reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 39-31-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-31 - Affordable Clean Energy Security Act|Section 39-31-1 - Legislative findings.

§ 39-31-1. Legislative findings.The general assembly finds and declares:(1) The state and New England face significant short- and long-term energy system challenges that may undermine the reliable operation of the bulk electric system and spur unsustainable levels of price volatility, and that these challenges may have a substantial impact on energy affordability for ratepayers and undermine the economic competitiveness of our state by serving as a detriment to capital investment and job growth; and(2) Planned retirements of fossil-fuel, nuclear, and other electric generators, along with lack of new interstate natural-gas-pipeline infrastructure and capacity into the region, may exacerbate these conditions; and(3) Rhode Island benefits from a holistic energy strategy that pursues both local investment in clean-energy resources, such as energy efficiency and renewable distributed generation, and regional investment in energy infrastructure projects that strengthen system reliability and diversify our supply portfolio. The combination of these strategies advances our economic development interests and environmental quality; and(4) Rhode Island is committed to the increased use of no- and low-carbon energy resources that diversify our energy supply portfolio, provide affordable energy to consumers, and strengthen our shared quality of life and environment, and new energy infrastructure investments may help facilitate the development and interconnection of these resources; and(5) Rhode Island is part of an integrated, regional energy system and addressing these challenges, while meeting state policy goals, requires a coordinated, multistate approach built upon collaboration and utilizing appropriate expertise and stakeholder processes of regional entities including, but not limited to, the New England States Committee on Electricity, ISO-New England, Inc., and the New England Power Pool that takes into account affordability, energy security, reliability, fuel diversity, and environmental sustainability.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 424, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 477, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-31-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-31 - Affordable Clean Energy Security Act|Section 39-31-2 - Purpose.

§ 39-31-2. Purpose.The purpose of this chapter is to:(1) Secure the future of the Rhode Island and New England economies, and their shared environment, by making coordinated, cost-effective, strategic investments in energy resources and infrastructure such that the New England states improve energy system reliability and security; enhance economic competitiveness by reducing energy costs to attract new investment and job growth opportunities; and protect the quality of life and environment for all residents and businesses;(2) Utilize coordinated competitive processes, in collaboration with other New England states and their instrumentalities, to advance strategic investment in energy infrastructure and energy resources, provided that the total energy security, reliability, environmental, and economic benefits to the state of Rhode Island and its ratepayers exceed the costs of the projects, and ensure that the benefits and costs of the energy infrastructure investments are shared appropriately among the New England States; and(3) Encourage a multistate or regional approach to energy policy that advances the objectives of achieving a reliable, clean-energy future that is consistent with meeting regional greenhouse gas reduction goals at reasonable cost to ratepayers.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 424, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 477, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-31-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-31 - Affordable Clean Energy Security Act|Section 39-31-3 - Commercially reasonable defined.

§ 39-31-3. Commercially reasonable defined.When used in this chapter, "commercially reasonable" means terms and pricing that are reasonably consistent with what an experienced power market analyst would expect to see in transactions involving regional energy resources and regional energy infrastructure. Commercially reasonable shall include having a credible project operation date, as determined by the commission, but a project need not have completed the requisite permitting process to be considered commercially reasonable. Commercially reasonable shall require a determination by the commission that the benefits to Rhode Island exceed the cost of the project. The commission shall determine, based on the preponderance of the evidence, that the total energy security, reliability, environmental, and economic benefits to the state of Rhode Island and its ratepayers exceed the costs of such projects. If there is a dispute about whether any terms or pricing are commercially reasonable, the commission shall make the final determination after evidentiary hearings.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 424, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 477, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-31-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-31 - Affordable Clean Energy Security Act|Section 39-31-5 - Regional energy procurement.

