the applicant files an appeal, the original applicant shall be named as a party and served in the same manner as the local review board.

(b) The local review board shall not be required to answer the complaint, but it shall submit the complete local review board record to superior court within thirty (30) days of receiving service of the complaint. Should the local review board fail to file the record within thirty (30) days, the applicant may move for default.

(c) The appeal shall be expedited and given priority on the court calendar as soon as proof of service of the complaint on the local review board is filed. The appeal shall be decided as soon as possible by the superior court, without delay.

(d) The review shall be conducted by the superior court without a jury. The court shall consider the record of the hearing before the local review board and, if it appears to the court that additional evidence is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may allow any party to the appeal to present that evidence in open court, which evidence, along with the record, constitutes the record upon which the determination of the court is made.

(e) The superior court shall review the appeal under the following standards:

(1) Whether the decision was arbitrary and capricious or clearly erroneous in light of considerations regarding:

(i) The consistency of the decision to deny or condition the permit with the approved affordable housing plan;

(ii) The extent to which the community meets or plans to meet housing needs, as defined in an affordable housing plan, including, but not limited to, the ten percent (10%) goal for existing low- and moderate-income housing units as a proportion of year-round housing;

(iii) The consideration of environmental protection;

(iv) The states need for low- and moderate-income housing;

(v) The need to protect the health and safety of the occupants of the proposed housing or the residents of the city or town;

(vi) The need to promote better site and building design in relation to the surroundings or to preserve open space; and

(vii) Whether the reasons for denial, local zoning or land use ordinances, requirements and regulations are applied as equally as possible to both subsidized and unsubsidized housing.

(f) If the appeal is by an applicant for a decision approving an application with conditions, the superior court shall, in addition to reviewing the standards and considerations set forth in subsection (e) of this section, determine whether such conditions and requirements imposed make the construction or operation of the housing infeasible.

(g) The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the local review board as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. The court may affirm the decision of the local review board or remand the case for further proceedings, or may reverse or modify the decision if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because of findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions that were arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable.

(h) An aggrieved party may, within twenty (20) days from the date of entry of the judgment of superior court, petition the supreme court of the state of Rhode Island for a writ of certiorari to review any questions of law involved. The petition for a writ of certiorari shall set forth the errors claimed. Upon the filing of such a petition with the clerk of the supreme court, the supreme court may, if it sees fit, issue its writ of certiorari to the superior court to certify to the supreme court the record of the record under review, or so much thereof as was submitted to the superior court by the parties, together with any additional record of the proceedings in the superior court.

(i) Effective January 1, 2024, all matters pending before the state housing appeals board shall be transferred to superior court for the county in which the property is situated by the applicant filing a complaint in superior court and providing a copy of the complaint to the attorney representing the local review board within ten (10) days of filing. An applicant with an appeal pending before the state housing appeals board shall have until March 1, 2024, to file the complaint transferring the matter to superior court for the county in which the property is situated. The parties shall be required to file the entire record before the state housing appeals board with superior court within forty-five (45) days of the filing of the complaint.

(j) Effective January 1, 2024, this section shall replace the provisions of § 45-53-5 and any reference in the general laws to § 45-53-5 shall mean § 45-53-5.1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-28-2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-28 / Section 45-28-2
§ 45-28-2. City or town authority for extension of operations.
Status: in_force

(a) For the purpose of cooperating with and assisting cities and towns, a housing authority may exercise its powers in the territory within the boundaries of any city or town not included in the area in which the housing authority is then authorized to function, or in any designated portion of that territory, after the governing body of the city or town, as the case may be, adopts an ordinance or resolution declaring that there is a need for the authority to function in the territory or in a designated portion of it.

(b) If a housing authority has previously been authorized to exercise its powers in the territory or designated portion, the ordinance or resolution shall not be adopted unless the housing authority finds that ultimate economy would thereby be promoted, and the housing authority shall not initiate any housing project in that territory or designated portion after the adoption of the ordinance or resolution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-25-10.5 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-25 / Section 45-25-10.5
§ 45-25-10.5. City of Woonsocket housing authority.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 45-25-10, commencing January 1, 2002 the housing authority of the city of Woonsocket is expanded in size from five (5) members to seven (7) members. The two (2) additional members shall be residents of public housing facilities and/or recipients of the authoritys Section 8 tenant based program in the city of Woonsocket. Each shall be appointed for a four (4) year term by the mayor, who shall make the appointments from a list of interested residents of the public housing facilities and/or recipients of the authoritys Section 8 tenant based program in the city of Woonsocket as submitted by the executive director. The method of selection of the residents to the list shall be determined by the mayor. If any resident commissioner no longer lives in public housing and/or is no longer a recipient of the authoritys Section 8 tenant based program in the city of Woonsocket, his or her office shall be deemed vacated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-4-21 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-4 / Section 45-4-21
§ 45-4-21. Combination of voting precincts for special school committee election in the town of Coventry.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, the Coventry board of canvassers shall combine school committee voting precincts for a special election in 2019 to fill a vacancy on the Coventry School Committee. The precincts shall be combined so that there shall be two (2) voting precincts. Voting shall take place at Summit Baptist Church and Maple Root Baptist Church.

(b) Once the voting precincts are combined as provided in subsection (a), the local board shall advertise the combination precincts in a newspaper of general circulation in the town no less than seven (7) days prior to the special election.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-2-22 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-2 / Section 45-2-22
§ 45-2-22. Arson prevention programs.
Status: in_force

Every city and town has the power to establish an arson prevention program to train and provide technical assistance to community groups in the collection and assimilation of data pertaining to the identification of real property with a high probability for potential arson.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-29-2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-29 / Section 45-29-2
§ 45-29-2. Power of authority to take by eminent domain.
Status: in_force

Any housing authority created under any housing authorities law, now in force or hereafter enacted, may take by eminent domain any land, or any interest in it, situated within the city or town where that authority is located, whenever it is judged by the authority that the acquisition of the land, or interest in it, is necessary for a housing project.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-55-12 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-55 / Section 45-55-12
§ 45-55-12. Prequalification of contractors  General.
Status: in_force

The municipality may provide for prequalification of suppliers as responsible prospective contractors for particular types of supplies, services, and construction. Municipalities which choose to provide for prequalification of suppliers shall adopt regulations for prequalification in the same manner provided for in the adoption of ordinances in the manner provided for in the legislative or home rule charter of the municipality. Solicitation mailing lists of potential contractors of supplies, services, and construction shall include, but need not be limited to, prequalified contractors. Prequalification shall not foreclose a written determination:

(1) Between the time of the bid opening or receipt of offers and the making of an award, that a prequalified supplier is not responsible; or

(2) That a supplier who is not prequalified at the time of bid opening or receipt of offers is responsible.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-3-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-3 / Section 45-3-1
§ 45-3-1. Periodic elective meetings.
Status: in_force

A town meeting shall be held annually or biennially as required by law in each town, for the election of those town officers as are required by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-33_45-24-33 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-33_45-24-33
§ 45-24-33. Standard provisions. [Effective until January 1, 2026.]45-24-33. Standard provisions. [Effective January 1, 2026.]
Status: in_force

(a) A zoning ordinance shall address each of the purposes stated in § 45-24-30 and shall address, through reasonable objective standards and criteria, the following general provisions which are numbered for reference purposes only except as prohibited by § 45-24-30(b), § 45-24-30(c), or § 45-24-30(d):

(1) Permitting, prohibiting, limiting, and restricting the development of land and structures in zoning districts, and regulating those land and structures according to their type and the nature and extent of their use;

(2) Regulating the nature and extent of the use of land for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, agricultural, open space, or other use or combination of uses, as the need for land for those purposes is determined by the city or towns comprehensive plan;

(3) Permitting, prohibiting, limiting, and restricting buildings, structures, land uses, and other development by performance standards, or other requirements, related to air and water and groundwater quality, noise and glare, energy consumption, soil erosion and sedimentation, and/or the availability and capacity of existing and planned public or private services;

(4) Regulating within each district and designating requirements for:

(i) The height, number of stories, and size of buildings;

(ii) The dimensions, size, lot coverage, layout of lots or development areas and floor area ratios provided that zoning ordinances must exclude any portion of a basement as defined in § 45-24.3-5 from the calculation of floor area ratio;

(iii) The density and intensity of use;

(iv) Access to air and light, views, and solar access;

(v) Open space, yards, courts, and buffers;

(vi) Parking areas, road design, and, where appropriate, pedestrian, bicycle, and other circulator systems;

(vii) Landscaping, fencing, and lighting;

(viii) Appropriate drainage requirements and methods to manage stormwater runoff;

(ix) Public access to waterbodies, rivers, and streams; and

(x) Other requirements in connection with any use of land or structure;

(5) Permitting, prohibiting, limiting, and restricting development in flood plains or flood hazard areas and designated significant natural areas;

(6) Promoting the conservation of energy and promoting energy-efficient patterns of development;

(7) Providing for the protection of existing and planned public drinking water supplies, their tributaries and watersheds, and the protection of Narragansett Bay, its tributaries and watershed;

(8) Providing for adequate, safe, and efficient transportation systems; and avoiding congestion by relating types and levels of development to the capacity of the circulation system, and maintaining a safe level of service of the system;

(9) Providing for the preservation and enhancement of the recreational resources of the city or town;

(10) Promoting an economic climate that increases quality job opportunities and the overall economic well-being of the city or town and the state;

(11) Providing for pedestrian access to and between public and private facilities, including, but not limited to, schools, employment centers, shopping areas, recreation areas, and residences;

(12) Providing standards for, and requiring the provision of, adequate and properly designed physical improvements, including plantings, and the proper maintenance of property;

(13) Permitting, prohibiting, limiting, and restricting land use in areas where development is deemed to create a hazard to the public health or safety;

(14) Permitting, prohibiting, limiting, and restricting extractive industries and earth removal and requiring restoration of land after these activities;

(15) Regulating sanitary landfill, except as otherwise provided by state statute;

(16) Permitting, prohibiting, limiting, and restricting signs and billboards and other outdoor advertising devices;

(17) Designating airport hazard areas under the provisions of chapter 3 of title 1, and enforcement of airport hazard area zoning regulations under the provisions established in that chapter;

(18) Designating areas of historic, cultural, and/or archaeological value and regulating development in those areas under the provisions of chapter 24.1 of this title;

(19) Providing standards and requirements for the regulation, review, and approval of any proposed development in connection with those uses of land, buildings, or structures specifically designated as subject to development plan review in a zoning ordinance;

(20) Designating special protection areas for water supply and limiting or prohibiting development in these areas, except as otherwise provided by state statute;

(21) Specifying requirements for safe road access to developments from existing streets, including limiting the number, design, and location of curb cuts, and provisions for internal circulation systems for new developments, and provisions for pedestrian and bicycle ways;

(22) Reducing unnecessary delay in approving or disapproving development applications through provisions for preapplication conferences and other means;

(23) Providing for the application of the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act, chapter 37 of title 34, the United States Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (FHAA); the Rhode Island Civil Rights of People with Disabilities Act, chapter 87 of title 42; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; and

(24) Regulating drive-through windows of varied intensity of use when associated with land-use activities and providing standards and requirements for the regulation, review, and approval of the drive-through windows, including, but not limited to:

(i) Identifying within which zoning districts drive-through windows may be permitted, prohibited, or permitted by special-use permit;

(ii) Specifying requirements for adequate traffic circulation; and

(iii) Providing for adequate pedestrian safety and access, including issues concerning safety and access for those with disabilities.

(b) A zoning ordinance may include special provisions for any or all of the following:

(1) Authorizing development incentives, including, but not limited to, additional permitted uses, increased development and density, or additional design or dimensional flexibility in exchange for:

(i) Increased open space;

(ii) Increased housing choices;

(iii) Traffic and pedestrian improvements;

(iv) Public and/or private facilities; and/or

(v) Other amenities as desired by the city or town and consistent with its comprehensive plan. The provisions in the ordinance shall include maximum allowable densities of population and/or intensities of use and shall indicate the type of improvements, amenities, and/or conditions. Conditions may be made for donation in lieu of direct provisions for improvements or amenities;

(2) Establishing a system for transfer of development rights within or between zoning districts designated in the zoning ordinance; and

(3) Regulating the development adjacent to designated scenic highways, scenic waterways, major thoroughfares, public greenspaces, or other areas of special public investment or valuable natural resources.

(c) Slope of land shall not be excluded from the calculation of the buildable lot area or the minimum lot size, or in the calculation of the number of buildable lots or units.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict a municipalitys right, within state and local regulations, to establish its own minimum lot size per zoning district in its town or city.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-63-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-63 / Section 45-63-1
§ 45-63-1. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:

(1) A stormwater control system which provides for the collection, treatment, storage and disposal of stormwater provides benefits and services to all property within a municipality.

(2) Such benefits include, but are not limited to, the provision of adequate systems of collection, conveyance, detention, treatment and release of stormwater, the reduction of hazards to property and life resulting from stormwater run off, improvement in general health and welfare through reduction of undesirable stormwater conditions and improvement to the water quality in the stormwater and surface water systems and their receiving waters.

(3) That portions of the town of Middletown do not have the benefit of stormwater control systems or the systems are antiquated and/or ineffective.

(4) That construction of adequate stormwater control systems in areas of the town of Middletown not presently served by stormwater control systems would further the goals of reducing hazards to life and property through reduction of undesirable stormwater conditions, improvement to the water quality and improvement in general health and welfare.

