reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 45-59-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-59 - District Management Authorities|Section 45-59-27 - Notice of creation of district; actions to contest.

§ 45-59-27. Notice of creation of district; actions to contest.Notice of the creation of a management district and a district management authority will be given by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipality at some time subsequent to the approval of the petition by the city or town council as provided in § 45-59-7. Actions to contest the validity of the proceedings for the creation of the management district and the district management authority must be commenced within sixty (60) days after the date of the notice and no action thereafter commenced will raise any question concerning the validity of the proceedings and the creation of the management district and the district management authority. After the expiration of the sixty (60) day period, the validity of the proceedings and the creation of the management district and the district management authority will be conclusively presumed.History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 205, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 373, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-60-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-60 - Block Island Housing Board|Section 45-60-2 - Block Island housing trust fund.

§ 45-60-2. Block Island housing trust fund.(a) There is created a special designated account to be known as the "Block Island housing fund." The fund shall be administered by the board and expenditures from the fund are made only to implement and effectuate the policies and purposes of this chapter. Funds shall consist of monies or in-kind donations from whatever source. These may include, but are not limited to, monies from the general treasury of the town, seasonal house rental taxes of no more than one percent (1%) of prevailing market rate, contributions from private or public sources, loans from private or financial institutions, grants, gifts or bequests.(b) No funds shall be transferred from the housing trust account for investment or any other purpose without prior approval by the housing trust board.(c) Unexpended balances and any earnings shall not revert to the town general fund but shall remain in the housing fund for use in accord with the purposes of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 51, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-60-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-60 - Block Island Housing Board|Section 45-60-3 - General powers and duties of the board.

§ 45-60-3. General powers and duties of the board.(a) The board shall have all of the powers necessary and convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this chapter, including, without limitation, those general powers provided to a nonprofit corporation and including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power to:(1) Upon application from an eligible applicant in a form prescribed by the board, provide funding in the form of grants, loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, rental assistance or any other means determined to further the goals of the trust for eligible activities;(2) Enter into cooperative agreements with private organizations or individuals or with any agency or instrumentality of the United States or of this state or town to carry out the purposes of this chapter;(3) Purchase, sell, build, develop or restore real estate, the objective of which is to create affordable year-round and seasonal housing in perpetuity;(4) Sell property to eligible applicants, such property may be deed-restricted such that affordability will remain in perpetuity;(5) Rent or lease real estate the board may own or lease from others;(6) Solicit bequests and accept donations;(7) The selling to or renting/leasing to applicants will be done in accordance with the provisions of the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act, chapter 37 of title 34;(8) Collect taxes on behalf of the town of New Shoreham from those owners engaged in the business of renting, leasing, letting, or granting a license to use any seasonal rental in accordance with §§ 45-60-6 and 45-60-7, and the taxes so imposed shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.(b) The board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations governing the conduct of trust affairs, including the acquisition and management of its holdings, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. All rules and regulations of the trust are subject to the approval of the town council.(c) All meetings of the housing board shall be open to the public except that this provision shall not be deemed to prevent holding of executive sessions, provided all votes are taken in public or closed meeting with recorded vote taken in accordance with chapter 46 of title 42, the Rhode Island open meetings law.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 51, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 355, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 435, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-60-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-60 - Block Island Housing Board|Section 45-60-4 - Allocation system.

§ 45-60-4. Allocation system.(a) In determining the allocation of funds available for the purposes of this chapter, the board shall evaluate each proposal on the basis of the following criteria which may include, but not be limited to:(1) The need for a timely response to unpredictable circumstances or special opportunities to serve the purposes of this chapter;(2) The level of funding or other participation by private or public sources in the activity being considered for funding by the board;(3) What resources will be required in the future to sustain the project;(4) The long-term effect of proposed activity and the likelihood that the activity will result in the preservation of affordability in perpetuity;(5) The board's allocation system shall include a method, defined by rule, that evaluates the need for, impact of, and quality of, activities proposed by applicants.(b) Affordable housing projects must result in units which remain affordable for the maximum time allowed by law; the housing board shall retain first right of refusal in the event of sale or transfer of such properties for which funds from this trust fund have been used.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 51, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-60-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-60 - Block Island Housing Board|Section 45-60-5 - Annual report.

§ 45-60-5. Annual report.At the end of each fiscal year which is defined to begin on July 1 and continue through June 30 of each year, the board shall submit a report concerning its activities to the town council. More frequent reports may be given as requested. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:(1) A list and description of activities funded by the board during the preceding year;(2) A list of taxes and/or contributions received by the board, whatever their form or nature, and the source of the taxes and/or contributions, unless anonymity is a condition of a particular contribution. The record of individual payments shall be kept confidential, as are sales and income tax records;(3) A full report of the board's activities;(4) Fund statements will be audited annually by a certified public accounting firm engaged by the housing board.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 51, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 355, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 435, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-60-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-60 - Block Island Housing Board|Section 45-60-6 - Imposition of seasonal rental tax, rate, procedure, enforcement, exemptions. [Contingent effective date; see notes.]

