R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-31 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-31
§ 28-5-31. Additional evidence in court.
Status: in_force

If either party applies to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shows to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce the evidence in the hearing before the commission, its member, or agent, the court may order the additional evidence to be taken before the commission, its member, or agent and to be made a part of the transcript.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-13
§ 28-43-13. Appeals to the board of review.
Status: in_force

In the event that any application for refund or credit is denied, the director shall notify the applicant in writing of that decision. Unless the applicant, within fifteen (15) days after the notice of denial has been mailed to the applicants last known address, files an appeal in writing with the board of review setting forth the grounds for that appeal, the denial shall be final. If an appeal is duly filed, the board of review shall then set a time and place to give the appellant an opportunity to show cause as to why the decision of the director should be changed. Following that hearing, the board of review shall, as promptly as possible, notify the appellant and the director of its decision on the application. That decision shall become final unless the appellant or the director files an appeal to the sixth division of the district court in accordance with the provisions of §§ 28-44-51  28-44-55.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-60-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-60 / Section 28-60-1
§ 28-60-1. Posting of veterans benefits and services.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of labor and training shall consult with the office of veterans services to create and distribute a veterans benefits and services poster.

(b) Such poster shall, at a minimum, include information regarding the following services available to veterans:

(1) Contact and website information for the office of veterans services and the departments veterans program;

(2) Substance abuse and mental health treatment;

(3) Educational, workforce, and training resources;

(4) Tax benefits;

(5) Rhode Island state veteran drivers licenses and non-driver identification cards;

(6) Eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits under state and/or federal law;

(7) Legal services; and

(8) Contact information for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs veterans crisis line.

(c) Every employer in the state with more than fifty (50) full-time equivalent employees shall display the poster created pursuant to this section in a conspicuous place accessible to employees in the workplace.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-32 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-32
§ 28-43-32. Group accounts.
Status: in_force

Two (2) or more employers who or that have become liable for payments in lieu of contributions, in accordance with the provisions of §28-43-29, may file a joint application to the director for the establishment of a group account for the purpose of sharing the cost of benefits paid that are attributable to service in the employ of those employers. Each application shall identify and authorize a group representative to act as the groups agent for the purposes of this section. Upon approval of the application, the director shall establish a group account for those employers effective as of the beginning of the calendar quarter in which he or she receives the application and shall notify the groups representative of the effective date of the account. That account shall remain in effect for not less than two (2) tax years and subsequently until terminated at the discretion of the director or upon application by the group. Upon establishment of the account, each member of the group shall be liable for payments in lieu of contributions with respect to each calendar quarter in the amount that bears the same ratio to the total benefits paid in that quarter that are attributable to service performed in the employ of all members of the group as the total wages paid for service in employment by that member in that quarter bear to the total wages paid during that quarter for service performed in the employ of all members of the group. The director shall prescribe any regulations as deemed necessary with respect to applications for establishment, maintenance, and termination of group accounts that are authorized by this section, for addition of new members to, and withdrawal of active members from, those accounts, and for the determination of the amounts that are payable under this section by members of the group and the time and manner of those payments.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-2-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-2 / Section 28-2-5
§ 28-2-5. Compensation of persons assigned to work.
Status: in_force

All persons required to work under this chapter shall receive compensation of not less than the wage or salary paid to others engaged in the same nature of work to which each person is assigned. If any person is assigned to work for any department, board, division, or commission of the state, then the compensation of the person shall be paid to him by the department, board, division, or commission out of the appropriation made to it by the state. If any person is assigned to work for any county or for any municipality, or for any private employer, then the compensation of the person shall be paid to him by the county or municipality, or by the private employer, accepting his services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-19.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-19.1
§ 28-44-19.1. Disqualifying income.
Status: in_force

An individual shall be disqualified from receiving benefits for any week of his or her unemployment within any period with respect to which that individual is currently receiving or has received retirement income in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) The amount of compensation payable to an individual for any week that begins in a period with respect to which that individual is receiving a governmental or other pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or any other similar periodic payment that is based on the previous work of that individual shall be reduced, but not below zero, by an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the amount of that pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or other payment, that is reasonably attributable to that week, if that deduction is required as a condition for full tax credit against the tax imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 U.S.C. § 3301 et seq.; provided, that if the individual made no contribution to the retirement plan then the amount of compensation payable to the individual shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the full amount of that pension, retirement or retired pay, annuity, or other payment, that is reasonably attributable to that week.

(2) If at any time following May 3, 1979, subsection (1) of this section or any provision of it is not required by federal law in order for an eligible employer to qualify for full tax credit against the tax imposed by the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, 26 U.S.C. § 3301 et seq., then subsection (1) of this section or the provision of it is no longer required and shall have no force or effect.