(5) That the town of Middletown desires to provide such stormwater control systems to areas in need of same.

(6) That in order to provide such facilities the town is in need of a funding mechanism to help defray the cost of installation of same.

(7) That it is the policy of the state of Rhode Island to empower and assist the local municipalities to meet the needs of residents, reduce hazards to life and property and improve water quality.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-8-4 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-8 / Section 45-8-4
§ 45-8-4. Certified copies of statements of accounts.
Status: in_force

Every person paying taxes on real or personal estate in the town is entitled to certified copies of a statement of accounts, and of any vouchers, from the town treasurer, upon payment to the treasurer of the fees for copying and certifying allowed to town clerks for these services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-10-9 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-10 / Section 45-10-9
§ 45-10-9. Access of auditors to records.
Status: in_force

In order to carry out the purpose of this chapter, the certified public accountant or accountants shall have access to all of the municipalitys books of account, tax warrant books, tax bills, receipts, vouchers, check books, cancelled checks, correspondence, bank books, documents, records, and all other information directly or otherwise pertaining to those accounts.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-4-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-4 / Section 45-4-6
§ 45-4-6. Determination of number of council members to be elected.
Status: in_force

Before the election of members of the town council is begun at the town meeting, the electors shall determine the number of officers to be elected, except as may otherwise be specifically prescribed by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-16-12 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-16 / Section 45-16-12
§ 45-16-12. Penalty for serving process after disqualification  Exemption from liability for refusal to serve.
Status: in_force

(a) Any town sergeant or town constable who, being disqualified and debarred from serving or executing any writ or process returnable to any court of the state under the provisions of chapter 5 of title 9, shall serve or execute, or pretend or attempt to serve or execute, any writ or process while disqualified and debarred, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(b) Any town sergeant or town constable, while disqualified and debarred, shall not be bound or obliged to serve or execute any writ or process returnable to any court, although the writ or process is directed or given to him or her, and shall be exempt and free from all liability for his or her refusal or neglect to serve or execute any writ or process.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-18-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-18 / Section 45-18-1
§ 45-18-1. Appropriations authorized.
Status: in_force

Any city or town may annually appropriate, in the manner provided by law for appropriations and expenditures by a city or town, a sum to be expended and paid to any volunteer fire company or companies or other organization or organizations created, for the purpose of and engaged in the work of extinguishing fires and suppressing fire hazards within the limits of the city or town, whether the company or companies or organization or organizations incorporated or not, to be used by the volunteer fire company or companies or organization or organizations for equipment, property, salary, or other expenses in connection with and for the work of extinguishing fires and suppressing fire hazards within the limits of the city or town; provided, that the town of Cumberland may annually appropriate funds to any and all the incorporated fire districts in the town for any purpose authorized by the charter of the district or districts.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-54-3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-54 / Section 45-54-3
§ 45-54-3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings, unless the context indicates another or different meaning or intent:

(1) Bonds means any bonds, interim certificates, notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness of the corporation issued pursuant to this chapter;

(2) Construction means and includes acquisitions, construction, repair, rehabilitation, development, and installation, and the term to construct means and includes, to acquire, to construct, to repair, to rehabilitate, to develop, and to install, all in a manner as may be deemed desirable;

(3) Corporation means the municipal detention facility corporation created under this chapter;

(4)(i) Cost, as applied to any project to be constructed or acquired by the corporation, includes: the cost of acquisition or construction and, if the project consists of public facilities, the cost of acquisition of all land, rights-of-way, property, rights, easements, and interests acquired by the corporation for the construction; the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which the buildings or structures may be moved; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges; interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction; the cost of estimates and planning, engineering and legal services, plans, specifications, and surveys; estimates of costs and of revenues; other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the construction; administrative expenses; and other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the construction, the financing of the construction, and the placing of the project in operation.

(ii) The word cost, as applied to any project which the corporation may be authorized to acquire, means the amount of the purchase price of any public equipment or, if the project consists of public facilities, the amount of any condemnation award in connection with the acquisition of the project, and includes: the cost of acquiring all of the capital stock of the corporation owning the project, if that is the case, and the amount to be paid to discharge all of the obligations of the corporation in order to vest title to the project, which may be determined by the corporation to be necessary prior to the financing of the project; interest during the period of construction of the improvements and for one year thereafter; the cost of all lands, properties, rights, easements, franchises, and permits acquired; the cost of planning, engineering and legal services, plans, specifications, and surveys; estimates of cost and of revenues; other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the acquisition or improvement; administrative expenses; and other expense as may be necessary or incident to the financing of the acquisition or improvement and the placing of project in operation by the corporation.

(iii) The word cost includes the cost of purchase and installation of solar, wind, and renewable energy systems, which include solar thermal, solar, electric, and wind energy systems that provide heating, cooling, hot water, or electricity to a building, together with equipment for collection, storage, distribution, and control, including components of a building specifically designed to retain heat derived from solar energy;

(5) Council means the city or town council of a municipality;

(6) Detention facility means land, buildings, or improvements used for the purposes of detaining prisoners in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(7) Director means one of the members of the corporation appointed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(8) Federal agency means and includes the United States of America, and any department of, or any corporation, agency, or instrumentality created, designated, or established by, the United States of America;

(9) Improvement means and includes extension, enlargement, and improvement, and the term to improve means and includes, to extend, to enlarge, and to improve, all in a manner as may be deemed desirable;

(10) Municipality means and includes any city or town within the state now existing or hereafter created;

(11) Owner means and includes all individuals, incorporated companies, copartnerships, societies, or associations, and, also, all municipalities and political subdivisions, and all public agencies and instrumentalities, having any title or interest in any property, rights, easements, or franchises authorized to be acquired under the provisions of this chapter;

(12) Persons means and includes natural persons, firms, associations, corporations, business trusts, partnerships, and public bodies;

(13) Project means any detention facility or public equipment which the corporation is authorized to construct, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, acquire, install, or operate under the provisions of this chapter, and includes all real and personal property related to it;

(14) Public equipment means and includes all tangible personal property, new or used, including, without limiting the generality of the preceding, all machinery, equipment, transportation equipment, maintenance equipment, construction equipment, sanitation equipment, police, fire, and public safety equipment, and all other things and rights usually included within that term, including any and all interests in property which are less than full title, as leasehold interests, security interests, and every other interest or right, legal or equitable; provided, that the public equipment is related to and used in connection with a detention facility; and

(15) State means and includes the state of Rhode Island, and any office, department, board, commission, bureau, division, authority, public corporation, agency, or instrumentality of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-17 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-15 / Section 45-15-17
§ 45-15-17. Appeals from boards and commissions.
Status: in_force

In any case where an appeal is allowed from the decision of any board or commission of any city or town, it is sufficient to name the board or commission itself as a party respondent or as a defendant without the necessity of naming individual members of the board or commission as parties respondent or as defendants. The chairperson, or in his or her absence, the vice chairperson of the board or commission shall be the attorney for purposes of service of process for all such appeals.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-29-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-29 / Section 45-29-6
§ 45-29-6. Payment of agreed price for land.
Status: in_force

If any person agrees with the authority for the price of the land, or interest in it, taken pursuant to this chapter, the court, upon the application of the parties in interest, may order that the sum agreed upon be paid immediately from the money deposited, as the just compensation to be awarded in the proceeding.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-25-10.7 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-25 / Section 45-25-10.7
§ 45-25-10.7. City of Central Falls housing authority.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 45-25-10, the housing authority of the city of Central Falls shall consist of five (5) members, one of whom shall be a resident under an existing lease of a public housing facility or resident under an existing lease who is being assisted under the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenant-based program in the city of Central Falls and be at least eighteen (18) years of age. Said resident shall be appointed for a five-year (5) term by the mayor who shall make the appointment from a list of persons submitted to the mayor by the executive director of the housing authority. The list shall contain no fewer than three (3) nominees. If fewer than three (3) nominees desire or express a willingness to be considered for appointment, the mayor may select one resident from the number of nominees who desire or express a willingness to be considered. The method of selection of the residents to the list shall be determined by the mayor. If the appointed resident member no longer lives in public housing, their office shall be deemed vacated. The commission members of the city housing authority of the city of Central Falls shall be approved by a majority of the members of the Central Falls city council and shall also be residents of the city of Central Falls during the term of their appointment to the housing authority. If any appointed member no longer lives in the city, their office shall be deemed vacated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-3-26 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-3 / Section 45-3-26
§ 45-3-26. Town meetings to be open.
Status: in_force

All town meetings are open to the public, including representatives of the press and news media; provided, that, in the event that there are space constraints, voters shall be admitted to the meetings before non-voters. Non-voters may be seated or assigned to a separate area as indicated by the moderator.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-55-3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-55 / Section 45-55-3
§ 45-55-3. Purchasing agent  Appointment  Duties.
Status: in_force

Within each city or town or quasi public agency there shall be designated a person or persons to act as purchasing officer to exercise the powers and duties as established in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-32-15 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-32 / Section 45-32-15
§ 45-32-15. Declaration of intent to change streets.
Status: in_force

If the plan provides for the opening, closing, widening, or changing the grade of existing streets or alleys or any other modification of the existing street layout in the project area, the legislative body shall declare its intention to institute these proceedings at the time or in connection with the adoption of the plan.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-53 / Section 45-53-6
§ 45-53-6. Powers of state housing appeals board. [Expires January 1, 2024.]
Status: in_force

(a) Effective until January 1, 2024, the state housing appeals board shall have the powers to: (i) Adopt, amend, and repeal rules and regulations that are consistent with this chapter and are necessary to implement the requirements of §§ 45-53-5, 45-53-6, and 45-53-7; (ii) Receive and expend state appropriations; and (iii) Establish a reasonable fee schedule, which may be waived, to carry out its duties.

(b) In hearing the appeal, the state housing appeals board shall determine whether: (i) In the case of the denial of an application, the decision of the local review board was consistent with an approved affordable housing plan, or if the town does not have an approved affordable housing plan, was reasonable and consistent with local needs; and (ii) In the case of an approval of an application with conditions and requirements imposed, whether those conditions and requirements make the construction or operation of the housing infeasible and whether those conditions and requirements are consistent with an approved affordable housing plan, or if the town does not have an approved affordable housing plan, are consistent with local needs.

(c) In making a determination, the standards for reviewing the appeal include, but are not limited to:

(1) The consistency of the decision to deny or condition the permit with the approved affordable housing plan and/or approved comprehensive plan;

(2) The extent to which the community meets or plans to meet housing needs, as defined in an affordable housing plan, including, but not limited to, the ten percent (10%) goal for existing low- and moderate-income housing units as a proportion of year-round housing;

(3) The consideration of the health and safety of existing residents;

(4) The consideration of environmental protection; and

(5) The extent to which the community applies local zoning ordinances and review procedures evenly on subsidized and unsubsidized housing applications alike.

(d) If the appeals board finds, in the case of a denial, that the decision of the local review board was not consistent with an approved affordable housing plan, or if the town does not have an approved affordable housing plan, was not reasonable and consistent with local needs, it shall vacate the decision and issue a decision and order approving the application, denying the application, or approving with various conditions consistent with local needs. If the appeals board finds, in the case of an approval with conditions and requirements imposed, that the decision of the local review board makes the building or operation of the housing infeasible, and/or the conditions and requirements are not consistent with an approved affordable housing plan, or if the town does not have an approved affordable housing plan, are not consistent with local needs, it shall issue a decision and order, modifying or removing any condition or requirement so as to make the proposal no longer infeasible and/or consistent, and approving the application; provided, that the appeals board shall not issue any decision and order that would permit the building or operation of the housing in accordance with standards less safe than the applicable building and site plan requirements of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, whichever agency is financially assisting the housing. Decisions or conditions and requirements imposed by a local review board that are consistent with approved affordable housing plans and/or with local needs shall not be vacated, modified, or removed by the appeals board notwithstanding that the decision or conditions and requirements have the effect of denying or making the applicants proposal infeasible.

(e) The appeals board or the applicant has the power to enforce the orders of the appeals board by an action brought in the superior court. The local review board shall carry out the decision and order of the appeals board within thirty (30) days of its entry and, upon failure to do so, the decision and order of the appeals board is, for all purposes, deemed to be the action of the local review board, unless the applicant consents to a different decision or order by the local review board. The decision and order of the appeals board is binding on the city or town, which shall immediately issue any and all necessary permits and approvals to allow the construction and operation of the housing as approved by the appeals board.

(f) The state housing appeals board shall:

(1) Upon an appeal of the applicant prior to August 1, 2004, rule on December 1, 2004, on the substantial completeness of applications as of February 13, 2004, that were affected by the moratorium established by § 45-53-4(b).