§ 45-60-6. Imposition of seasonal rental tax, rate, procedure, enforcement, exemptions. [Contingent effective date; see notes.](a) It is hereby declared to be the legislative intent that every owner is exercising a taxable privilege who engages in the business of renting, leasing, letting, or granting a license to use any living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in, from, or a part of, or in connection with any seasonal rental. However, any owner who rents, leases, lets, or grants a license to others to use, occupy, or enter upon any living quarters or sleeping or housekeeping accommodations in seasonal rentals and who exclusively enters into a bona fide written agreement for continuous residence for longer than six (6) months in duration at such property is not exercising a taxable privilege. For the exercise of such taxable privilege, a tax is hereby levied in an amount equal to no more than one percent (1%) of the actual rent received for such seasonal rental by owner. Such tax shall apply to seasonal rental whether or not there is in connection with any of the same any dining rooms, cafes, or other places where meals or lunches are sold or served to guests. For purposes of this chapter "seasonal rental" shall mean any home or apartment rented for six (6) months or less.(b) The owner receiving the rent shall remit the tax to the town treasurer for deposit into the Block Island housing fund at the end of the rental season but no later than February 15th of the following year or at some other time as designated by the Block Island housing board.(c) The tax levied by this section shall not apply to, be imposed upon, or collected from any person who shall have entered into a bona fide written lease for longer than six (6) months in duration for continuous residence at any one seasonal rental.(d) The tax imposed by this section shall constitute a lien on the property on which the seasonal rental is located in the same manner as and shall be collectible as are liens authorized and imposed by chapter 9 of title 44.History of Section.P.L. 2005, ch. 355, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 435, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-60-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-60 - Block Island Housing Board|Section 45-60-7 - Collections of seasonal rental tax.

§ 45-60-7. Collections of seasonal rental tax.(a) When receipt of consideration is by way of property other than money, the tax shall be levied and imposed on the fair market value of such nonmonetary consideration.(b) The owner of the seasonal rental shall remit the tax to the town treasurer for deposit into the Block Island housing fund at the end of the rental season but no later than February 15th of the following year or at some other time as designated by the Block Island housing board.(c) The town treasurer shall keep records showing the amount of taxes collected, which records shall disclose the taxes collected from each owner of such seasonal rental. The records of individual payments shall be kept confidential, as are sales and income tax records.(d) The collections received by the town treasurer shall be deposited into the Block Island housing fund for use by the board as provided in this chapter.(e) The board shall promulgate such rules and shall prescribe and publish such forms as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section including, but not limited to, procedures for collection, timing, due dates and mailing of tax notices. The board is authorized to establish audit procedures and to assess for delinquent taxes.(f) Any tax levied pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any other tax imposed pursuant to chapter 44-5-1 et seq., and in addition to all other taxes and fees and the consideration for the rental or lease.History of Section.P.L. 2005, ch. 355, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 435, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-61-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61 - Stormwater Management Districts|Section 45-61-1 - Short title.

§ 45-61-1. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Stormwater Management and Utility District Act of 2002."History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 329, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61 - Stormwater Management Districts|Section 45-61-2 - Legislative findings.

§ 45-61-2. Legislative findings.The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:(1) The general assembly finds that stormwater, when not properly controlled and treated, causes pollution of the waters of the state, threatens public health, and damages property. Stormwater carries pollutants and other material from the land — such as human and animal waste, oil, gasoline, grease, fertilizers, nutrients, and sediments — into rivers, streams, ponds, coves, drinking water aquifers, and Narragansett Bay. Stormwater reaches the state's waters by streets, roads, lawns, and other means. As a result, public use of the natural resources of state for drinking water, swimming, fishing, shellfishing, and other forms of recreation is limited and in some cases prohibited.(2) The general assembly further finds that inattention to stormwater management results in erosion of soils and destruction of both public and private property, thereby putting public safety at risk and harming property values and uses, including agriculture and industry. Therefore, to help alleviate existing and future degradation of the state's waters and the associated risks to public health and safety, and to comply with state and federal stormwater management requirements, stormwater conveyance systems must be maintained and improved. The state of Rhode Island is delegated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to implement "Phase II" stormwater management regulations, which require municipalities and other persons to increase their capacity to control stormwater. The Department of Environmental Management's Pollution Discharge Elimination System program has promulgated these regulations.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 329, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 310, § 68.
RI Gen L § 45-61-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61 - Stormwater Management Districts|Section 45-61-3 - Declaration of purpose.

§ 45-61-3. Declaration of purpose.The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the cities and towns of the state to adopt ordinances creating stormwater management districts (SMD), the boundaries of which may include all or part of a city or town, as specified by such ordinance. Such ordinances shall be designated to eliminate and prevent the contamination of the state's waters and to operate and maintain existing stormwater conveyance systems.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 329, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61 - Stormwater Management Districts|Section 45-61-4 - Powers of councils.

§ 45-61-4. Powers of councils.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.History of Section.P.L. 2002, ch. 329, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61.1-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61.1 - Storm Drainage System Maintenance|Section 45-61.1-1 - Purposes.