§ 39-31-5. Regional energy procurement.(a) Consistent with the purposes of this chapter, the public utility company that provides electric distribution as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(12), as well as natural gas as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(17), in consultation with the office of energy resources and the division of public utilities and carriers is authorized to voluntarily participate in multistate or regional efforts to:(1) Procure domestic or international large- or small-scale hydroelectric power and eligible renewable energy resources, including wind, as defined by § 39-26-5(a), on behalf of electric ratepayers; provided, however, that large-scale hydroelectric power shall not be eligible under the renewable energy standard established by chapter 26 of this title;(2) Procure incremental, natural-gas-pipeline infrastructure and capacity into New England to help strengthen energy system reliability and facilitate the economic interests of the state and its ratepayers;(3) Support the development and filing of necessary tariffs and other appropriate cost-recovery mechanisms, as proposed by the office of energy resources or the division of public utilities and carriers, that allocate the costs of new, electric-transmission and natural-gas-pipeline infrastructure and capacity projects selected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to ratepayers, such that costs are shared among participating states in an equitable manner; and(4) To the extent that the public utility company that provides electric distribution as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(12), as well as natural gas as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(17), pursues the objectives identified above, the public utility company shall utilize all appropriate, competitive processes, and maintain compliance with applicable federal and state siting laws.(b) Any procurement authorized under this section shall be commercially reasonable.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 424, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 477, § 1; P.L. 2020, ch. 79, art. 1, § 24.
RI Gen L § 39-31-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-31 - Affordable Clean Energy Security Act|Section 39-31-8 - Verification of energy generation and attributes of imported electricity.

§ 39-31-8. Verification of energy generation and attributes of imported electricity.Energy generation and the attributes of electricity imported into New England shall be tracked and verified through the expansion of the New England Pool — Generation Information System or the development of another appropriate tracking and verification mechanism.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 424, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 477, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-31-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-31 - Affordable Clean Energy Security Act|Section 39-31-9 - Siting of regional energy infrastructure.

§ 39-31-9. Siting of regional energy infrastructure.All regional or multistate energy infrastructure projects authorized under this chapter shall respect and maintain compliance with the individual project host state's siting authority and requirements. Any projects selected pursuant to this chapter must maintain compliance with Rhode Island energy facility siting act requirements, where applicable, as authorized under chapter 98 of title 42.History of Section.P.L. 2014, ch. 424, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 477, § 1.
RI Gen L § 39-32-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-32 - Rhode Island Small Cell Siting Act|Section 39-32-2 - Regulation of small wireless facilities.

§ 39-32-2. Regulation of small wireless facilities.(a) A wireless service provider authorized to do business in this state or a contractor acting on its behalf may collocate small wireless facilities within, along, across, upon, and under any public right-of-way in this state, including state highways and freeways, and may construct conduit, cables, and facilities between such small wireless facility and other equipment or services located on or adjacent to the supporting pole or other structure, subject to the provisions of this chapter.(b) Except as provided in this chapter, an authority shall not prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small wireless facilities.(c) Small wireless facilities shall be classified as permitted uses in all zoning districts and shall not be subject to zoning review or approval.(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize a person to collocate a small wireless facility on a privately owned pole, structure, or other private property without the consent of the property owner.(e) All agreements between authorities and wireless service providers that are in effect on the effective date of this chapter [September 27, 2017] and that relate to the collocation of small wireless facilities in the public right-of-way or on authority poles or structures shall remain in effect, subject to any termination provisions in such agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of a wireless service provider, the rates, fees, terms, and conditions established pursuant to this chapter shall apply to small wireless facilities that are the subject of an application submitted after the effective date of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2017, ch. 309, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 331, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-32-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-32 - Rhode Island Small Cell Siting Act|Section 39-32-4 - Action on permit applications.