(i) The determination of substantial completeness shall be based on whether there was on or before February 13, 2004, substantial completeness of substantially all of the following:

(A) A written request to the zoning board of review to submit a single application to build or rehabilitate low- or moderate-income housing in lieu of separate applications to the application local boards;

(B) A written list of variances, special use permits and waivers requested to local requirements and regulations, including local codes, ordinances, bylaws or regulations, including any requested waivers from the land development or subdivisions regulations, and a proposed timetable for completion of the project;

(C) Evidence of site control;

(D) Evidence of eligibility for a state or federal government subsidy, including a letter from the funding agency indicating the applicant and the project;

(E) Site development plans showing the locations and outlines of proposed buildings; the proposed location, general dimensions, and materials for street, drives, parking areas, walks, and paved areas; proposed landscaping improvements and open areas within the site; and the proposed location and types of sewage, drainage, and water facilities;

(F) A report on existing site conditions and a summary of conditions in the surrounding areas, showing the location and nature of existing buildings, existing street elevations, traffic patterns and character of open areas, including wetlands and flood plains, in the neighborhood;

(G) A tabulation of proposed buildings by type, size (number of bedrooms, floor area) and ground coverage and a summary showing the percentage of the tract to be occupied by buildings, by parking and other paved vehicular areas and by open spaces;

(H) A master plan, if the development proposal is for a major or minor land development plan or a major or minor subdivision;

(I) A sample land lease or deed restrictions with affordability liens that will restrict use as low- and moderate-income housing units for a period of not less than thirty (30) years; and

(J) The list of all persons entitled to notice in accordance with § 45-24-53.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (f)(1) of this section, if the zoning board of review determined the application to be substantially complete and/or acted in a manner demonstrating that it considered the application substantially complete for the purposes of reviewing the application, the state housing appeals board shall consider the application substantially complete.

(2) Remand for hearing in accordance with the provisions of § 45-53-4 applications that are determined to be substantially complete, which hearings may be conducted (or resume) under the provisions in effect on February 13, 2004, unless the applicant and the board shall mutually agree that the hearing shall proceed under the provisions in effect on December 1, 2004, which hearings may commence on or after January 1, 2005, but shall commence not later than January 31, 2005, on applications in the order in which they were received by the town, unless a different commencement date is mutually agreed to by the applicant and the local board hearing the applications; the local review board shall not be obligated to hear, and may deny, any application affected by the moratorium unless it was determined to be substantially complete in accordance with the provisions of subsection (f)(1) of this section, and the local review board may require such additional submissions as may be specified by the town or necessary for the review of the application.

(3) Hear and decide appeals, other than those covered by subsection (f)(1) of this section, for which it took jurisdiction on or before May 1, 2004.

(4) Continue to hear and decide appeals filed by nonprofit organizations.

(5) Conduct such other business as may be reasonable and appropriate in order to facilitate an orderly transfer of activities to the state housing appeals board as it shall be constituted after January 1, 2005.

(g) This section shall sunset on January 1, 2024.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-58-9 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-58 / Section 45-58-9
§ 45-58-9. Separation of utility assets and fire protection assets.
Status: in_force

Upon April 4, 2001, ownership of the utility assets previously titled to, or otherwise owned or controlled by, the Pascoag fire district shall be transferred to the utility district, subject to any security interest of record relating to such utility assets, which security interests, if any, shall remain in full force and effect and be unimpaired by the transfer of ownership of the utility assets. All fire protection assets that are the property of Pascoag fire district on April 4, 2001 shall remain the property of the fire district. To the extent that individual assets presently titled to the Pascoag fire district cannot be classified as either utility assets or fire protection assets, the utility district and the fire district shall negotiate in good faith to transfer title to such assets to one entity or the other, with or without cost but in all cases preserving any applicable contract rights of third parties. The utility district and the fire district may agree to joint ownership or control of assets that cannot reasonably be classified as either utility assets or fire protection assets.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-10-4 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-10 / Section 45-10-4
§ 45-10-4. Annual post audit required.
Status: in_force

Each municipality and regional school district in the state, prior to the close of the fiscal year, shall retain the services of one or more independent certified public accountants holding a certificate from the state of Rhode Island, or from any other state with whom the state board of accountancy has a reciprocal relationship, to make a detailed post audit of the financial records of the municipality or regional school district for the preceding fiscal year in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and government auditing standards. School districts that are part of the primary government of a municipality shall be included in the municipalitys post audit and shall not be required to obtain a separate post audit. The selection of auditors pursuant to this section shall be subject to the final approval of the state auditor general. The municipality or school district shall not engage the auditors or enter into a contract for those services until the auditor general gives his or her written authorization. The term school district shall include regional school districts. At the request of the auditor general, the audit firm for each municipality or school district shall release any and all information obtained in the course of the engagement to the Rhode Island state auditor general (or his or her designee). This information includes, but is not limited to, financial data, analysis, work papers, and memorandum. Audit work papers of the independent auditors shall be made available to the auditor general (or his or her designee) upon request. The request for such information by the auditor general shall be responded to promptly. Failure to provide this information shall constitute a breach of contract by the audit firm. The auditor general shall have standing to bring an action in the superior court to compel the audit firm to provide the information listed in this section. In addition the auditor general shall prescribe requirements for audits of fire districts conducted pursuant to § 44-5-69.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-29-16 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-29 / Section 45-29-16
§ 45-29-16. Maps and surveys filed by authority.
Status: in_force

Upon the passage of a resolution by the city granting the petition, the authority shall cause two (2) surveys or maps of the property described in the petition to be made, one shall be filed in the land evidence records of the city and the other in the office of the authority. The filing of the surveys or maps shall be conclusive evidence of the acceptance by the authority of the terms and conditions of the resolution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-15 / Section 45-15-3
§ 45-15-3. Costs in prosecutions for ordinance violations.
Status: in_force

Officers elected by a town to prosecute for violations of the towns ordinances, bylaws, and regulations are not required to give surety for costs upon complaints made by them, but the town is directly liable to the state for costs incurred in the prosecution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-32-24.2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-32 / Section 45-32-24.2
§ 45-32-24.2. Power of eminent domain with respect to recreational redevelopment projects that create and/or preserve jobs within the state and projects financed with incremental tax revenues.
Status: in_force

(a) With respect to any project in the state that includes the financing, construction, and development of recreational projects (as defined in § 42-34-6), with planned redevelopment of the surrounding project area, and projects financed with incremental tax revenues pursuant to chapters 31, 32, 33, 33.2, and 33.4 of title 45 in municipalities with a population greater than 60,000 but less than 80,000 that will create and/or preserve jobs within the state, the provisions of this section shall apply rather than the provisions of §§ 45-32-26 through 45-32-37.

(b) The acquisition of real property for the construction of recreational projects (as defined in § 42-34-6), with planned redevelopment of the surrounding project area and projects financed with incremental tax revenues pursuant to chapters 31, 32, 33, 33.2, and 33.4 of title 45 in municipalities with a population greater than 60,000 but less than 80,000, that will create and/or preserve jobs within the state, is declared to be a public use for economic development purposes.

(c) If, for any of the purposes of this chapter, an agency shall find it necessary to acquire any real property, whether for immediate or future use, the agency may find and determine that the property, whether a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, is required for the acquisition, construction, or operation of a project, and upon that determination, the property shall be deemed to be required for public use until otherwise determined by the agency; and with the exceptions hereinafter specifically noted, the determination shall not be affected by the fact that the property has been taken for, or is then devoted to, a public use; but the public use in the hands or under the control of the agency shall be deemed superior to the public use in the hands of any other person, association, or corporation; provided further, however, that no real property or interest, estate, or right in these belonging to the state shall be acquired without consent of the state; and no real property or interest, estate, or right in these belonging to any municipality shall be acquired without the consent of the municipality; and no real property, or interest or estate in these, belonging to a public utility corporation may be acquired without the approval of the public utility commission or another regulatory body having regulatory power over the agency.

(d) As part of an agencys diligence in determining whether it is necessary to acquire certain real property, whether for immediate or future use, the agency may enter the real property and conduct environmental testing upon giving the owner not less than two (2) weeks written notice.

(e) The agency may proceed to acquire, and is authorized to and may proceed to acquire, property, whether a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, by the exercise of the right of eminent domain in the manner prescribed in this chapter.

(f) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the agency from bringing any proceedings to remove a cloud on title or any other proceedings that it may, in its discretion, deem proper and necessary, or from acquiring property by negotiation or purchase.

(g) The necessity for the acquisition of property under this chapter shall be conclusively presumed upon the adoption by the agency of a vote determining that the acquisition of the property or any interest in property described in that vote is necessary for the acquisition, construction, or operation of a project. Within six (6) months after its passage, the agency shall cause to be filed in the appropriate land evidence records a copy of its vote together with a statement signed by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the agency that the property is taken pursuant to this chapter, and also a description of the real property indicating the nature and extent of the estate or interest in the estate taken and a plat of the real property, which copy of the vote and statement of the chairperson or vice-chairperson shall be certified by the secretary of the agency and the description and plat shall be certified by the city or town clerk for the city or town within which the real property lies.

(h) Forthwith thereafter the agency shall cause to be filed, in the superior court in and for the county within which the real property lies, a statement of the sum of money estimated to be just compensation for the property taken, and shall deposit in the superior court to the use of the persons entitled to the money the sum set forth in the statement. The agency shall satisfy the court that the amount deposited with the court is sufficient to satisfy the just claims of all persons having an estate or interest in the real property. Whenever the agency satisfies the court that the claims of all persons interested in the real property taken have been satisfied, the unexpended balance shall be ordered repaid forthwith to the agency.

(i) Upon the filing of the copy of the vote, statement, description, and plat in the land evidence records, and upon the making of the deposit in accordance with the order of the superior court, title to the real property in fee simple absolute or any lesser estate or interest specified in the resolution shall vest in the agency, and that real property shall be deemed to be condemned and taken for the use of the agency and the right to just compensation for the condemned property shall vest in the persons entitled to compensation, and the agency thereupon may take possession of the real property. No sum paid unto the court shall be charged with clerks fees of any nature.

(j) After the filing of the copy of the vote, statement, description, and plat, notice of the taking of that land or other real property shall be served upon the owners of, or persons having any estate or interest in, the real property by the sheriff, or his or her deputies, of the county in which the real estate is situated by leaving a true and attested copy of the vote, statement, description, and plat with each of those persons personally, or at the last and usual place of abode in this state with some person living there, and in case any of those persons are absent from this state and have no last and usual place of abode therein occupied by any person, the copy shall be left with the person or persons, if any, in charge of, or having possession of, the real property taken of the absent persons, and another copy shall be mailed to the address of the person, if the address is known to the officer serving the notice.

(k) After the filing of the vote, description, and plat, the agency shall cause a copy to be published in some newspaper having general circulation in the city or town in which the real property lies at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks.

(l) If any party shall agree with the agency upon the price to be paid for the value of the real property so taken and of appurtenant damage to any remainder or for the value of his or her estate, right, or interest therein, the court, upon application of the parties in interest, may order that the sum agreed upon be paid forthwith from the money deposited, as the just compensation to be awarded in the proceedings.

(m) Any owner of, or person entitled to any estate or right in, or interested in any part of, the real property taken, who cannot agree with the agency upon the price to be paid for his or her estate, right, or interest in the real property taken and the appurtenant damage to the remainder, may, within three (3) months after personal notice of the taking, or if he or she has no personal notice, may, within one year from the time the sum of money estimated to be just compensation is deposited in the superior court to the use of the persons entitled to the compensation, apply by petition to the superior court for the county in which the real property is situated, setting forth the taking of his or her land or his or her estate or interest in these and praying for an assessment of damages by the court or by a jury. Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall cause twenty (20) days notice of the filing of the petition to be given to the agency by serving the chairperson or vice chairperson of the agency with a certified copy of the notice.

(n) After the service of notice, the court may proceed to the trial thereof. The trial shall be conducted as other civil actions at law are tried. The trial shall determine all questions of fact relating to the value of the real property, and any estate or interest, and the amount of this value and the appurtenant damage to any remainder and the amount of this damage, and the trial and decision or verdict of the court or jury shall be subject to all rights to except to rulings, to move for new trial, and to appeal, as are provided by law. Upon the entry of judgment in those proceedings, execution shall be issued against the money deposited in court and in default against any other property of the agency. Pre-judgment interest and post-judgment interest, notwithstanding § 9-21-10, shall be computed in accordance with either the methodology set forth in § 37-6-23 or § 9-21-10, whichever produces the lower interest cost. The interest shall be paid by the agency out of any funds appropriated and available therefor.

(o) In case two (2) or more petitioners make claim to the same real property, or to any estate or interest, or to different estate or interests in the same real property, the court shall, upon motion, consolidate their several petitions for trial at the same time, and may frame all necessary issues for the trial.

(p) If any real property or any estate or interest, in which any minor or other person not capable in law to act in his or her own behalf is interested, is taken under the provisions of this chapter, the superior court, upon the filing of a petition by or in behalf of the minor or person or by the agency, may appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor or other person. Guardians may, with the advice and consent of the superior court, and upon any terms as the superior court may prescribe, release to the agency all claims for damages for the land of the minor or other person or for any estate or interest. Any lawfully appointed, qualified, and acting guardian or other fiduciary of the estate of any minor or other person, with the approval of the court of probate within this state having jurisdiction to authorize the sale of lands and properties within this state of the minor or other person, may before the filing of any petition, agree with the minor or other person for any taking of his or her real property or of his or her interest or estate, and may, upon receiving the amount, release to the agency all claims for damages for the minor or other person for the taking.

(q) In case any owner of, or any person having an estate or interest in, the real property fails to file his or her petition, the superior court for the county in which the real property is situated, in its discretion, may permit the filing of the petition within one year subsequent to the year following the time of the deposit in the superior court of the sum of money estimated to be just compensation for the property taken; provided, the person shall have had no actual knowledge of the taking of the land in season to file the petition; and provided, no other person or persons claiming to own the real property or estate or interest shall have been paid the value; and provided, no judgment has been rendered against the agency for the payment of the value to any other person or persons claiming to own the real estate.