(3) Social Security benefits received by an individual shall not be included or considered as disqualifying income under the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-25 / Section 28-25-8
§ 28-25-8. Orders to cease operation or repair.
Status: in_force

An authorized inspector shall consult with the owner, engineer, or other person in charge of each boiler or pressure vessel as to its condition and operation, and if he or she thereby discovers or in any manner learns of any defect or imperfection in the boiler or pressure vessel or of any dereliction or carelessness on the part of the engineer or other person in charge of the boiler or pressure vessel relative to it, or to its operation, he or she shall, as soon as practicable, give notice of this to the owner of the boiler or pressure vessel. If, as a result of the inspection, the inspector determines that any boiler or pressure vessel is in any condition as to be unsafe and that the danger is imminent, he or she shall notify the jurisdictional authority who may order the operation of the boiler or pressure vessel to be stopped. Upon that notice, operation shall be stopped until the boiler or pressure vessel or its defective part or parts are repaired or renewed and put in safe condition and a certificate to that effect issued. Where there is no imminent danger, the inspector shall notify the owner to remedy the defect or defects within any reasonable time that he or she may prescribe, and if the defect or defects are not remedied within the prescribed time, the use of the boiler or pressure vessel shall be discontinued at the expiration of that time until it is put in a safe condition and a certificate to that effect is issued by the jurisdictional authority.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-20.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-20.1
§ 28-33-20.1. Computation of earnings for recurrence  Burden of employee to establish recurrence.
Status: in_force

(a) In the event a person collecting benefits under this chapter, regardless of the date of injury, has returned to employment for a period of twenty-six (26) weeks or more and suffers a recurrence of the injury that precipitated the person collecting benefits under this chapter, the average weekly wage shall be ascertained by applying the same formula of § 28-33-20 to the thirteen (13) calendar weeks immediately preceding the week in which he or she suffered the recurrence. In making this computation, absence for seven (7) consecutive calendar days, although not in the same calendar week, shall be considered as absence for a calendar week.

(b) For all petitions filed to prove recurrence of incapacity to work, regardless of the date of injury, the employee must document that the incapacity has increased or returned without the need for the employee to document a comparative change of condition.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-32 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-3 / Section 28-3-32
§ 28-3-32. Immunity from liability for costs.
Status: in_force

No police officer, probation officer, truant officer, or principal of a school complaining under any of the provisions of this chapter shall be required to give surety for costs; and no such person shall in any way be liable for any costs that may accrue on the complaint.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-9
§ 28-7-9. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

(a) The board shall have authority from time to time to make, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations that may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter including the determination of the life of the selected representatives. The rules and regulations shall be effective upon publication in the manner that the board prescribes.

(b) The rules and regulations for state and municipal employees shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The board shall require a labor organization to submit cards of interest signed by at least thirty percent (30%) of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit indicating a desire to be represented by the labor organization so designated. Cards of interest signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit shall be required to intervene. The board shall certify the authenticity of all cards of interest submitted.

(2) The board shall not consider a petition for representation whenever it appears that a collective bargaining agreement is in existence; provided, that the board may consider a petition within a thirty-day (30) period immediately preceding sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of the collective bargaining agreement.

(3) A petition for unit clarification may be filed at any time with the board by:

(i) An exclusive bargaining agent;

(ii) The applicable municipality; or

(iii) The state where appropriate.

(4) In addition to the provisions of § 28-7-22, the board is empowered to order complete relief upon a finding of any unfair labor practice.

(5) All charges of unfair labor practices and petitions for unit classification shall be informally heard by the board within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the charges or petitions. Within sixty (60) days of the charges or petition the board shall hold a formal hearing. A final decision shall be rendered by the board within sixty (60) days after the hearing on the charges or petition is completed and a transcript of the hearing is received by the board.

(6) The board shall establish standards for deferring a pending unfair labor practice charge to allow for the grievance and arbitration process to move forward pursuant to the charging parties collective bargaining agreement.

(c) Insofar as the provisions of this section are inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 11 of title 36 and chapter 9.4 of this title, the provisions of this section are controlling.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent or limit the board or its agents by direction of the board, consistent with published rules and regulations, from dismissing, after investigation and informal hearings, the unfair labor practices charge. All unit classification petitions shall receive a formal hearing if requested by either party. The board or its agents shall maintain a written record of any dismissals.

(e) The board shall promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations allowing for the electronic filing of cards of interest, decertification signature cards, signature affirmation documents, and designation of bargaining agent and waiver of right-to-vote forms.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-56-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-56 / Section 28-56-5
§ 28-56-5. Exceptions.
Status: in_force

(a) This chapter shall not apply to information about an applicant or employee that is publicly available.