§ 45-61.1-1. Purposes.The purposes of this chapter are to:(1) Require, at a minimum, the annual inspection of and if necessary the annual cleaning and maintenance of storm drainage systems that are prone to flooding in order to reduce the risks of flooding and roadway degradation, and the deposition of sediments and associated pollutants into the state's waterways;(2) Allow small municipal separate storm sewer systems in partnership with the department of transportation to designate storm drainage systems that are prone to flooding and would be subject to the requirements of this chapter;(3) Provide an opportunity for public input during the storm drainage designation process; and(4) Authorize the department of environmental management to adopt regulations, as necessary, to implement the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 446, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61.1-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61.1 - Storm Drainage System Maintenance|Section 45-61.1-2 - Storm drainage system inspection.

§ 45-61.1-2. Storm drainage system inspection.(a) Storm drainage systems are herein defined as catch basins, conveyance structures, and structural best management practices (BMPs) used for peak flow mitigation and runoff control/containment, water quality improvement and/or flood plain compensation.(b) In accordance with the findings of § 45-61-2 and the purposes of this chapter, all storm drainage systems that are part of a regulated small municipal separate storm sewer system (small MS4), as defined in department of environmental management Rule 31(a)(5)(i) of the RIPDES Regulations, shall be inspected at least once per year, except those storm drainage systems that are not designated by the owner or operator of a regulated small MS4 pursuant to subsection 45-61.1-3(b) as being prone to street flooding and/or contributing significantly to storm water management problems. Storm drainage systems prone to flooding or contributing significantly to storm water management problems shall be inspected at least once per year and maintained and cleaned as necessary in order to reduce the risks of flooding and ensure proper functioning of storm drain systems.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 446, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61.1-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61.1 - Storm Drainage System Maintenance|Section 45-61.1-3 - Stormwater management plans.

§ 45-61.1-3. Stormwater management plans.(a) Pursuant to the United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations requiring a storm water management program plan for the "Phase II" stormwater management program, as defined in 40 CFR 122.34, a regulated small MS4 is required to prepare a storm water management program plan as a condition of its general Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES) permit for small MS4s. In accordance with the provisions established in § 45-61.1-2, a regulated small MS4 with a general RIPDES permit is required to modify its storm water management program plan to provide for the annual inspection of designated storm drainage systems.(b) A regulated small MS4 shall designate on or before March 10, 2007, those storm drainage systems that are prone to street flooding and/or contribute significantly to storm water management problems. Such designation shall be included as part of the public notification and public input process defined in subsection (c) of this section.(c) A regulated small MS4 that modifies its storm water management program plan to implement the purposes of this chapter shall provide public notification of any such modifications and must provide an opportunity for public input at a public meeting prior to submitting the modifications to the department of environmental management on or before March 10, 2007; notice and meeting requirements herein set forth shall conform with the provisions of chapter 42-46 entitled "Open Meetings".(d) Pursuant to the provisions of subsection 45-61.1-2(b), the first annual inspection(s) shall be completed no later than March 10, 2008.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 446, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61.1-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61.1 - Storm Drainage System Maintenance|Section 45-61.1-4 - Department of environmental management.

§ 45-61.1-4. Department of environmental management.The department is hereby authorized, as necessary, to modify the basic requirements of the general RIPDES permit for regulated small MS4s to implement the provisions contained in §§ 45-61.1-1 — 45-61.1-3. The department may amend its regulations, as necessary, to bring the general RIPDES permit program for regulated small MS4s into consistency with the requirements of this section.History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 364, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 446, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-61.2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-61.2 - The Smart Development for a Cleaner Bay Act of 2007|Section 45-61.2-1 - Findings.

§ 45-61.2-1. Findings.(a) The general assembly hereby recognizes and declares that:(1) Stormwater, when not properly controlled and treated, causes pollution of the waters of the state, threatens public health, and damages property. Stormwater carries pollutants into rivers, streams, ponds, coves, drinking water aquifers and Narragansett Bay;(2) Stormwater reaches the state's waters by streets, roads, lawns and other means. As a result, public use of the state's natural resources for drinking water, swimming, fishing, shellfishing and other forms of recreation is limited and in some cases prohibited;(3) Development often results in increased stormwater runoff by increasing the size and number of paved and other impervious surfaces within the state, and decreasing the amount of natural surface areas that naturally control stormwater runoff through natural filtration and groundwater recharge systems;(4) Rhode Island's State Land Use Policies and Plan "Land Use 2025" predicts under the "Current Trend Scenario" that by 2025 an area comprising over one hundred eight thousand (108,000) acres, or sixteen percent (16%) of the state's total area, could be developed with twenty (20) more years of building to current plans; and(5) Rhode Island's stormwater design and installation standards manual has been developed to describe mandatory and suggested stormwater design and performance criteria for applicants to the department of environmental management (DEM), coastal resources management council (CRMC) and Rhode Island's cities and towns.(6) To prevent the future degradation of the state's waters the general assembly finds that Rhode Island should update the stormwater design and installation standards manual to implement comprehensive stormwater standards for development that will maintain natural hydrological systems and reduce pollution to the maximum extent possible by requiring the use of modern non-structural low impact design practices and techniques.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 133, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 203, § 1.