(r) If any real property or any estate or interest is unclaimed or held by a person or persons whose whereabouts are unknown, after making inquiry satisfactory to the superior court for the county in which the real property lies, the agency, after the expiration of two (2) years from the first publication of the copy of the vote, statement, description, and plat, may petition the court that the value of the estate or interest of the unknown person or persons be determined. After the notice by publication to any person or persons that the court in its discretion may order, and after a hearing on the petition, the court shall fix the value of the estate or interest and shall order the sum to be deposited in the registry of the court in a special account to accumulate for the benefit of the person or persons, if any, entitled to it. The receipt of the clerk of the superior court shall constitute a discharge of the agency from all liability in connection with the taking. When the person entitled to the money deposited shall have satisfied the superior court of his or her right to receive that money, the court shall cause it to be paid over to him or her, with all accumulations thereon.

(s) The superior court shall have power to make any orders with respect to encumbrances, liens, taxes, and other charges on the land, if any, as shall be just and equitable.

(t) Whenever, in the opinion of the agency, a substantial saving in the cost of acquiring title can be effected by conveying other real property, title to which is in the agency, to the person or persons from whom the estate or interest in real property is being purchased or taken, or by the construction or improvement by the agency of any work or facility upon the remaining real property of the person or persons from whom the estate or interest in real property is being purchased or taken, the agency shall be and hereby is authorized to convey that other real property to the person or persons from whom the estate or interest in real property is being purchased or taken and to construct or improve any work or facility upon the remaining land of the person or persons.

(u) At any time during the pendency of any proceedings for the assessment of damages for property or interests taken or to be taken by eminent domain by the agency, or in any appeal of any order entered in any such proceeding, the agency or any owner may apply to the court for an order directing an owner or the agency, as the case may be, to show cause why further proceedings should not be expedited, and the court may upon that application make an order requiring that the hearings proceed and that any other steps be taken with all possible expedition.

(v) In the event that an owner of, or a person entitled to any estate or right in, or interested in any part of, the real property taken (a petitioning party) files a petition with the court challenging the amount that the agency had estimated to be just compensation for the property taken (the estimated value), and the final judgment of the court, exclusive of prejudgment interest, is an amount equal to or less than the estimated value, the petitioning party shall be required to pay the reasonable attorneys fees and expenses incurred by the agency, and the reasonable expert witness fees and expenses incurred by the agency, in defending the estimated value.

(w) Chapter 64.12 of title 42 shall not apply to property taken by eminent domain pursuant to § 45-32-24.1 and this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-33-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-33 / Section 45-33-6
§ 45-33-6. Restrictions on liability on bonds.
Status: in_force

Neither the members of an agency nor any person executing the bonds are personally liable on the bonds by reason of their issuance. The bonds and other obligations of any agency (and those bonds and other obligations shall so state on their face) are not a debt of the community, the state or any political subdivision other than the agency and neither the community nor the state, or any political subdivision other than the agency, are liable for them, nor in any event are those bonds or obligations payable out of any funds or properties other than those of the agency. The bonds do not constitute an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-27-8 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-27 / Section 45-27-8
§ 45-27-8. Negotiability of bonds.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision of any law to the contrary, any bonds, interim certificates, or other obligations issued pursuant to this chapter are fully negotiable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-50-12 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-50 / Section 45-50-12
§ 45-50-12. Powers of authority.
Status: in_force

The authority is authorized and empowered:

(1) To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

(2) To adopt an official seal and alter the seal at pleasure;

(3) To maintain an office at a place or places within the municipality as it may designate;

(4) To sue and be sued in its own name, plead, and be impleaded; provided, that any and all actions against the authority are brought only in the county in which the principal office of the authority is located;

(5) To acquire, purchase, hold, and use any property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or any interest in it necessary or desirable for carrying out the purposes of the authority, and to mortgage, lease, or sell any of that property; and (without limitation of the preceding) to lease, as lessee, any property, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest in it, to lease as lessor to the municipality in which it is established, any project of the authority, and to sell, transfer, and convey to any lessee or to any other person upon terms and conditions and for considerations that the authority determines;

(6) To acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and to construct, improve, equip, furnish, maintain, renovate, repair, and operate projects, and to establish rules and regulations for the use of any project;

(7) To rent space in public facilities, as from time to time may not be needed by any governmental entity, to any person for any other purposes that the authority may determine and upon terms and in a manner that the authority may determine;

(8) To employ, in its discretion, planning, architectural, or engineering consultants, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, superintendents, managers, and any other officers, employees, and agents as may be necessary in its judgment, and to fix their compensation;

(9) To fix and revise from time to time, subject to the provisions of this chapter, and to charge and collect fees, rentals, and other charges for the use of the facilities of, or for the services rendered by, the authority or projects of the authority, at rates to be determined by the authority, for the purpose of providing for the payment of the expenses of the authority, the acquisition, construction, improvement, repair, equipping, furnishing, maintenance, and operation of its facilities and properties, and for the payment of the principal of and interest on its obligations, and to fulfill the terms and provisions of any agreements made with the purchasers or holders of any obligations;

(10) To issue bonds of the authority for any of its purposes, payable solely from the revenues pledged for their payment, and to refund its bonds, all as provided in this chapter;

(11) To borrow money in anticipation of the issuance of bonds for any of its purposes and to issue notes, certificates, or other evidences of the borrowing upon terms as may be authorized by resolution of the authority;

(12) To make and enter into all contracts and agreements necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter;

(13) Without limitation of the preceding, to borrow money from, to receive and accept grants for or in aid of construction or acquisition of projects authorized under this chapter from, and to enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with any federal agency; and to receive and accept from the state or any municipality, and from any other source, aid or contributions of money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied only for the purposes for which the grants and contributions may be made;

(14) To combine for financing purposes any two (2) or more projects authorized to be acquired or constructed under the provisions of this chapter;

(15) To be a promoter, partner, member, owner, associate, or manager of any partnership, condominium, or other enterprise or venture;

(16) To acquire in the name of the authority by purchase or otherwise, on terms and conditions and in the manner that it may deem proper, or by the exercise of the rights of condemnation in the manner provided, any public or private lands, including public parks, playgrounds, or reservations, or parts of them or rights in them, rights of way, property, rights, easements, and interests as it may deem necessary for carrying out the provisions of this chapter; provided, that all public property damaged in carrying out the powers granted by this chapter shall be restored or repaired and placed in its original condition as nearly as practicable; and

(17) To do all other acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-59-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-59 / Section 45-59-6
§ 45-59-6. Public hearing on petition.
Status: in_force

(a) The city or town council to which the petition is submitted will forthwith and in any event no later than ninety (90) days after the receipt of the petition hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving comments from all interested persons on the approval of the petition and the creation of a management district and a district management authority pursuant to the petition. Notice of the public hearing will be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks prior to the date of the hearing. The notice will state the date, time and place of the hearing and contain a description of the boundaries of the proposed district, sufficient to reasonably identify the boundaries of the proposed district, a statement to the effect that it is proposed to create a management district and a district management authority which will have the power to provide services within the management district and apportion the cost of services among the owners of real properly located in the district by means of a special tax assessment, and the office where a copy of the petition may be examined. No notice, other than the notice by publication referred to in this section to the owners of property within the proposed district is required. The boundaries of a district may be described by reference to streets or highways.

(b) At any time prior to the passage of the ordinance or resolution, the petition may be modified or amended by the petitioners or by persons authorized to act on their behalf without further advertising, provided, however, that in the event such modification or amendment to the petition would either: (1) enlarge or add additional real property to the proposed district or (2) enlarge the purpose of the proposed district management authority or (3) lessen any limitation on the powers of the district management authority, a new public hearing will be held in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-25-18.2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-25 / Section 45-25-18.2
§ 45-25-18.2. Board of tenants affairs.
Status: in_force

There is created a board of tenants affairs for each city or town having a housing authority and operating one or more housing projects as provided by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-29-26 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-29 / Section 45-29-26
§ 45-29-26. Representation of infants and people who are incompetent.
Status: in_force

When the lands or any interest or estate in them in which any infant or other person not capable in law to act in his or her own behalf, or unascertained or not in being, is interested, are taken by the city under the provisions of §§ 45-29-13  45-29-32 the court, before which the proceedings for the taking are pending, may appoint a guardian ad litem or other representative for the infant or other person not in being or unascertained, and the guardian or representative may appear and be heard in behalf of the infant or other person at any stage of the proceedings. The guardian or representative may also, with the advice and consent of the court appointing him or her, release to the city all claims for damages for the lands of the infant or other person or for any interests or estate taken in them.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-54-12 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-54 / Section 45-54-12
§ 45-54-12. Revenues.
Status: in_force

(a) The corporation is authorized and empowered to fix, revise, and collect from time to time, subject to the provisions of this chapter, fees, rentals, and other charges for the use of projects of, or the services rendered by the corporation to pay:

(1) The cost of maintaining, repairing, and operating the project or projects or portion or portions of them; and

(2) The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the bonds and notes as the bonds and notes become due and payable, and to create reserves for these purposes.

(b) The fees, rentals, and other charges are not subject to supervision or regulation by any commission, board, bureau, or agency of the state or of any municipality or other political subdivision of the state.

(c) The revenues derived from the project or projects or portion or portions of them, in connection with which the bonds or notes have been issued, may be pledged as provided in the resolution or the trust agreement. The pledge is valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made; the rentals, revenues, or other moneys so pledged and thereafter received by the corporation are immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery or further act, and the lien of any pledge is valid and binding against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the corporation, whether the parties have notice of claims. Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which a pledge is created need be filed or recorded except in the records of the corporation.

(d) The use and disposition of revenues is subject to the provisions of the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds, or of the trust agreement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-61-4 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-61 / Section 45-61-4
§ 45-61-4. Powers of councils.
Status: in_force

The city or town council of any city or town in the state, by itself or with other cities and towns, pursuant to chapter 43 of this title, and in accordance with the purposes of this chapter, are hereby authorized to adopt ordinances creating stormwater management districts, which will be empowered, pursuant to such ordinance, to:

(1) Establish a fee system and raise funds for administration and operation of the district. The fee system shall be reasonable and equitable so that each contributor of runoff to the system shall pay to the extent to which runoff is contributed and the state shall be exempted from the fee system. However, the state department of transportation shall cooperate with the municipalities in the planning and implementation of wastewater management ordinances, including the providing of funds, if available, to match the fees collected by the municipalities annually;

(2) Prepare long range stormwater management master plans;

(3) Implement a stormwater management district in accordance with regulations and model ordinances promulgated under this chapter;

(4) Retrofit existing structures to improve water quality or alleviate downstream flooding or erosion;

(5) Properly maintain existing structures within the district;

(6) Borrow for capital improvement projects by issuing bonds or notes of the city or town;

(7) Hire personnel to carry out the functions of the districts;

(8) Receive grants, loans or funding from state and federal water quality programs;

(9) Grant credits to property owners who maintain retention and detention basins or other filtration structures on their property;

(10) Make grants for implementation of stormwater management district plans;

(11) Purchase, acquire, sell, transfer, or lease real or personal property;

(12) Impose liens;

(13) Levy fines and sanctions for noncompliance;

(14) Provide for an appeals process;

(15) Contract for services in order to carry out the function of the district.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-69-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-69 / Section 45-69-1
§ 45-69-1. Coastal hazards.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of coastal hazards, including sea level rise and coastal flooding, the states twenty-one (21) coastal communities are authorized to adopt the coastal resources management councils (CRMC) coastal hazard application process applicable to a local overlay district bounded by the seven-foot (7²) sea level rise, plus one hundred- year (100) recurrence coastal storm as specified by the CRMCs shoreline change special area management plan. This local overlay district shall be for the purposes of assessing coastal hazard risk of structures by applicants seeking local building permits.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-44 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-44
§ 45-24-44. General provisions  Creation of vested rights.
Status: in_force

(a) A zoning ordinance provides protection for the consideration of applications for development that are substantially complete and have been submitted for approval to the appropriate review agency in the city or town prior to enactment of the new zoning ordinance or amendment.

(b) Zoning ordinances or other land development ordinances or regulations specify the minimum requirements for a development application to be substantially complete for the purposes of this section.

(c) Any application considered by a city or town under the protection of this section shall be reviewed according to the regulations applicable in the zoning ordinance in force at the time the application was submitted.

