reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 45-50-30 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-50 - Municipal Public Buildings Authorities|Section 45-50-30 - Liberal construction.

§ 45-50-30. Liberal construction.This chapter being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants shall be liberally construed in order to effectuate its purposes.History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 475, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-50-31 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-50 - Municipal Public Buildings Authorities|Section 45-50-31 - Severability.

§ 45-50-31. Severability.The provisions of this chapter are severable, and if any of its provisions are held unconstitutional or invalid for any other reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of the court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions. In carrying out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, all steps shall be taken which are necessary to meet constitutional requirements whether or not the steps are required by this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 475, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-51-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-51 - Environmental Advocacy Act|Section 45-51-1 - Title.

§ 45-51-1. Title.This chapter may be known as the "Environmental Advocacy Act".History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 448, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 556, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-51-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-51 - Environmental Advocacy Act|Section 45-51-2 - Conservation commission - Appointment.

§ 45-51-2. Conservation commission — Appointment.The mayor or town administrator of any city or town may designate the municipal conservation commission as defined in § 45-31-1 to serve as an environmental advocate, subject to approval by the city or town council, which shall perform the duties as established in this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 448, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 556, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-51-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-51 - Environmental Advocacy Act|Section 45-51-3 - Powers and duties.

§ 45-51-3. Powers and duties.The municipal conservation commission shall:(1) Receive complaints from residents or businesses within the municipality regarding safety of drinking water, water quality, or clean air, or other pollutants affecting the environment.(2) Investigate any complaints requested by a state regulatory agency.(3) Prepare a report with an appraisal of the validity of the clean air or water problem, the responsible parties, the remedial action required, and identification of the state agency with jurisdiction over the problem, and submit the report to the city council and office of mayor or town administrator.(4) Serve as liaison for the city or town with all agencies charged under state law with enforcement of all laws and regulations pertaining to air and water quality as stated in subdivision (3).(5) Serve as advocate for the municipality and its residents before the agency under whose jurisdiction the problem falls; with the objective of securing remedial action.(6) Assist the office of solicitor in taking legal action to secure court orders requiring the responsible state agency to take remedial action when the action has been unduly delayed or neglected by the agency.(7) Conduct public information activities to inform the community of the availability of the services of the commission.History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 448, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 556, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-51-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-51 - Environmental Advocacy Act|Section 45-51-4 - Training and education.

§ 45-51-4. Training and education.The municipal conservation members shall have formal training and/or education, to the extent feasible, and/or engage in continuing education in the areas of air pollution, water quality control, or the maintenance of the purity of drinking water supplies, and/or have familiarity with laws, rules, and regulations relating to them or qualifications approved by the council.History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 448, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 556, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-52-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-2 - Authority.

§ 45-52-2. Authority.(a) The electors of the district may at any meeting adopt and ordain bylaws as they deem necessary and proper for the purposes of this chapter and not repugnant to it and not inconsistent with any other law.(b) The district is authorized to raise money by tax on the real property within the district: for the purchase of land and erection of buildings for use by the district; for the payment of the personnel employed to protect and maintain property owned by the district; and for the purchase, installation, improvements, and maintenance of roads, right of ways, watersheds, water systems, wells, pumping stations, piping, storage facilities, green space, and beaches within the district.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-3 - Voter qualifications and rights.

§ 45-52-3. Voter qualifications and rights.Every citizen of the United States of the age of eighteen (18) years who owns real estate located in the district which has the value of at least one hundred thirty four dollars ($134) over and above all encumbrances, or who is a resident of the town of Charlestown, residing in the town and a qualified voter, and resides in the district, has the right to vote at any annual or special meeting of the district, or at any adjournment; provided, that the right to vote is not exercised by any person otherwise qualified to vote if, when a vote is taken at any meeting of the district, his or her taxes have been in arrears for two (2) years prior to the meeting.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-4 - Board of canvassers.

