Rhode Island Code of Regulations Title 600 - State Properties Committee
1. What Title 600 Is About
Title 600 of the Rhode Island Code of Regulations governs the State Properties Committee (SPC).
The purpose of this title is to establish rules and procedures for how the State of Rhode Island manages, controls, leases, sells, and otherwise disposes of state-owned real property.
In short, it explains how the state makes decisions about land and buildings it owns.
2. Legal Authority and Role
The State Properties Committee exists under Rhode Island law and acts as an oversight and approval body for transactions involving state property.
Title 600 gives the Committee authority to:
Review property actions proposed by state agencies
Ensure state property is used efficiently and lawfully
Protect the public interest when state land or buildings are leased, sold, or transferred
The Committee does not usually manage property day-to-day; instead, it approves or denies major property decisions.
3. Composition of the State Properties Committee
Title 600 reflects that the Committee is made up of high-level state officials, typically including:
The Governor (or designee)
The Secretary of State
The General Treasurer
This structure ensures that executive and financial interests of the state are represented in property decisions.
4. Types of Property Covered
The regulations apply to real property owned or controlled by the State of Rhode Island, including:
Office buildings
Land and open space
Institutional facilities
Excess or surplus property
Property obtained through purchase, gift, or condemnation
Municipal (city or town) property is not covered unless the state has ownership or control.
5. Powers and Responsibilities of the Committee
Under Title 600, the Committee has authority over:
A. Leasing State Property
Approving leases to or from the state
Setting or approving lease terms (length, rent, conditions)
Ensuring leases are in the state’s best financial and public interest
B. Sale or Disposal of Property
Declaring property surplus (no longer needed by the state)
Approving sales, transfers, or exchanges
Reviewing appraisals to ensure fair market value
Ensuring legal compliance before disposal
C. Easements and Rights-of-Way
Approving easements across state land
Reviewing impacts on state operations and public use
Ensuring proper compensation or public benefit
D. Inter-Agency Transfers
Authorizing transfers of property between state agencies
Ensuring the receiving agency has a legitimate public purpose
6. Procedures and Decision-Making
Title 600 establishes formal procedures, including:
A. Applications and Submissions
State agencies must submit:
Written requests
Property descriptions
Purpose of the transaction
Supporting documents (such as appraisals or surveys)
B. Meetings and Votes
The Committee acts through official meetings
Decisions are made by vote
Records of decisions are maintained for accountability
C. Conditions and Restrictions
The Committee may:
Impose conditions on approvals
Require specific lease clauses
Protect environmental, historical, or public interests
7. Financial Oversight
A key function of Title 600 is financial protection of state assets:
Preventing undervaluation of property
Ensuring the state receives fair compensation
Reviewing long-term financial impacts of property decisions
This protects taxpayers and state resources.
8. Compliance and Accountability
Title 600 ensures that:
Property actions comply with state law
Decisions are documented
Agencies cannot bypass approval requirements
Transactions are transparent and auditable
Unauthorized use or disposal of state property is not permitted.
9. Relationship to Other Laws
Title 600 works alongside:
State procurement laws
Environmental and land-use regulations
Historic preservation requirements
Budget and finance laws
The Committee must consider these areas when approving property actions.
10. Practical Importance
In practice, Title 600:
Prevents misuse of public land
Centralizes oversight of valuable state assets
Ensures fairness, legality, and public benefit
Balances economic development with public responsibility
Summary in One Sentence
RICR Title 600 establishes how the Rhode Island State Properties Committee oversees, approves, and regulates all major transactions involving state-owned real property to protect the public interest.
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