(d) If an application for development under the provisions of this section is approved, reasonable time limits shall be set within which development of the property must begin and within which development must be substantially completed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-59-9 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-59 / Section 45-59-9
§ 45-59-9. Purposes of authority.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as its purposes may be limited by the petition, the management district commission authority will have the following purposes within the management district:

(1) To provide for the cleaning of the public streets and sidewalks and the removal of snow;

(2) To provide for security; however, nothing contained in this section shall bestow or authorize any police powers on any security force established by this provision;

(3) To install, repair and maintain public streets and sidewalks and lighting for public streets and sidewalks;

(4) To install, repair and maintain street signs;

(5) To provide for landscaping and the repair and maintenance of public spaces;

(6) To provide for refuse collection and removal;

(7) To provide for motor vehicle parking;

(8) To sponsor and promote recreational, cultural and retail activities;

(9) To promote the development of the management district including collecting and disseminating information;

(10) To construct public facilities; and

(11) To provide such other services and facilities within the management district as may be beneficial to the management district and the property owners, tenants and other occupants in the district.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize or bestow any police powers upon the security force established in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-30 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-12 / Section 45-12-30
§ 45-12-30. Securing of bonds or notes  Trust agreements.
Status: in_force

(a) Bonds or notes issued by a city or town may be secured in whole or in part by insurance or by letters or lines of credit or other credit facilities. This insurance, letter, or line of credit or credit facility may provide for reimbursement to be made over period of time, not to exceed two (2) years beyond the maturity date of the bonds or notes secured, as the treasurer or director of finance deems proper, and may provide for reimbursement to be made and any of these notes or bonds to be issued at a rate or rates of interest as the treasurer or director of finance deems proper, including rates variable from time to time as determined by an index, bankers loan rate, or other method that may be specified in the agreement or the bond or note. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, bonds or notes secured as described in this section may, in the discretion of the treasurer or director of finance, be subject to prepayment at the option of the holder of these bonds or notes at times and prices and under circumstances that the treasurer or director of finance specifies. For the purpose of securing bonds and notes, a city or town, acting by its treasurer or director of finance, may enter into a trust agreement between the city or town and a corporate trustee which shall be a bank or trust company doing business in the state. This trust agreement, and any remarketing or other agreements necessary or incidental to the issuance of these bonds or notes, shall be in any form deemed proper by the treasurer or director of finance of the city or town, and shall be executed by its treasurer or director of finance and countersigned by its mayor or president of the town council. It shall be lawful for any bank or trust company doing business in the state to act as a depository or trustee under this trust agreement, and to furnish indemnification and pledge securities that may be required by any city or town. Any trustee under a trust agreement established pursuant to this section may bring suit upon the bonds or notes and may, either at law or equity, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings for legal or equitable relief, enforce all rights under the laws of the state or granted under this section or under the trust agreement, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required under the trust agreement to be performed by the city or town or by any officer of the city or town. All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section may be treated by the city or town as a cost of issuance.

(b) The powers granted in this section are in addition to and not in substitution for authority previously granted or subsequently granted to cities and towns or officers on behalf of cities and towns to set the terms, conditions, or details of any bonds or notes, including without limitation, the provision of bond insurance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-9-13 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-9 / Section 45-9-13
§ 45-9-13. Other state receivership laws inapplicable.
Status: in_force

No city, town, or fire district shall be placed into, or made subject to, either voluntarily or involuntarily, a state judicial receivership proceeding, and nothing in this act shall in any way pre-empt or restrict the powers and remedies available to a state-appointed receiver under Chapter 9 of Title 11 of the United States Code and the receivers ability to exercise such powers and remedies on a citys, towns, or fire districts behalf in a federal proceeding filed under Chapter 9 of Title 11 of the United States Code.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-54-24 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-54 / Section 45-54-24
§ 45-54-24. Applicability of other laws.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be construed to provide a complete additional and alternative method for doing the things authorized hereby and shall be regarded as supplemental and in addition to the powers conferred by other laws. The issuance of all bonds, notes, and other obligations of the corporation under the provisions of this chapter need not comply with the requirements of any other provision of any charter or other law, general, special or local, or of any rule or regulation of the state or the municipality applicable to the issuance of bonds. No proceedings or notice or approval are required for the issuance of any bonds, or any instrument of security for them, except as provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-56.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-56.1
§ 45-24-56.1. Administration  Authority to establish a combined review board.
Status: in_force

(a) A zoning ordinance may provide for the creation of a combined review board and for the appointment of members, including alternate members as set forth herein, and for the organization of the board, as specified in the zoning ordinance. Such board, if authorized and appointed, shall take the place of a separate planning board/commission and zoning board in the municipality. The board shall have the powers, authority, responsibilities, and duties attributable to the zoning board or planning board/commission as set forth in chapters 22, 22.2, 23, 24, 24.1, 32, and 53 of this title. A zoning ordinance may provide for remuneration to the board members and for reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. The board may engage legal, technical, or clerical assistance to aid in the discharge of its duties. The board shall establish written rules of procedure; a mailing address to which appeals and correspondence are sent; and an office where records and decisions are filed.

(b) The combined review board shall consist of at least five (5) members. A zoning ordinance shall provide for the length of term of each member, but shall not exceed five (5) years. The board shall also include at least two (2), or up to four (4) alternates to be designated as each respectively numbered alternate, their terms to be set by the ordinance, but not to exceed five (5) years. These alternate members shall sit and may actively participate in hearings. The first alternate shall vote if a member of the board is unable to serve at a hearing; the second shall vote if two (2) members of the board are unable to serve at a hearing; if there is a third alternate, such alternate shall vote if three (3) members of the board are unable to serve at a hearing; and if there is a fourth alternate, such alternate shall vote if four (4) members of the board are unable to serve at a hearing. In the absence of an alternate member or members, the next numbered alternate member or members shall serve in the position of the alternate or alternates. A minimum of four (4) members, which may include alternates, shall form a duly constituted quorum. No member or alternate may vote on any matter before the board unless they have attended all hearings concerning that matter. The zoning ordinance shall specify procedures for filling vacancies in unexpired terms of board members, and for removal of members for due cause.

(c) The agenda for a meeting of a combined review board shall state clearly which matters are to be reviewed pursuant to its local and statutory authority as the planning board.

(d) Nothing herein shall change or alter the application, procedure, voting, notice, or other requirements set forth in the chapter governing the underlying application before the board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-54-17 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-54 / Section 45-54-17
§ 45-54-17. Credit of state and political subdivisions not pledged.
Status: in_force

(a) Revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter are not deemed to constitute a debt or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or the municipality, but are payable solely from the funds provided from revenues. All revenue bonds shall contain on the face a statement to the effect that neither the state nor the municipality nor the corporation is obligated to pay the bonds or their interest except from the revenues of the project or projects on account of which the bonds are issued, and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or the municipality is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the bonds.

(b) All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter are payable solely from the funds provided under the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-13-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-13 / Section 45-13-1
§ 45-13-1. Apportionment of annual appropriation for state aid.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:

(1) Income means the most recent estimate of per-capita income for a city, town or county as reported by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

(2) Population means the most recent estimates of population for each city and town as reported by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

(3) Reference year means the second fiscal year preceding the beginning of the fiscal year in which the distribution of state aid to cities and towns is made provided however that the reference year for distributions made in fiscal year 2007-2008 shall be the third fiscal year preceding the beginning of the fiscal year 2007-2008 and provided further that the reference year for distributions made in fiscal year 2008-2009 shall be the fourth fiscal year preceding the beginning of the fiscal year 2008-2009.

(4) Tax effort means the total taxes imposed by a city or town for public purposes or the totals of those taxes for the cities or towns within a county (except employee and employer assessments and contributions to finance retirement and social insurance systems and other special assessments for capital outlay) determined by the United States Secretary of Commerce for general statistical purposes and adjusted to exclude amounts properly allocated to education expenses.

(b) Aid to cities and towns shall be apportioned as follows: For each county, city or town, let R be the tax effort divided by the square of per capita income, i.e., R = (tax effort)/(income x income).

The amount to be allocated to the counties shall be apportioned in the ratio of the value of R for each county divided by the sum of the values of R for all five (5) counties.

The amount to be allocated for all cities and for all towns within a county shall be the allocation for that county apportioned proportionally to the total tax effort of the towns and cities in that county.

The amount to be allocated to any city or town is the amount allocated to all cities or all towns within the county apportioned in the ratio of the value of R for that city (or town) divided by the sum of the values of R for all cities (or all towns) in that county; provided, further, that no city or town shall receive an entitlement in excess of one hundred forty-five percent (145%) of that city or towns population multiplied by the average per capita statewide amount of the annual appropriation for state aid to cities and towns. Any excess entitlement shall be allocated to the remainder of the cities and towns in the respective county in accordance with the provisions of this section.

For fiscal year 2004, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), aid calculations shall be based on a blended rate of ninety percent (90%) of the data from the 1990 census and ten percent (10%) of the data from the 2000 census. In each of the succeeding nine (9) fiscal years, the calculations shall be based on a blended rate that increases the percentage of data utilized from the 2000 census by ten percent (10%) from the previous year and decreases the percentage of the data utilized from the 1990 census by ten percent (10%) from the previous year.

(c) The total amount of aid to be apportioned pursuant to subsection (b) above shall be specified in the annual appropriation act of the state and shall be equal to the following:

(1) For fiscal years ending June 30, 1994 through June 30, 1998, the total amount of aid shall be based upon one percent (1%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, the total amount of aid shall be based upon one and three-tenths percent (1.3%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, the total amount of aid shall be based upon one and seven-tenths percent (1.7%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, the total amount of aid shall be based upon two percent (2.0%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(5) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, the total amount of aid shall be based upon two and four-tenths percent (2.4%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(6) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, the total amount of aid shall be based upon two and four-tenths percent (2.4%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(7) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, the total amount of aid shall be based upon two and seven-tenths percent (2.7%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(8) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, the total amount of aid shall be fifty-two million four hundred thirty-eight thousand five hundred thirty-two dollars ($52,438,532).

(9) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the total amount of aid shall be based upon three percent (3%) of total state tax revenues in the reference year.

(10) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007 the total amount of aid shall be sixty-four million six hundred ninety-nine thousand three dollars ($64,699,003).

(11) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, the total amount of aid shall be sixty-four million six hundred ninety-nine thousand three dollars ($64,699,003).

(12) [Deleted by P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 6, section 3.]

(13) [Deleted by P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 25, section 1.]

(14) [Deleted by P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 25, section 1.]

(d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 the apportionments of state aid as derived through the calculations as required by subsections (a) through (c) of this section shall be adjusted downward statewide by ten million dollars ($10,000,000).

(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, the total amount of aid shall be twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) with such distribution allocated proportionately on the same basis as the original enactment of general revenue sharing of FY 2009.

(f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 and thereafter, funding shall be determined by appropriation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-16-4.3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-16 / Section 45-16-4.3
§ 45-16-4.3. Service of process by constables.
Status: in_force

The department of business regulation, upon application being made by a town constable to serve civil process, may authorize the constable to serve or execute any process or writs issued by or returnable to any court in accordance with § 9-5-10.1. Upon being so authorized, the town constable shall have the power and authority to serve or execute all writs and process that may issue from any court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-5-20.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-5 / Section 45-5-20.1
§ 45-5-20.1. Power of city and town councils and regional school districts to jointly establish an insurance corporation, to obtain insurance, and to enter into a cooperative risk management program.
Status: in_force

(a) Cities and town councils, school committees, water and fire districts may, through passage of a resolution, establish agreements between two (2) or more cities, town councils, school committees, and water and fire districts for obtaining for obtaining or effecting insurance by self insurance, for obtaining or effecting insurance from any insurer authorized to transact insurance in the state, or for obtaining and effecting insurance secured in accordance with any other method provided by law, or by combination and of the provisions of this section for obtaining and effecting insurance. Agreements made pursuant to this section may provide for pooling of self insurance reserves, risks, claims and losses, and of administrative expenses associated with the same, among local government units.

(b) For purposes of this section the term Eligible Entities shall mean any city, town, school committee, water or fire district, or other public or quasi-municipal authority, agency or entity, or organization that is an instrumentality of such cities or towns, or any group of such cities or towns, authorities, agencies or entities which is a member of the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(c) To accomplish the purposes of this section any two (2) or more cities, towns, school committees, or water and fire districts, may authorize the creation of separate corporations (the corporation) for the purpose of: (1) issuing to the eligible entities policies of insurance and reinsurance of all types and categories, including, without being limited to, the following types and categories: property, casualty, and life, accident, and health insurance, and (2) developing and administering an interlocal risk management program. The corporations, in addition, may have as their purposes reducing the risk of its members; safety engineering; distributing, sharing, and pooling risks; acquiring excess loss insurance; and processing and defending claims against the members of the corporations. Any contributions made to the corporations for the purpose of distributing, sharing, or pooling risks shall be made on actuarially sound basis, and the corporations shall have an audit performed annually, copies of which shall be provided to the members of the corporations, and the auditor general; discrete accounts shall be kept for each risk management program developed and administered by the corporations.

(d) The corporations shall not be considered an insurance company and shall not be subject to the provisions of the laws of the state of Rhode Island regulating insurance companies and therefore shall in no way be regulated by the Rhode Island department of business regulation.

(e) The corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section will be created by filing articles of incorporation pursuant to chapter 6 of title 7 entitled Rhode Island Nonprofit Corporation Act and the articles of incorporation will be filed by an incorporator/incorporators designated by the city, town councils, school committees, or water or fire districts, authorizing the creation of the corporation. The articles of incorporation creating the corporations pursuant to the provisions of this section may contain provisions, not inconsistent with this section, that the incorporators determine to be desirable or useful in fulfilling the purposes set forth in this section. The corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section will have the powers of a nonprofit corporation created under chapter 6 of title 7 entitled Rhode Island Nonprofit Corporation Act including, without being limited to, the power to issue bonds, notes, and other obligations in any amounts and upon any terms that the corporations governing board determines.

(f) The corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section, notwithstanding the filing of its articles of incorporation pursuant to chapter 6 of title 7 entitled Rhode Island Nonprofit Corporation Act, (1) will be deemed to be public corporations, instrumentality, and agency of the state of Rhode Island acting for the benefit of the municipalities which are members of the corporations and its eligible entities but will not constitute a department of the government of the state of Rhode Island, and (2) will be deemed to be exercising public and essential governmental functions of the state of Rhode Island. No part of the net earnings of the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section will be distributable to, or inure to the benefit of, any private person. The members of the governing board of the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section will consist solely of chief executives, chief elected officials, finance directors, or treasurers of municipalities, or any other municipal officials that may be provided for in the bylaws of the corporations, and the members shall receive no compensation for the performance of their duties but each member may be reimbursed for his or her reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their duties.