§ 45-52-4. Board of canvassers.(a) There shall be a board of canvassers consisting of the tax assessor and tax collector.(b) The board of canvassers shall meet and canvass the voting list of the district on the last Monday of June in every year and shall make out a correct alphabetic list of the voters of the district, indicating those, if any, who are disqualified because of arrears in the payment of taxes, and shall certify the correctness of the list and file it with the district clerk.(c) The board of canvassers shall hold a meeting on the day of, and immediately preceding, each annual and special meeting of the district, and shall correct the list of voters by showing which of the voters are then in arrears in the payment of taxes and by adding the name of every person qualified to vote whose name is not on the list of voters. The list of voters, so corrected, shall be certified by the board of canvassers and filed with the district clerk before the meeting is called to order.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-5 - Conduct and quorum of meetings.

§ 45-52-5. Conduct and quorum of meetings.(a) No less than thirty (30) voters constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at any annual or special district meeting. If at any annual or special meeting less than a quorum is present, a majority of the voters present at the meeting, or any adjournment of it, may vote to adjourn the meeting, but may take no action.(b) District meetings may be held at any location within the town of Charlestown.(c) The moderator shall preside at all meetings of the district. He or she has the same authority at all meetings as moderators at town meetings.(d) Whenever at any district meeting action has been taken authorizing the expenditure of money, the incurring of any liability, or the disposition of property, not less than one-fifth (⅕) of the voters present may, by their affirmative votes, require reconsideration of the question at an adjourned meeting of which special notice shall be given to all the voters of the district ten (10) days in advance of the meeting, stating the hour and place of the meeting, and the action taken which is to be reconsidered.(e) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter all questions relating to district affairs shall be decided by a majority of the voters present at a called meeting of the district and entitled to vote on the question.(f) A copy of the record of the proceedings of any district meeting, certified by the clerk, is evidence of any act or vote of the district, in a district meeting assembled, recited in the copy; and the certificate of the district clerk that no district meeting has been held to consider any subject in the certificate mentioned, or that no vote of the district has been taken on the subject, is evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-6 - Election of district officers.

§ 45-52-6. Election of district officers.(a) The voters in the district shall at the annual meeting choose and elect a moderator, a district clerk, a district treasurer, an assessor of taxes, and a collector of taxes; and at the first annual meeting after the effective date of this act shall elect a finance committee of three (3) members, one member to serve for three (3) years, one to serve for two (2) years, and one to serve for one year, and a public works committee of three (3) members, one member to serve for three (3) years, one member to serve for two (2) years, and one member to serve for one year; and shall elect annually thereafter one member of the finance committee to serve for three (3) years and one member of the public works committee to serve for three (3) years. All of the previously elected officers shall hold their offices until the expiration of their terms, and until their successors have been elected and qualified. The voters may authorize the employment of assistants to any of the district officers, committees, commissions, and boards, as may be necessary in the conduct of the affairs of the district.(b) In case of the death, resignation, or removal of any collector of taxes, the collector elected or appointed to complete the collection, has the same power to collect taxes as the collector first elected or appointed.(c) Whenever a vacancy occurs in any office by death, removal out of the district, resignation, or by neglect or refusal to qualify, or for any other cause, a meeting of the council of the district may be called by any member then in office, and at the meeting a qualified voter shall be appointed to fill the vacancy and exercise all the powers of the office until the next annual district meeting.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-7 - Notice of and place of district meetings.

