Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H8301 2026 -- H 8301 ======== LC006063 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, and McGaw Date Introduced: March 13, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 42-17.1 of the General Laws entitled Department of Environmental 2 Management is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 42-17.1-47. Boat ramp maintenance. 4 (a) As used herein, the term “boat ramps and docks” refers to a sloping floor, walk, or 5 roadway into a body of water, for the purpose of launching, hauling or operation of boats into, 6 upon, or out of, the body of water. The term also includes docks, piers, and related in-water 7 structures. 8 (b) It is the responsibility of the state, through the department of environmental 9 management (the “department”), to maintain and repair state owned or operated boat ramps and 10 docks, thereby maintaining public boating access and infrastructure to facilitate that public access. 11 (c) There is hereby established a “public boat ramps and docks” restricted receipt account 12 to implement the provisions of this section. This account shall be funded from the receipt of fees 13 for the use of state owned or operated boat ramps and docks. The department shall establish by rule 14 and regulation adopted by the department what percentage of these fees collected shall be placed 15 in the restricted receipt account. 16 (d) The department shall also promulgate rules and regulations to delineate the division of 17 ownership, maintenance, and repair of boat ramps and docks between municipalities and the 18 department. 1 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC006063 ======== LC006063 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT *** 1 This act would provide that the department of environmental management would maintain 2 and repair state owned or operated boat ramps and docks. This act would authorize the creation of 3 a restricted receipt account to pay for the costs of this maintenance and repair. The act would further 4 direct the department to promulgate rules and regulations to delineate the division of ownership, 5 maintenance, and repair of boat ramps and docks between municipalities and the department. 6 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC006063 ======== LC006063 - Page 3 of 3
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