§ 39-32-4. Action on permit applications.(a) An authority shall approve an application for a permit under this chapter unless the collocation does not meet applicable building or electrical codes or, if applicable, standards for construction in the right-of-way, provided such codes and standards are of general applicability. The authority must document the basis for any denial, including the specific code provisions or standards on which the denial was based, and send the documentation to the applicant on or before the day the authority denies an application. The applicant may cure the deficiencies identified by the authority and resubmit the application within thirty (30) days of the denial without paying an additional processing fee. The authority shall approve or deny the revised application within thirty (30) days. Any subsequent denial shall be limited to the deficiencies cited in the original denial. Where one or more locations addressed in a consolidated application do not meet the criteria of this section, the authority shall allow the application as to all other locations.(b) An application shall be deemed approved if the authority fails to approve or deny the application within sixty (60) days of submission. If the authority notifies the applicant within fourteen (14) days after the initial submission that the application is incomplete and reasonably identifies at that time the information that is lacking, the time period stated above shall be tolled during the time it takes the applicant to respond. No other request for additional information shall toll such time periods.(c) A person whose application or revised application is denied by an authority may appeal to the superior court within thirty (30) days of the denial. The superior court shall have jurisdiction to determine all disputes arising under this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2017, ch. 309, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 331, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-32-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-32 - Rhode Island Small Cell Siting Act|Section 39-32-5 - Additional terms for collocation on authority poles and structures.

§ 39-32-5. Additional terms for collocation on authority poles and structures.(a) Within six (6) months of receiving its first request to collocate small wireless facilities on authority poles located within the public rights-of-way, but in no event later than April 1, 2018, an authority shall establish, by ordinance, regulation, or rule, nondiscriminatory, competitively neutral, and commercially reasonable rates, terms, and conditions for such collocation that are consistent with the provisions of this chapter. Aside from the application processing fee allowed under § 39-32-3, an authority shall not charge on an annual recurring basis more for such a collocation than one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) or the rate produced by applying the formula adopted by the Federal Communications Commission for telecommunications attachments under 47 U.S.C. § 224(e). The fee limitation shall not apply to authority structures.(b) An authority shall authorize the collocation of small wireless facilities on authority poles not located within the public rights-of-way and on authority structures to the same extent the authority permits access to the poles and structures for other commercial projects or uses, and may authorize the collocation if the authority has not previously permitted access. The collocation shall be subject to reasonable and nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions as provided by ordinance or in one or more agreements between the wireless provider and the authority. An authority may not charge on an annual recurring basis more for such a collocation than the amount charged for similar commercial projects or uses to occupy or use the same amount of space on similarly situated property.History of Section.P.L. 2017, ch. 309, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 331, § 2.
RI Gen L § 39-32-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers|Chapter 39-32 - Rhode Island Small Cell Siting Act|Section 39-32-6 - Collocation of small wireless facilities on private poles and structures.

§ 39-32-6. Collocation of small wireless facilities on private poles and structures.(a) An authority may not prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small wireless facilities on poles or structures other than authority poles and authority structures.(b) A wireless service provider may install poles in the public rights-of-way in order to collocate small wireless facilities, subject to request and authority approval. An authority shall receive, process, and approve such requests on a nondiscriminatory basis and in substantially the same manner and on substantially the same terms and conditions as the authority applies to similar requests by other persons seeking to place poles in the public ways.History of Section.P.L. 2017, ch. 309, § 2; P.L. 2017, ch. 331, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-1-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-1 - Advisory council - Appointment of members.

§ 40-1-1. Advisory council — Appointment of members.(a) Within the department of human services there shall be an advisory council consisting of nine (9) qualified electors of the state, who shall be appointed by the governor as provided in this section. In the month of February in each year the governor shall appoint a member, or members, of the council, each to hold office until the first day of March in the fifth year after his or her appointment and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, to succeed the member whose term shall next expire.(b) Any vacancy that may occur in the council shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term and members of the council shall be chosen with due regard to their knowledge of social welfare problems and the director of the department shall designate some person to act as secretary of the council.(c) The council shall meet at least four (4) times during any one year and at such additional times as the director of the department shall designate. The members of the council shall elect one of their members as chairperson upon the appointment of any new member for a full term and whenever the office becomes vacant.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 88; G.L. 1956, §§ 40-1-1, 40-1-2; P.L. 1962, ch. 23, § 1; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-1; P.L. 1974, ch. 126, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 123.
RI Gen L § 40-1-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-2 - Functions of advisory council.

