§ 42-45-5. Powers and duties.
(a) The commission shall:
(1) Establish criteria for evaluating historical, architectural, or cultural sites, buildings,
places, landmarks, or areas so as to determine their value in terms of national, state,
or local importance and to adjudge their worthiness for inclusion in the state register;
(2) Compile, maintain, and publish a state register of historical, architectural, and
cultural sites, buildings, places, landmarks, and areas that shall be revised every
two (2) years. The state, a city or town, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof
shall not undertake, fund, or license any activity that will encroach upon, damage,
or destroy, physically, visually, or environmentally, any site, building, place, landmark,
or area included in the state register without first obtaining the advice of the historical
preservation and heritage commission. The commission shall advise the party proposing
an activity affecting any item in the state register of its opinion in writing, together
with any maps, drawings, photographs, or material necessary to explain or support
its advisory. If a written advisory is not given within sixty (60) days of receipt
of notice of a proposed activity, the commission shall be deemed to approve the proposal.
If more than sixty (60) days are needed to evaluate a proposed activity and render
an advisory, arrangements for a reasonable extension shall be made by the commission
and the party proposing the activity. Advisories rendered by the commission on any
proposed activity affecting an item on the state register shall be followed unless
there are compelling reasons for not doing so. In these cases, a statement of the
reasons, together with a copy of the commission's advisory, shall be submitted to
the governor for final determination;
(3)(i) Assist and advise the department of administration and other appropriate agencies
designated by the governor in preparing that element or elements of the state guide
plan dealing with plans and programs for the preservation of historic sites and structures.
(ii) There shall also be included in such state guide plan a program for preservation of
historic landscapes, and state land-use planning which shall consider the impact of
land-use on historic landscapes. To assist in preparation of those elements of the
state guide plan dealing with the preservation of historic landscapes, the commission
shall prepare and maintain a statewide inventory of historic landscapes;
(4) Prepare statewide plans or programs for the preservation of sites or structures included
in the state register which shall list the methods, practices, and procedures to be
used in preserving or according recognition to sites or buildings. The plans or programs
shall be a part of the state guide plan;
(5) Cause to be prepared plaques or markers made of some suitable material to be erected
on, or affixed to with the permission of the owner, in a conspicuous place, those
sites or buildings determined worthy of inclusion in the state register;
(6) Acquire or receive, by purchase, gift, or otherwise, with the approval of the governor
in the case of a gift and in accordance with chapter 6 of title 37 in other cases, land or any interest in land and/or buildings that have been designated
in the state register for the purpose of preserving the land and/or buildings; hold
and maintain them, and give custody of the acquisitions for the purpose of preserving,
maintaining, or exhibiting them to qualified nonprofit organizations with due regard
for the interest of the state and the public in the property;
(7) Grant or loan funds to towns or cities or private groups of funds made available therefor
by the state or federal government, for the purpose of acquiring, restoring, relocating,
or otherwise preserving land or buildings designated in the state register;
(8) Receive on behalf of the state such grants or loans as may be made by the federal
government or by private persons or groups for the purposes of this chapter, and it
shall be the designated agency of the state in applying for these grants;
(9) Inventory and catalog all buildings, sites, objects, and artifacts of historical,
architectural, or archaeological interest that are within the custody or jurisdiction
of the departments and agencies of state government. This inventory and catalog shall
include buildings, ruins, and other structures, monuments, paintings, photographs,
flags, furniture, clothing, military equipment and uniforms, archaeological materials,
and all other articles of historic, architectural, or archaeological interest. All
departments and agencies will assist the commission in making this inventory and catalog.