(g) The bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section will not be deemed to constitute a debt or liability or obligation of the state of Rhode Island or of any political subdivision of the state or of any municipality which is a member of the corporation but will be payable solely from the revenues or assets of the corporations.

(h) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or special or general law to the contrary, each eligible entity which is a member of the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section will be authorized to enter into contracts with the corporations with respect to, among other matters, the payment of premiums and other payments, for terms not exceeding twenty-five (25) years in duration. To the extent that the obligation to pay premiums or make other payments under any contract is deemed to constitute the incurring of indebtedness by an eligible entity the contract may nevertheless be entered into without obtaining the approval of the electors of the city or town notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 45-12-19 and 45-12-20 and notwithstanding any provisions of the citys or towns charter or any special or general law to the contrary. Any contract may be entered into by an eligible entity either prior to or subsequent to the making of any appropriations which may be needed to carry out the obligations of the eligible entity under the contract.

(i) The property and assets of the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section, the income of the corporations, and any bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the corporation, their transfer, and the income from these (including any profits made on the sale thereof) will at all times be free from taxation by the state of Rhode Island or any political subdivision or other instrumentality of the state of Rhode Island, excepting inheritance, estate, and gift taxes with respect to the bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the corporations.

(j) Whenever the governing board of the corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section determines that the purposes for which the corporations were created have been substantially fulfilled and all bonds, notes, or other obligations of the corporations have been fully paid or adequate provision has been made for their payment, the corporations may be dissolved in the manner provided for nonprofit corporations pursuant to chapter 6 of title 7 entitled Rhode Island Nonprofit Corporation Act and, upon the corporations dissolution, title to all funds and assets of the corporation shall vest in and become the property of the members of the corporation in proportions that are provided for in the corporations articles of incorporation.

(k) No corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be required to pay any recording or filing fee or any transfer tax of any kind on account of papers or instruments recorded or filed by it or on its behalf.

(l) No corporations created pursuant to the provisions of this section and no agent or broker acting on behalf of the corporations shall be required to pay a surplus line premium tax of any kind on premiums for any policies of insurance and reinsurance to or from the corporations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-2-44 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-2 / Section 45-2-44
§ 45-2-44. Town of Cumberland  Municipal court.
Status: in_force

(a) The town council of the town of Cumberland may establish a municipal court and confer upon that court original jurisdiction, not withstanding any other provisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involving the violation of any ordinance, including minimum housing ordinances of the town and any violation of the provisions of chapter 24.3 of this title, entitled the Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code; provided, however, that any defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violations of the minimum housing ordinances or chapter 24.3 of this title may, within seven (7) days of conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo; and provided further, however, that any defendant found guilty of any violation of a minimum housing ordinance or of chapter 24.3 of this title, may within seven (7) days of conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the sixth division of the district court and be entitled to a trial de novo in accordance with §§ 8-8-3(a)(4) and 8-8-3.2.

(b) With respect to violations of either municipal ordinances dealing with minimum housing or chapter 24.3 et seq., of this title dealing with housing maintenance and occupancy, the town council may also confer upon the municipal court, in furtherance of the courts jurisdiction, the power to proceed according to equity:

(1) To restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, or correct a violation;

(2) To order the repair, vacation, or demolition of any dwelling, existing in violation; or

(3) To otherwise compel compliance with all of the provisions of those ordinances and statutes.

(c) The town council of the town of Cumberland is authorized and empowered to appoint a judge and clerk of the municipal court. The town council of the city is authorized and empowered to enact ordinances governing the personnel, operation, and procedure to be followed in the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs and to otherwise provide for the operation and management of the court. The municipal court may impose a sentence not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose a fine not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500), or both. The court is empowered to administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punish persons for contempt, and to execute search warrants to the extent the warrants could be executed by a judge of the district court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-27-10 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-27 / Section 45-27-10
§ 45-27-10. Mortgage of property.
Status: in_force

In connection with any project financed in whole or in part or otherwise aided by a government (whether through a donation of money or property, a loan, the insurance or guaranty of a loan, or otherwise), the authority also has power to mortgage all or any part of its property, real or personal, then owned or acquired:

(1) To vest in a government the right, upon the happening of an event of default (as defined in the mortgage), to foreclose the mortgage through judicial proceedings or through the exercise of a power of sale without judicial proceedings, so long as a government is the holder of any of the bonds secured by the mortgage.

(2) To vest in a trustee or trustees the right, upon the happening of an event of default (as defined in the mortgage), to foreclose the mortgage through judicial proceedings or through the exercise of a power of sale without judicial proceedings.

(3) To vest in other obligees the right to foreclose the mortgage by judicial proceedings.

(4) To vest in an obligee, including a government, the right in foreclosing any mortgage, to foreclose the mortgage as to all or part or parts of the property covered by the mortgage as the obligee (in its absolute discretion) elects; the institution, prosecution, and conclusion of foreclosure proceedings, and/or the sale of any parts of the mortgaged property shall not affect, in any manner or to any extent, the lien of the mortgage on the parts of the mortgaged property not included in the proceedings or not sold.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-32-7 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-32 / Section 45-32-7
§ 45-32-7. Submission of redevelopment plans  Conformity to master plan.
Status: in_force

All redevelopment plans shall be submitted to the legislative body by the redevelopment agency. Every redevelopment plan shall conform to the master or general community plan insofar as the latter applies to the redevelopment area. The agency shall consult with the planning commission of the community in formulating redevelopment plans before their submission to the legislative body. Whenever a redevelopment plan is submitted to the legislative body, a copy of the plan shall be submitted to the planning commission, which shall report to the legislative body within thirty (30) days on the redevelopment plan and its conformity to the master or general plan of the community.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-4.4 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-12 / Section 45-12-4.4
§ 45-12-4.4. Borrowing in payment of certain judgments.
Status: in_force

(a) A city or town may authorize the issuance of bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness to pay the uninsured portion of any court judgment or settlement, except any court judgment or settlement arising out of any pension obligation of a city or town; provided, however, that the outstanding principal amount, in aggregate, shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total amount of the city or towns most recently adopted municipal budget. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the towns of Coventry, Middletown, and Warren are authorized to issue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness to pay the uninsured portion of any court judgment or settlement, except any court judgment or settlement arising out of any pension obligation of a city or town; provided, however, that the outstanding principal amount, in aggregate, shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the applicable municipalitys most recently adopted municipal budget.

(b) These bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness are subject to the maximum aggregate indebtedness permitted to be issued by any city or town under § 45-12-2.

(c) The bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness may be issued to pay a judgment or settlement or may be issued to pay or refund notes issued under § 45-12-4.1.

(d) The denominations, maturities, interest rates, methods of sale, and other terms, conditions, and details of any bonds or notes issued under the provisions of this section may be fixed by the vote or resolution of the city or town council authorizing them, or if no provision is made in the vote or resolution, by the treasurer or other officer authorized to issue the bonds or notes or to hire the money; provided, that the payment of principal of bonds shall be by sufficient annual payments that will extinguish the debt at maturity, the first of these annual payments to be made not later than one year, and the last payment not later than fifteen (15) years after the date of the bonds.

(e) The bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness may be issued under this section by any political subdivision without obtaining the approval of its electors, notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 45-12-19 and 45-12-20 and notwithstanding any provision of its charter to the contrary, unless the electors when assembled in a meeting are the local legislative body for the purpose of authorizing indebtedness of the political subdivision.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-10 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-53 / Section 45-53-10
§ 45-53-10. Repurposing of vacant schools for affordable housing program.
Status: in_force

(a) There is hereby established the repurposing of school buildings for an affordable housing program (the program). The program shall be administered by the secretary of housing as set forth herein.

(b) The purpose of the program shall be to provide guidance and assistance in the repurposing of vacant and unused school buildings as identified and existing as of July 1 of each year, commencing October 1, 2022.

(c) The department of elementary and secondary education (the department) shall, commencing on October 1, 2022, on an annual basis, provide to the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, and the secretary of housing a list of all school buildings that have been abandoned or are no longer being used by a school district.

(d)(1) Each municipality shall provide the department with a complete list of buildings abandoned or no longer being used by the school district for the purposes of conducting a feasibility assessment to repurpose the building as affordable housing. The department shall also include and identify in the list those school buildings that the department anticipates will become abandoned or no longer used by a school district within the next six (6) months following the issuance of the list.

(2) The secretary of housing shall convene a task force comprised of the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, the department of environmental management, the department of health, and a fire marshal to develop assessment criteria to conduct preliminary assessments to determine if a building may be repurposed into affordable housing. Once the preliminary assessment criteria are established, the executive office of housing shall conduct the assessments for each school on the vacant schools list.

(3) If the executive office of housing finds that the assessed building meets the preliminary assessment criteria, the office may, contingent upon program funding, facilitate a feasibility study to determine the anticipated costs to repurpose the building for affordable housing. This feasibility study shall be completed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the executive office of housing has been notified of the availability of a vacant building pursuant to this section.

(4) Once a building is determined by the executive office of housing to be appropriate for repurposing as affordable housing, through a completed feasibility study, the executive office of housing, in collaboration with the respective municipality, may invite prospective developers to submit proposals for redevelopment of the site through a competitive process, with the goal of repurposing the building into affordable housing.

(e) The executive office of housing shall maintain on its website a separate page related to the repurposing of buildings for the affordable housing program. This website shall contain a listing of all buildings for which a feasibility assessment was conducted and the outcome of the assessment, including a general statement of the condition of the property, an estimate of the types of renovations, if any, that must be performed to the property, a copy of the feasibility study, and an estimate of the costs thereof. Provided, it shall be made clear on the website that these are estimates to repurpose used buildings, and that neither the state, the corporation, the division, the commission, or any instrumentality of the state or of a municipality or school district shall be liable for any estimates that are incorrect.

(f) The executive office of housing may seek to assist and facilitate persons and developers who or that want to repurpose former buildings as affordable housing. This assistance may include, but need not be limited to, technical and financial assistance, all to assist in the repurposing of the school building.

(g) The Rhode Island executive office of housing shall promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this section.

(h) The secretary of housing shall provide an annual report on or before December 31, commencing with calendar year 2023, including, but not limited to, the number of schools that are vacant and include a status report of any development and/or feasibility to repurpose a vacant building.

(i) As used herein, the term affordable housing means housing that meets the definition for low- or moderate-income housing in § 45-53-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-46-2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-46 / Section 45-46-2
§ 45-46-2. Declaration of purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the cities and towns of the state to adopt, in accordance with the provisions of the model local ordinance provided in this chapter, ordinances and programs to control erosion and sedimentation and to prevent erosion-related damage to the man-made and natural features of the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-47-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-47 / Section 45-47-6
§ 45-47-6. Applicability of chapter.
Status: in_force

This chapter applies to claims arising on all property, including residential, commercial, or industrial buildings or structures, regardless of the occupancy status at the time of the fire or explosion loss; provided, that this chapter does not apply to owner-occupied one-to four-family dwellings.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-50-24 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-50 / Section 45-50-24
§ 45-50-24. Limitation of powers.
Status: in_force

The state pledges to and agrees with any person, firm, or corporation, or federal agency subscribing to or acquiring the bonds to be issued by the authority for the construction, extension, improvement, equipping, furnishing, or enlargement of any project or part of it, that the state will not limit or alter the rights vested in the authority until all bonds at any time issued, together with their interest, are fully met and discharged. The state does further pledge to and agree with the United States, and any other federal agency, that in the event that any federal agency constructs or contributes any funds for the construction, extension, improvement, equipping, furnishing, or enlargement of any project, or any portion of it, the state will not alter or limit the rights and powers of the authority in any manner which would be inconsistent with the due performance of any agreements between the authority and the federal agency; and the authority continues to have and may exercise all powers granted by this chapter, so long as the powers are necessary or desirable for the carrying out of the purposes of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-19-16.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-19 / Section 45-19-16.1
§ 45-19-16.1. Presumption for heart disease and hypertension.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, any firefighter or police officer, as defined in § 45-19-1, who is unable to perform the duties required thereof because of an impairment of health caused by heart disease, stroke, or hypertension is presumed to have suffered an in-the-line-of duty injury/disability, unless the contrary can be proven by clear and convincing evidence; and the firefighter or police officer shall be entitled to all benefits provided for in chapters 19, 21, 21.2, and 21.3 of this title.

(b) This presumption shall not apply to firefighters or police officers hired after July 1, 2025, in the following situations:

(1) If a physical examination was conducted at the time the firefighter or police officer was hired and the examination revealed that person was suffering from heart disease or hypertension.