§ 45-52-7. Notice of and place of district meetings.(a) A district meeting shall be held annually on the first Saturday of August in each year at nine o'clock a.m. (9:00 a.m.), for the election of district officers and the transaction of all other business that may legally come before the meeting. The meeting shall be held within the town of Charlestown.(b) District meetings other than the annual district meeting may be called in the manner provided in this section.(c) The district clerk shall give notice of every annual meeting of the district by mailing notice of the meeting to all of the persons named in the list of voters, corrected and filed as provided in § 45-52-4.(d) Notice of an annual district meeting shall be given by mailing a written or printed notice of the time when and the place where the meeting is to be held not less than seven (7) and not more than ten (10) days prior to the day appointed for the meeting.(e) Whenever the district council and/or one-third (⅓) of the qualified voters makes a request, in writing, for the calling of a special district meeting to transact any business relating to the district, in respect of which they have a right to vote, and direct the request to the district clerk, the district clerk shall cause the voters to be duly notified of the time when and the place where the meeting is to be held and of the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting.(f) Notice of special district meetings shall be given in the manner provided for annual district meetings. At all special district meetings no business shall be transacted other than that stated in the call.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 354, § 52.
RI Gen L § 45-52-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-8 - District treasurer.

§ 45-52-8. District treasurer.(a) The district treasurer, before he or she proceeds to discharge the duties of his or her office, shall give bond to the district in the sum and with surety that the voters may determine, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his or her office. The bond shall be deposited with the district clerk.(b) The treasurer shall pay out no moneys other than those moneys authorized to be expended by vote of the district.(c) The district treasurer shall, at the annual district meeting, make a statement of his or her accounts, in writing, showing the several sums received and paid by him or her during the previous year, and showing in detail the persons to whom, and the purpose for which, the payments were made.(d) The accounts shall be audited annually by a person or persons as the district may direct.(e) The district treasurer shall retain all his or her vouchers or receipts for the payments charged in the account, to be kept on file with other papers of his or her office.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-9 - Collector of taxes.

§ 45-52-9. Collector of taxes.(a) The collector of taxes, before he or she proceeds to discharge the duties of his or her office, shall give bond to the district in the sum and with surety as the voters may determine, conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his or her office. The bond shall be deposited with the district clerk.(b) The collector of taxes shall pay over, and deliver to the district treasurer on the first day of each month, the total taxes collected by him or her during the previous month, and at the same time deliver to the district treasurer a statement containing the names of the persons and the amount of tax paid by each person during the previous month.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-10 - District council.

§ 45-52-10. District council.(a) The moderator, the treasurer, the district clerk, the chairperson of the finance committee and the chairperson of the public works committee, constitute a district council. It is the duty of the district council to:(1) Supervise and coordinate the activities of all of the officers, commissions, and committees of the district;(2) Fill vacancies in offices as provided in § 45-52-6(b);(3) Prepare, or have prepared, ordinances relative to the district and its activities, and present the ordinances to either the annual or special meeting of the district for action; and(4) Develop for, and present to, the annual or a special meeting called for the purpose, plans for the improvement and development of the district.(b) The council also has the care, management, and control of all property and equipment owned by the district, subject to any ordinances, bylaws, and regulations which the district may make with respect to them. Three (3) members of the council constitute a quorum. Notice of the time and place of the meeting shall be given by the member calling the meeting by mailing written notice of the meeting at least five (5) days prior to the meeting to each of the members of the council.(c) The district council shall, at least twenty (20) days before each and every annual meeting, sit in open meeting to receive requests for funds to defray the cost of the activities of the district, and to receive suggestions for expenditures to improve the property of the district, extend the usefulness of the district to residents, and for all other purposes, and shall report thereon to the annual meeting with its recommendations.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52 - The Quonochontaug East Beach Water District|Section 45-52-11 - Taxes - Levy, assessment, and collection.

§ 45-52-11. Taxes — Levy, assessment, and collection.(a) All real property in the district shall be taxed to the owners, whether individuals, copartnerships, or corporations, according to the last valuation made by the assessor of taxes of the town of Charlestown, prior to the next assessment, adding, however, any taxable real property which may have been omitted by the assessor of taxes of the town of Charlestown or afterwards acquired, and in all cases where the town assessor may have included property within the district and property without the district in one valuation, the tax assessor of the district shall make an equitable valuation of that portion of the property lying within the district.(b) In assessing and collecting taxes, the proceedings shall be had by the officers of the district, as near as may be, as are required to be had by the corresponding officers of towns in the state in assessing and collecting town taxes.History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 499, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-52.1-1 - 45-52.1-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-52.1 - Central Falls - Fiscal Emergency Act|Section 45-52.1-1 - 45-52.1-5 - Repealed.