The commission shall inform each department and agency of those items contained in
the inventory that are within its custody or jurisdiction by furnishing copies of
the catalog or an extract thereof to each department and agency concerned. Copies
of all amendments to the catalog, or extracts thereof, shall also be furnished to
each department and agency concerned;
(10) Advise the department and agencies of state government of the appropriateness, suitability,
proper procedures, and other safeguards that should be observed in preserving, displaying,
or using items contained in the catalog of articles of historic, architectural, or
archaeological interest. When notified of any proposal to physically alter, change
the location or method of storage, or change the manner of utilization or public accessibility,
or to otherwise significantly affect any item listed in the catalog, the commission
shall advise the responsible agency in writing, accompanied by any maps, drawings,
photographs, or other explanatory material necessary. If a written advisory is not
given within sixty (60) days of receipt of a notice of proposed action, the commission
shall be deemed to approve the proposal. If more than sixty (60) days are needed to
evaluate a proposal and render an advisory, arrangements for a reasonable extension
shall be made by the commission and the department or agency concerned. Advisories
given by the commission in accordance with this section shall be followed by the department
or agency concerned unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so. In these
cases, a statement of the reasons, together with a copy of the commission's advisory,
shall be submitted to the governor for determination;
(11) Survey the use or occupancy of all state-owned buildings or sites that are of historic,
architectural, or archaeological interest. The commission shall make recommendations
to the director of administration concerning the appropriate use and availability
of public access of each building and site, so that these may be utilized and displayed
in a manner in keeping with their historic, architectural, or archaeological value;
(12) Appoint a state review board from among its own members and such other persons as
it may desire, one of whom shall possess the background and qualifications of an historian,
one of whom shall be an architect or architectural historian, and one of whom shall
be an archaeologist as required by the office of archaeology and historic preservation
in the national park service. The state review board shall approve nominations to
the state and national registers of historic places, approve the removal of properties
from either register, and otherwise act in an advisory capacity to the historical
preservation and heritage commission;
(13) To implement a state-owned historic properties program, to provide technical assistance
to agencies with jurisdiction over historic properties, and review proposed alterations
to state-owned historic properties; the commission shall develop in conjunction herewith
the educational materials to implement these programs;
(14) To reorganize the operation of and assume the supervisory responsibility for the following
structures: the old State House, Benefit Street arsenal, Stephen Hopkins house (Providence),
Bristol court house (Bristol), Kent County court house (East Greenwich). For purposes
of this subsection, the commission shall appoint from its own members a historic sites
division that shall implement the duties of this subsection;
(15) To promote heritage by sponsoring and/or coordinating heritage festivals; conducting
and/or sponsoring heritage seminars, conferences, and symposiums; publishing scholarly
and popular works relating to the social, political, and cultural development of the
state; coordinating programs with other private or public groups or agencies that
will meet the cultural needs of Rhode Island's citizens; observing important events
in the state's history with suitable celebrations; and funding projects and programs
of public or private groups or agencies that relate to the heritage of Rhode Island
and its people;
(16) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members and new designees
of ex-officio members within six (6) months of their qualification or designation.
The course shall be developed by the chair of the commission, approved by the commission,
and conducted by the chair of the commission. The commission may approve the use of
any commission or staff members or other individuals to assist with training. It shall
include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 25-15, 42-46,
36-14 and 38-2; and the commission's rules and regulations. The director of the department
of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act
[July 15, 2005], prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions
of chapter 46 of this title, chapter 14 of title 36, and chapter 2 of title 38; and
(17) To submit within (90) days after the end of the fiscal year an annual report to the
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate,
and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall
provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting
minutes, subjects addressed, advisories rendered under subsection (a)(2), advisories
rendered for activities to be undertaken by departments and agencies of the state
under subsection (a)(10), studies conducted, policies and plans developed in order
to assist other state agencies in preparing elements of the state guide plan, plans
or programs developed for the preservation of sites or structures included in the
state register, and any other programs administered or initiated including any assistance
or training provided agencies with jurisdiction over historic places; a consolidated
financial statement of all funds received and expended including the source of the
funds, grants or loans to towns, cities, or private groups, a listing of any staff
supported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative, or technical
support received, and a summary of any land or interest in land and/or buildings received
during the fiscal year; a review of the inventories complied as required in subsections
(a)(2), (a)(3)(ii), and (a)(9); a summary of performance during the previous fiscal
year including accomplishments, shortcomings, and remedies; a synopsis of any legal
matters related to the authority of the commission; a summary of any training courses
held pursuant to subsection (a)(16); a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming
fiscal year; and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be
posted electronically as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement
of this provision.
(b) Whenever a public hearing on any project involving state or local governmental funds
or a federal grant or loan is held, notice of it shall be sent to any historic district
commission in the city or town and to the Rhode Island historical preservation and
heritage commission, together with a map indicating the area and the type of project
to be discussed at the hearing. Whenever an urban project plan is prepared through
the use of, or contemplating the use of, state or local governmental funds, a copy
shall be transmitted to the Rhode Island historical preservation and heritage commission.