(2) If the firefighter or police officer had regularly or habitually used tobacco products during the five (5) years prior to any diagnosis of heart disease or hypertension or suffering a stroke.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-63 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-63
§ 45-21-63. Health insurance coverage of retired municipal employees.
Status: in_force

Any retired member of the municipal employees retirement system with a pension sufficient to pay premiums is entitled to purchase individual health insurance benefits out of the retirees pension payroll, as long as the health insurance is from a company either subject to chapters 19 and 20 of title 27, or licensed pursuant to chapter 41 of title 27. If the municipal retiree desires, the retiree is also permitted to purchase coverage for his or her dependents. In any case, it is the responsibility of the retiree to obtain health insurance and present proof of insurance to the retirement system, which shall establish rules and regulations that are reasonably necessary to carry out this section of law. Retirees purchasing health insurance under this section shall pay the full cost for health insurance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-70-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-70 / Section 45-70-1
§ 45-70-1. Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to establish requirements and standards for initial, biennial, and continuing education programs for members and alternate members of local planning boards or commissions or any combined boards or commissions or zoning boards or any historic district commission performing land planning or zoning functions as authorized pursuant to the general laws.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-2-50 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-2 / Section 45-2-50
§ 45-2-50. Town of Exeter  Municipal court.
Status: in_force

(a) The town council of the town of Exeter may establish a municipal court and confer upon that court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involving the violation of any ordinance, including, but not limited to, municipal code violations, animal regulation violations, traffic and parking violations, minimum housing ordinances of the town and any violation of the provisions of chapter 24.3 of this title, entitled the Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code; provided, however, that any defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violations of the minimum housing ordinances or chapter 24.3 of this title within the jurisdiction of the court, may within seven (7) days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo; and provided further, however, that any defendant found guilty of any violation of a minimum housing ordinance or of chapter 24.3 of this title, may within seven (7) days of conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the fourth division of the district court and be entitled to a trial de novo in accordance with §§ 8-8-3(a)(4) and 8-8-3.2.

(b) With respect to violations of either municipal ordinances dealing with minimum housing or chapter 24.3 et seq., of this title dealing with housing maintenance and occupancy, the town council may also confer upon the municipal court, in furtherance of the courts jurisdiction, the power to proceed according to equity:

(1) To restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, or correct a violation;

(2) To order the repair, vacation, or demolition of any dwelling existing in violation; or

(3) To otherwise compel compliance with all of the provisions of those ordinances and statutes.

(c) The town council of the town of Exeter is authorized and empowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court. The judge shall serve for a term of two (2) years, or concurrent with the term of each appointing council. The town council of the town is authorized and empowered to enact ordinances governing the personnel, operation, and procedure to be followed in the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs, and to otherwise provide for the operation and management of the court. The municipal court may impose sentences not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose fines not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500), or both. The court is empowered to administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punish persons for contempt, and to authorize and execute search warrants to the extent the warrants could be authorized and executed by a justice of the district court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-31 / Section 45-31-2
§ 45-31-2. Finding as to existence of substandard areas.
Status: in_force

It is found and declared that there exist in many communities in this state blighted and substandard areas, as defined in § 45-31-8, which constitute community liabilities requiring redevelopment in the interest of the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the communities in which they exist and of the people of this state generally.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-47 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-47
§ 45-21-47. Reserved power to amend or repeal  Vested rights.
Status: reserved

The right to amend, alter, or repeal this chapter at any time or from time to time is expressly reserved, and in that event the liability of the municipal employees retirement system is limited in the case of a member or a person claiming through the member to the contributions made by the member, without interest, and in the case of a municipality, to contributions made by the municipality without interest, subject to deductions prescribed in the case of withdrawal by a municipality as provided in § 45-21-6. All retirement allowances or other benefits granted by the retirement of members, and in force prior to a repeal or amendment, are vested in the beneficiaries of the retirement allowances and shall be paid in full in accordance with the terms of this chapter, and the rights of the retirement board to compel the payment by any municipality of the sum or sums necessary to provide the retirement allowances granted to members formerly employed by the municipality shall not be affected by the repeal or amendment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-21 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-31 / Section 45-31-21
§ 45-31-21. Budgetary control of agencies.
Status: in_force

Each agency transacting any business and exercising any powers shall annually submit to the legislative body of the community a proposed budget of its administrative expenses. The budget is subject to changes as the legislative body may prescribe, and its preparation and adoption, and the adoption of any changes in the budget, shall be subject to the same rules which are applicable to other agencies and departments of the community which are subject to budgetary control. No adoption is effective unless it is concurred in by the membership of the legislative body.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-9 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-12 / Section 45-12-9
§ 45-12-9. Retirement of bonds in sinking fund.
Status: in_force

Whenever a city or town has purchased any of its own outstanding bonds for investment in its sinking fund, the city or town may at the option of the sinking fund commission, if any, or by vote of the town council or city council, retire and permanently cancel the bonds, and upon that retirement all interest payments on the cancelled bonds shall cease.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-22.6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-12 / Section 45-12-22.6
§ 45-12-22.6. Cooperation of school committees.
Status: in_force

School committees, boards, or regional school districts that are independent governmental entities within a municipality shall cooperate in providing to the chief financial officer all information needed to formulate the reports and the deficit elimination plan required under this chapter. The auditor general or the state director of revenue may petition the superior court to order the school committee or board to cooperate with the municipality and provide all information requested by the chief financial officer needed to formulate a plan hereunder. The director of revenue may also direct the state controller and general treasurer to withhold state aid to the school committee until the school committee or board cooperates in the formulation of a plan.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-12-22.7 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-12 / Section 45-12-22.7
§ 45-12-22.7. Enforcement and remedies.
Status: in_force

In the event that a municipality does not comply with the requirements of this law the state auditor general or the division of municipal finance through the director of revenue may elect any or all of the following remedies:

(1) Petition the superior court for mandatory injunctive relief seeking compliance with the provisions of this section. The superior court shall make a finding of fact as to whether there has been compliance with the provisions of this section. As herein before stated, the approval or disapproval of a plan shall be conclusive upon the court in making its finding as to compliance.

(2) In the event a municipality fails to provide a year-end deficit elimination plan under § 45-12-22.3, such noncompliance shall allow for the implementation of a budget review commission pursuant to § 45-9-5.

(3) Withholding of state aid. In the event that the state director of revenue with the concurrence of the auditor general elect to withhold state aid, said amounts shall be placed in a special account within the general fund. At such time the municipality comes into compliance with the reporting requirements of this section, said funds shall be released to the municipality by order of the state director of revenue and state auditor general.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-38-2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-38 / Section 45-38-2
§ 45-38-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and terms have the following meanings:

(1) Educational facility means one or more structures suitable for use as a dormitory or other housing facility, dining hall, student union, administration building, academic building, library, laboratory, research, classroom, maintenance or storage or utility facility, and other structures or facilities related thereto or required for the instruction of students or the conducting of research or the operation of an educational institution, including parking and other facilities or structures essential or convenient for the orderly conduct of the educational institution, and also including equipment and machinery and other similar items necessary or convenient for the operations of a particular facility or structure in the manner for which its use is intended, but not including such items as books, fuel, supplies, or other items which are customarily deemed to result in a current operating charge.

(2) Governing body means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of the municipality are vested.

(3) Municipality means any city or town in the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-28 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-28
§ 45-21-28. Refund of contributions on cessation of membership.
Status: in_force

Any member who withdraws from service or who ceases to be a member for any reason other than death or retirement, shall be paid on demand the contributions which were standing to the members credit in the members individual account in the members contribution reserve, without interest. Any member who is not eligible for the receipt of a service retirement allowance or any other benefit is entitled to a refund. The acceptance of a refund by a member effects a forfeiture by the member of all rights in the system and all accrued service credits. No member shall be deemed to have forfeited any of the members accrued service credits or other rights in the system because of a change in employment from one participating municipality to another unless the member accepts a refund of the members contributions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-25 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-25
§ 45-21-25. Accidental death benefits.
Status: in_force

Upon the accidental death of a member before retirement; provided, that evidence is submitted to the retirement board proving that the death of the member was the natural and proximate result of an accident while in the performance of duty at some definite time and place, and that the death was not the result of willful negligence on the members part, the members accumulated contributions shall be paid to the members estate, or to the person having an insurable interest in the members life that the member has nominated by written designation, duly executed and filed with the retirement board, and, upon application by or on behalf of the dependents of the deceased member, the retirement board shall grant a benefit equal to one-half (Â½) the rate of compensation of the member in effect at the date of death:

(1) To his or her widow or widower or domestic partner, to continue for life unless he or she remarries or enters into a domestic partnership; or

(2) If there is no widow or widower or domestic partner, or if the widow or widower or domestic partner dies or remarries or enters into a domestic partnership before any child of the deceased member has attained the age of eighteen (18) years, then to his or her child or children under that age, divided in any manner that the retirement board in its discretion determines, to continue as a joint and survivor annuity of one-half (Â½) of that compensation until every child dies or attains that age; or

(3) If there is no widow, widower, or domestic partner or child under the age of eighteen (18) years surviving the deceased member, then to his or her dependent father or mother, as the deceased member has nominated by written designation, duly acknowledged and filed with the retirement board; or if there is no nomination, then to his or her dependent father or to his or her dependent mother, as the retirement board in its discretion directs, to continue for life.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-23-63.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-23 / Section 45-23-63.1
§ 45-23-63.1. Procedure  Tolling of expiration periods.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this chapter, all periods pertaining to the expiration of any approval issued pursuant to the local regulations promulgated under this chapter shall be tolled until June 30, 2017. For the purposes of this section, tolling shall mean the suspension or temporary stopping of the running of the applicable permit or approval period.

(b) Said tolling need not be recorded in the land evidence records to be valid; however, a notice of the tolling must be posted in the municipal planning department and near the land evidence records.

(c) The tolling shall apply only to approvals or permits in effect on November 9, 2009, and those issued between November 9, 2009, and June 30, 2017, and shall not revive expired approvals.

(d) The expiration dates for all permits and approvals issued before the tolling period began will be recalculated as of July 1, 2017, by adding thereto the number of days between November 9, 2009, and the day on which the permit or approval would otherwise have expired. The expiration dates for all permits and approvals issued during the tolling period will be recalculated as of July 1, 2017, by adding thereto the number of days between the day the permit or approval was issued and the day the permit or approval otherwise would have expired.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-46.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-24 / Section 45-24-46.1
§ 45-24-46.1. Inclusionary zoning.
Status: in_force

(a) A zoning ordinance requiring the inclusion of affordable housing as part of a development shall provide that the housing will be affordable housing, as defined in § 42-128-8.1(d)(1); that the affordable housing will constitute not less than fifteen percent (15%) of the total units proposed for the development; and that the units will remain affordable for a period of not less than thirty (30) years from initial occupancy enforced through a land lease and/or deed restriction enforceable by the municipality and the state of Rhode Island. A zoning ordinance that requires the inclusion of affordable housing as part of a development shall specify the threshold in which the inclusion of affordable housing is required, but in no event shall a minimum threshold triggering the inclusion of affordable housing be higher than ten (10) dwelling units. The total number of units for the development may include less than fifteen percent (15%) affordable units after the density bonus described in subsection (c) of this section is determined. A municipality shall not limit the number of bedrooms for applications submitted under this section to anything less than three (3) bedrooms per dwelling unit for single-family dwelling units.

(b) A zoning ordinance that includes inclusionary zoning may provide that the affordable housing must be built on-site or it may allow for one or more alternative methods of production, including, but not limited to: off-site construction or rehabilitation; donation of land suitable for development of the required affordable units; and/or the payment of a fee in lieu of the construction or provision of affordable housing units.

(c) Density bonus, zoning incentives, and municipal subsidies. For all projects subject to inclusionary zoning, subject to applicable setback, lot width, or frontage requirements or the granting of relief from the same, a municipality shall allow the addition of one market rate unit for each affordable unit required and the minimum lot area per dwelling unit normally required in the applicable zoning district shall be reduced by that amount necessary to accommodate the development. Larger density bonuses for the provision of an increased percentage of affordable housing in a development may be provided by a municipality in the zoning ordinance. The total number of units for the development shall equal the number originally proposed, including the required affordable units, plus the additional units that constitute the density bonus. Local regulations shall provide for reasonable relief from dimensional requirements to accommodate the bonus density under this section. A municipality shall provide, and an applicant may request, additional zoning incentives and/or municipal government subsidies as defined in § 45-53-3 to offset differential costs of affordable units. Available zoning incentives and municipal government subsidies may be listed in the zoning ordinance, but shall not be an exclusive list.

(1) Inclusionary zoning requirements shall not be applied where there is a limitation on the development density at the subject property under the regulations of a state agency, such as the coastal resources management council or department of environmental management that prevents the use of the density bonus set forth in this section.

(d) Fee-in-lieu. To the extent a municipality provides an option for the payment of a fee-in-lieu of the construction or provision of affordable housing, and an application seeks to utilize fee-in-lieu, the use of such fee shall be the choice of the developer or builder applied on a per-unit basis and may be used for new developments, purchasing property and/or homes, rehabilitating properties, or any other manner that creates additional low- or moderate-income housing as defined in § 45-53-3(9).

(1) Eligibility for density bonus. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, an application that utilizes a fee-in-lieu, off-site construction or rehabilitation, or donation of land suitable for development of the required affordable units shall not be eligible for the density bonus outlined in this section.

(2) An application that seeks to utilize a fee-in-lieu of the construction or provision of affordable housing must be reviewed by the planning board or commission and is not eligible for administrative review under the Rhode Island Land Development and Subdivision Review Enabling Act of 1992, codified at §§ 45-23-25  45-23-74.

(3) Amount of fee-in-lieu. For affordable single-family homes and condominium units, the per-unit fee shall be the difference between the maximum affordable sales price for a family of four (4) earning eighty percent (80%) of the area median income as determined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the average cost of developing a single unit of affordable housing. The average cost of developing a single unit of affordable housing shall be determined annually based on the average, per-unit development cost of affordable homes financed by Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation (RIHMFC) over the previous three (3) years, excluding existing units that received preservation financing.