§ 45-52.1-1 — 45-52.1-5. Repealed.
RI Gen L § 45-53-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-53 - Low and Moderate Income Housing|Section 45-53-1 - Short title.

§ 45-53-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known as the "Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act".History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 154, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-53-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-53 - Low and Moderate Income Housing|Section 45-53-2 - Legislative findings and intent.

§ 45-53-2. Legislative findings and intent.The general assembly finds and declares that there exists an acute shortage of affordable, accessible, safe, and sanitary housing for its citizens of low and moderate income, both individuals and families; that it is imperative that action is taken immediately to assure the availability of affordable, accessible, safe, and sanitary housing for these persons; that it is necessary that each city and town provide opportunities for the establishment of low and moderate income housing; and that the provisions of this chapter are necessary to assure the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens of this state, and that each citizen enjoys the right to affordable, accessible, safe, and sanitary housing. It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter to provide for housing opportunities for low and moderate income individuals and families in each city and town of the state and that an equal consideration shall be given to the retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing dwellings for low and moderate income housing and assimilating low and moderate income housing into existing and future developments and neighborhoods.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 154, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 319, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 139, § 3; P.L. 2005, ch. 297, § 3.
RI Gen L § 45-53-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-53 - Low and Moderate Income Housing|Section 45-53-7 - Housing appeals board.

§ 45-53-7. Housing appeals board.(a) (1) There shall be within the state a housing appeals board consisting of seven (7) voting members to be appointed by the governor, who shall include four (4) local officials, who shall not be from the same city or town; two (2) of whom shall be from a city or town with a population of less than twenty-five thousand (25,000); and two (2) of whom shall be from a city or town with a population of twenty-five thousand (25,000) or greater, and shall include one local zoning board member, one local planning board member, one city council member and one town council member, one of the local official members shall be designated by the governor as the alternative local official member who shall be a voting member of the board only in the event that one or more of the other three (3) local officials is unable to serve at a hearing; one affordable housing developer; one affordable housing advocate; one representative of the business community; and one attorney knowledgeable in land use regulation, who should be chairperson of the board.(2) Those members of the board as of July 2, 2004 who were appointed to the board by members of the general assembly shall cease to be members of the board on July 2, 2004, and the governor shall thereupon nominate four (4) new members each of whom shall serve for the balance of the current term of his or her predecessor.(3) All other members of the commission as of July 2, 2004 shall continue to serve for the duration of their current terms.(4) All gubernatorial appointments made under this section after July 2, 2004 shall be subject to the advice and consent of the senate.(b) All appointments are for two (2) year terms; except as otherwise provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section, the terms of members appointed after December 31, 2004, shall be for three (3) years. Each member who is duly appointed or continued in office after January 1, 2005, shall hold office for the term for which the member is appointed and until the member's successor shall have been appointed and qualified, or until the member's earlier death, resignation, or removal. A member shall receive no compensation for his or her services, but shall be reimbursed by the state for all reasonable expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of his or her official duties. The board shall hear all petitions for review filed under § 45-53-5, and shall conduct all hearings in accordance with the rules and regulations established by the chair. Rhode Island housing shall provide space, and clerical and other assistance, as the board may require.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 154, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 146; P.L. 2004, ch. 286, § 12; P.L. 2004, ch. 324, § 12; P.L. 2009, ch. 310, § 65.
RI Gen L § 45-53-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-53 - Low and Moderate Income Housing|Section 45-53-8 - Severability.

§ 45-53-8. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or of any rule, regulation, or determination made under this chapter, or its application to any person, agency, or circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule, regulation, or determination, and the application of the provision to other persons, agencies, or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections, or part of any section or sections, of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 154, § 1.