§ 40-1-2. Functions of advisory council.The council shall make suggestions to and shall advise the director of the department concerning the policies, rules, and regulations of the department. The council shall have no administrative power.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 88; impl. am. P.L. 1949, ch. 2166, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-3; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-2; P.L. 1974, ch. 126, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-1-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-3 - Advisory committees to agencies within department.

§ 40-1-3. Advisory committees to agencies within department.The director of the department of human services shall be authorized to appoint advisory committees as he or she thinks appropriate to make suggestions to and to advise the various agencies within the department. The members of the committees shall serve without pay. The chairperson of each committee shall be designated by the director and shall sit ex-officio with the department advisory committee.History of Section.P.L. 1974, ch. 126, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-1-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-4 - Organization of department.

§ 40-1-4. Organization of department.All functions, services, and duties of the department of human services shall be organized by the director with the approval of the governor as to:(1) Community services to include generally and specifically the administration of all forms of human services excluding child welfare services, which are the responsibility of the department of children, youth and families.(2) Management services to include generally and specifically all central management, financial, forms of relief, and other services concerned with the business and servicing operations of the department.(3) Veterans' affairs to include all forms of services to veterans of the armed forces. There shall be within the department of human services an office of veterans services.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 92; P.L. 1951, ch. 2724, § 2; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-4; P.L. 1976, ch. 290, § 11; P.L. 1984, ch. 81, § 16; P.L. 1988, ch. 566, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-1-4.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-4.1 - Name change.

§ 40-1-4.1. Name change.The department of social and rehabilitative services is hereby renamed the department of human services. Whenever in the general or public laws there appears any reference to the department of social and rehabilitative services, the reference shall be construed to refer to the department of human services.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 181, art. 35, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-1-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-5 - Reorganizations within department.

§ 40-1-5. Reorganizations within department.Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, any division, bureau, or other unit or agency within the department of human services, however entitled or described, may at any time be reorganized, divided, consolidated, abolished, or otherwise reconstituted by the director of human services with the approval of the governor, as may be desirable for the proper administration and performance of the powers, functions, and duties assigned to the department, and any change shall conform with the requirements of § 40-1-4.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 94; P.L. 1951, ch. 2724, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-6; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-1-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-6 - Officers required to be veterans.

§ 40-1-6. Officers required to be veterans.The respective officers appointed by the director of human services to be in charge of the state's administration of veterans' relief, of graves' registration, and the commandant and the assistant commandant of the Rhode Island veterans' home, in addition to any other qualifications required for their respective positions as already provided in law, shall each be an honorably discharged war veteran of any war in which the United States has been engaged.History of Section.P.L. 1941, ch. 989, § 1; P.L. 1948, ch. 1997, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1949, ch. 2166, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-7; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-1-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-7 - Offices of department.

§ 40-1-7. Offices of department.The department of administration shall furnish the state department of human services offices in which to transact its business and keep its records. The offices shall be open for business each day of the year, except Sundays and legal holidays, during such hours as may be prescribed by the director.History of Section.P.L. 1917, ch. 1470, art. 1, § 26; G.L. 1923, ch. 413, art. 1, § 25; P.L. 1926, ch. 829, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 50, § 13; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 80; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2727, art. 1, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-8; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-1-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-1 - Department of Human Services|Section 40-1-8 - Appointment of employees.

§ 40-1-8. Appointment of employees.The director of the department of human services, subject to the provisions of chapter 4 of title 36, shall be the appointing authority for all employees of the department, and the director may assign this function to subordinate officers and employees as may to him or her seem feasible or desirable.History of Section.P.L. 1963, ch. 99, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 40-1-9; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.