(i) Notwithstanding subsection (d)(3) of this section, in no case shall the per-unit fee for affordable single-family homes and condominium units be less than forty thousand dollars ($40,000).

(4) Use of fee-in-lieu. The municipality shall deposit all in-lieu payments into restricted accounts that shall be allocated and spent only for the creation and development of affordable housing within the municipality serving individuals or families at or below eighty percent (80%) of the area median income. The municipality shall maintain a local affordable housing board to oversee the funds in the restricted accounts and shall allocate the funds within three (3) years of collection. The municipality shall include in the housing element of their local comprehensive plan and shall pass by ordinance, the process it will use to allocate the funds.

(e) As an alternative to the provisions of subsection (d), the municipality may elect to transfer in-lieu payments promptly upon receipt or within the three-year (3) period after receipt. A municipality shall transfer all fee-in-lieu payments that are not allocated within three (3) years of collection, including funds held as of July 1, 2025, to the executive office of housing for the purpose of developing affordable housing within that community. Funds shall be deposited into the Housing Production Fund established pursuant to § 42-128-2.1.

(f) [Deleted by P.L. 2025, ch. 278, art. 9, § 16.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-59-21 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-59 / Section 45-59-21
§ 45-59-21. Amendment.
Status: in_force

At any time after the approval of a petition and the creation of a district management authority, the boundaries of the management district and the purposes and powers of the district management authority may be amended by the filing of a petition for amendment. The petition will set forth the amendments sought; it will be signed either: (1) by not less than two-thirds ( ) of the members of the district management authority board of directors or, (2) in the event that additional property is to be included within the district, by persons who own real property located within the additional property which is to be included within the revised boundary of the district and who constitute in the aggregate, sixty percent (60%) of the aggregate assessed valuation of all real property, not exempt from taxation by law, of such additional real property. The petition will be heard and acted upon by the city or town council in the same manner as petitions are required to be heard and acted upon pursuant to §§ 45-59-6 and 45-59-7. Upon the approval of the petition for amendment by the city or town council, the boundaries of the management district and the purposes and powers of the district management authority will be as set forth in the petition for amendment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-32-3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-32 / Section 45-32-3
§ 45-32-3. General community plan  Minimum requirements.
Status: in_force

The community must have a master or general community plan adopted by the planning commission or the legislative body, and in either case the plan must include at least the following:

(1) A land use plan which designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land for housing, business, industry, recreation, education, public buildings and grounds, and other categories of public and private uses of land.

(2) The general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares.

(3) A statement of the standards of population density and building intensity recommended in and for the various districts and other territorial units, together with estimates of future population growth, in the territory covered by the plan, all correlated with the land use plan.

(4) A description of the area or areas in which blighted and substandard conditions are found and recommendations as to the area or areas which should be designated for redevelopment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-14-3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-14 / Section 45-14-3
§ 45-14-3. Use charges supplemental.
Status: in_force

This chapter is not to be construed as revoking, altering, or amending any provisions of law for sewer assessment now lawfully assessed by any city or town, but it is to be construed as authorizing a charge for the use of those sewers or sewer systems for disposal purposes, and in addition to all other sewer assessments now lawfully imposed by the city or town, under the provisions of any general, public or special law, charter, act, or resolve, and any ordinance now in effect.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-4-7 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-4 / Section 45-4-7
§ 45-4-7. Election of council members.
Status: in_force

The members of the town council shall be chosen immediately after the election of the town clerk; and in choosing them the vote shall be taken for the whole number at the same time.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-31-11 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-31 / Section 45-31-11
§ 45-31-11. Resolution conclusive as to capacity of agency.
Status: in_force

In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement of, or relating to any contract by or on behalf of an agency, the agency is conclusively deemed to be become established and authorized to transact business and exercise its powers upon proof of the adoption of a resolution by the legislative body declaring the need for the redevelopment agency to function.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-14.2 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-14.2
§ 45-21-14.2. Leave of absence credits.
Status: in_force

(a) Members with at least one year of membership credits who have been granted an official leave of absence without pay for illness, injury, educational or, any other reason, may receive credit for the leave by making contributions to the retirement system, in a lump sum, in an amount equal to the contribution the member would have made to the retirement system based upon the members expected compensation but for the granting of leave without pay, plus regular interest compounded annually to date of payment; provided, that the member returns to service for at least one year immediately upon completion of that leave. Credit for leaves of absence under this section are limited, in the aggregate, during the total service of a member to a period of four (4) years maximum. Effective July 1, 2012, any purchase requested under this paragraph shall be made by a member at full actuarial cost.

(b) The retirement board fixes the time when and the conditions under which payments are made under this section.

(c) This section is exempt from the provisions of §§ 45-13-6  45-13-10.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-59 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-59
§ 45-21-59. Effect of deferral and/or reduction of salary.
Status: in_force

(a) If subsequent to January 1, 1991, a member sustains a loss of salary due to a deferral of salary or a reduction of salary in order to avoid shutdowns or layoffs, or because of a retrenchment of state or local finances, then in calculating the service retirement allowance of the member, the amount of salary deferred and/or the amount of the reduction of salary shall not reduce the amount of annual compensation of the member for the purpose of establishing his or her highest three (3) consecutive years of compensation. This provision is subject to subsection (c).

(b)(1) For purposes of subsection (a), reduction of salary means:

(i) The actual dollar amount which represents the difference between the employees salary prior to the voluntary reduction of salary and the employees salary after the voluntary reduction of salary; or

(ii) The actual dollar amount which represents the difference between the employees salary prior to the renegotiation and/or alteration of an existing collective bargaining agreement and the employees salary after the renegotiation and/or alteration of an existing collective bargaining agreement.

(2) Reduction of salary also means the voluntary or negotiated reduction in the number of hours that an employee works in a pay period and for which he or she is paid.

(c) An employee who has sustained a reduction in salary in accordance with subsection (a) shall pay, prior to retirement, to the retirement board an amount equal to the difference between the amount of contribution the employee would have paid on his or her salary prior to the reduction in salary and the amount that the employee actually contributed plus interest.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-65-6 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-65 / Section 45-65-6
§ 45-65-6. Certification and notice requirements.
Status: in_force

(a) Every municipality that maintains a locally administered plan shall submit its initial annual actuarial valuation study to the study commission created herein under § 45-65-8 on or before April 1, 2012, and for each plan year ending on or after December 31, 2012, within six (6) months of completing such plan year. The initial actuarial experience study shall be submitted to the study commission on or before April 1, 2012, and subsequent actuarial experience studies must be submitted to the advisory council no less frequently than once every three (3) years, with the first actuarial experience study to be submitted no later than January 1, 2025.

(b) In any case in which an actuary certifies that a locally administered plan is in critical status for a plan year, the municipality administering such a plan shall, not later than thirty (30) business days following the certification, provide notification of the critical status to the participants and beneficiaries of the plan and to the general assembly, the governor, the general treasurer, the director of revenue, and the auditor general. The notification shall also be posted electronically on the general treasurers website. Within one hundred eighty (180) days of sending the critical status notice, the municipality shall submit to the study commission a reasonable alternative funding improvement plan to emerge from critical status.

(c) The state shall reimburse every municipality for fifty percent (50%) of the cost of undertaking its annual actuarial valuation study, which is due on April 1, 2012.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the funding improvement plans and actuarial valuation studies submitted pursuant to this section shall be public records.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-55-17 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-55 / Section 45-55-17
§ 45-55-17. Penalties.
Status: in_force

Any person who knowingly and intentionally violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-50-11 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-50 / Section 45-50-11
§ 45-50-11. Credit of state, political subdivisions, and authority not pledged.
Status: in_force

(a) Revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter are not deemed to constitute a debt or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or the municipality, but are payable solely from the funds provided therefor from revenues. All revenue bonds shall contain on the face a statement to the effect that neither the state nor the municipality nor the authority is obligated to pay the bonds or their interest except from revenues of the project or projects on account of which the bonds are issued, and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or the municipality is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the bonds.

(b) All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this chapter are payable solely from funds provided under the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-23-62 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-23 / Section 45-23-62
§ 45-23-62. Procedure  Waivers  Modifications and reinstatement of plans.
Status: in_force

(a) Waiver and/or modification of requirements. The planning board has the power to grant waivers and/or modifications from the requirements for land development and subdivision approval as may be reasonable and within the general purposes and intents of the provisions for local regulations. The only grounds for waivers and/or modifications are where the literal enforcement of one or more provisions of the regulations is impracticable and will exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to the land in question or where waiver and/or modification is in the best interest of good planning practice and/or design as evidenced by consistency with the municipalitys comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance.

(b) Local regulations shall include provisions for an applicant to seek reinstatement of development applications when the deadlines set in the local regulations and approval agreements for particular actions are exceeded and the development application or approval is therefore rendered invalid. Where an approval has expired, the local regulations shall specify the point in the review to which the application may be reinstated.

(c) Decision. The planning board shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request for either a waiver or modification as described in subsection (a) or (b) in this section, according to the requirements of § 45-23-63.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-26-13 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-26 / Section 45-26-13
§ 45-26-13. Housing for people who are elderly  Posting of disabilities  Enforcement by local fire authorities.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon request of any tenant in a public housing for people who are elderly project, the managing authority shall post, on or near the exterior door of the apartment of the tenant, an indication of any disability of the tenant in a form and size that is immediately understood in the event of emergency or evacuation.

(b) The local fire authorities have the duty of accomplishing the purpose of this section, and of enforcing that purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-53 / Section 45-53-1
§ 45-53-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-29-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-29 / Section 45-29-1
§ 45-29-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

Insofar as they are applicable, the definitions contained in § 45-25-3 are adopted as definitions for §§ 45-29-1  45-29-12.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-14-1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-14 / Section 45-14-1
§ 45-14-1. Power to assess charges against users.
Status: in_force

In addition to the powers, privileges, prerogatives, and authority that are now granted to each city and town, or any agency of a city or town, in connection with sewers or sewer systems of these municipalities, each city and town is authorized and empowered to enact ordinances assessing users of sewers or sewer systems of the cities and towns, a charge for the use of the sewers or sewer systems in an amount that bears a reasonable relation to the cost to the city or town of the service rendered to the users. All unpaid charges shall be a lien upon the real estate of the users, and the lien created hereby shall be a lien upon the house, building, tenement, lands and estate of the user in the same way and manner as taxes assessed on real estate are liens, and if not paid as required by each city and town shall be collected in the same manner that taxes assessed upon real estate are by law collected.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-8.1 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-21 / Section 45-21-8.1
§ 45-21-8.1. Exclusion of elected city, town council or other elected members.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, no city or town council member, school committee members or other local elected officials, other than elected officials who are compensated for devoting thirty-five (35) or more hours per week to their elected position, elected for the first time after June 30, 2012, shall be allowed membership into the municipal employees retirement system, as a result of that elective service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-8-5 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-8 / Section 45-8-5
§ 45-8-5. Forfeiture for neglect to make statement.
Status: in_force

Every town treasurer who neglects to make the annual statement as required in § 45-8-2 shall forfeit and pay to the town the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) for every instance of neglect.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-62-3 — RI Code / Title 45 / Chapter 45-62 / Section 45-62-3
§ 45-62-3. Power of councils.
Status: in_force

(a) The council of any city or town is authorized and empowered to establish by ordinance one or more dam management districts within the city or town; if the need for the management of a dam or dams is multi-municipal, a multi-municipal dam management district may be established by the concurrent adoption of an ordinance by the city or town councils of the municipalities in which the dam management district will be located. The ordinance shall set forth the boundaries of the district, provide for the governance and administration of the district, and require for annual reporting by the district, as a minimum, to each city and town with area within the district and the department of environmental management.

(b) Except as restricted or limited by ordinance, a dam management district shall have the power to:

(1) Provide for entry of city, town, state or district officials in a manner equivalent to the provisions of § 23-27.3-112.0, onto private property within the district when necessary for the periodic inspection, maintenance and/or repair of dams and appurtenant facilities;

(2) Provide for the supervision, control, maintenance, repair and/or reconstruction of dams, including activities relating to dam removal;

(3) Establish a public education program to educate new residents and update members of the district on new information or procedures for proper maintenance and operation of dams and the implications for failing to operate and maintain dams in a manner that meets generally accepted dam safety practices;

(4) Raise and expend funds for the administration, operations, contractual obligations, and services of the district, and fix and collect rates, fees, and charges within the district for the provision of dam management services by the district;

(5) Employ staff, counsel, and consultants as necessary to carry out the functions of the district and purposes of this chapter;

(6) Acquire, hold, use, sell, transfer and lease real or personal property, and to own, operate, maintain, repair, improve any property acquired;

(7) Apply for, contract for, receive, and expend grants and loans for the maintenance, repair, removal and/or reconstruction of dams, and for other activities authorized by this chapter; and

(8) Adopt a common seal, sue and be sued, and enjoy the powers generally incident to corporations.

(c) Any dam owned and furnished by any municipality, water district, fire district or any other municipal or quasi-municipal corporation that is regulated as a water supplier by the Rhode Island public utilities commission under chapter 1 of title 39 and subject to the provisions of chapter 15.6 of title 46 shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

(d) With respect to the towns of Burriville and Glocester, collection of Dam Management District fees shall be in the same manner as provided by law for the collection of taxes by municipalities and the collector of fees for the said Management District shall, for the purposes of collecting fees assessed by said Management District, have the same powers and authority as are by law conferred on collection of taxes for towns in the state.