(b) This chapter shall not prohibit or restrict an employer from complying with a duty to screen employees or applicants before hiring or to monitor or retain employee communications that is established by a self-regulatory organization as defined by the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78c(a)(26), or under state or federal law or regulation to the extent necessary to supervise communications of regulated financial institutions insurance or securities licensees for banking insurance or securities related business purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-58-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-58 / Section 28-58-4
§ 28-58-4. Notification to affected employees.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever an employer is required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), 29 U.S.C. Chapter 23, to provide advance notice of a plant closing or mass layoff, the director of the department of labor and training, or any designee thereof, shall provide to the affected employees or the representatives of the affected employees written notice consisting of, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Notice of the affected employees right to furnish a bid to purchase the employing business; and

(2) Information regarding the formation of a workers cooperative under chapter 6.2 of title 7.

(b) The department of labor and training, or any designee thereof, shall make available to employees information, materials, and resources on the creation of workers cooperatives as defined in chapter 6.2 of title 7.

(c) The department of labor and training shall provide access for business owners to information and materials on the creation of workers cooperatives under chapter 6.2 of title 7, and the conversion of a traditionally owned business to worker ownership.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-48-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-48 / Section 28-48-11
§ 28-48-11. Use of sick leave for adoptive parents.
Status: in_force

Any employer who or that allows sick time or sick leave of an employee to be utilized after the birth of a child shall allow the same time to be used for the placement of a child sixteen (16) years of age or less with an employee in connection with the adoption of the child by the employee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-16 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-16
§ 28-30-16. Retirement of judges engaged on or before July 2, 1997, on full pay.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever any person engaged as a judge on or before July 2, 1997, has served as a workers compensation judge for twenty (20) years and has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, or has served for fifteen (15) years and reached the age of seventy (70) years, he or she may retire from regular active service and subsequently he or she shall receive annually during his or her life a sum equal to the annual salary he or she was receiving at the time of his or her retirement. Whenever a judge or magistrate shall be granted a leave of absence without pay, the absence shall not be credited towards active service time for the purposes of retirement.

(b) Any judge who retires in accordance with the provisions of this section shall at the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court, subject to the retirees physical and mental competence, be assigned to perform such services as a judge as the chief judge prescribes. When so assigned and performing that service, the retiree shall have all the powers and authority of a judge. The retired judge shall not be counted in the number of judges provided by law for the workers compensation court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-17
§ 28-5-17. Conciliation of charges of unlawful practices.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon the commissions own initiative or whenever an aggrieved individual or an organization chartered for the purpose of combating discrimination, racism, or of safeguarding civil liberties, or of promoting full, free, or equal employment opportunities, that individual or organization being subsequently referred to as the complainant, makes a charge to the commission that any employer, employment agency, labor organization, or person, subsequently referred to as the respondent, has engaged or is engaging in unlawful employment practices and that the unlawful employment practices have occurred, have terminated, or have been applied to affect adversely the person aggrieved, whichever is later, within one year, the commission may initiate a preliminary investigation.

(b) If the commission determines after the investigation that it is probable that unlawful employment practices have been or are being engaged in, it shall endeavor to eliminate the unlawful employment practices by informal methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion, including a conciliation agreement. The terms of the conciliation agreement shall include provisions requiring the respondent to refrain from the commission of unlawful discriminatory practices in the future and may contain any further provisions that may be agreed upon by the investigating commissioner and the respondent, including a provision for the entry in superior court of a consent decree embodying the terms of the conciliation agreement. Nothing said or done during these endeavors may be used as evidence in any subsequent proceeding.

(c) If, after an investigation and conference, the commission is satisfied that any unlawful employment practice of the respondent will be eliminated, it may, with the consent of the complainant, treat the charge as conciliated, and entry of that disposition shall be made on the records of the commission.

(d) The commission shall not enter a consent order or conciliation agreement settling claims of discrimination in an action or proceeding under this chapter unless the parties and their counsel attest that a waiver of all or substantially all attorneys fees was not compelled as a condition of the settlement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-9
§ 28-37-9. Payments and reimbursement of payments to totally incapacitated persons.
Status: in_force

The payments provided for under § 28-37-8 shall be made by the insurance carriers or certified employers and they shall be reimbursed out of the fund established by § 28-37-1 after furnishing the director a quarterly statement setting forth the names and addresses of the injured workers entitled to payments under § 28-37-8 and the basis upon which those payments were made. Those sums shall be paid out of the workers compensation administrative fund by order of the director and shall be made by the director by order drawn on the general treasurer to be charged against the workers compensation administrative fund. Whenever an insurance carrier or certified employer, obligated to continue payments under this section, becomes insolvent or is no longer in business, continuance of payments out of the workers compensation administrative fund shall be made directly by the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-44 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-44
§ 28-42-44. Cooperation with federal employment service.
Status: in_force

The department of labor and training is designated and constituted the agency within this state charged with the responsibility of cooperating with the United States employment service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-21 / Section 28-21-4
§ 28-21-4. Updating of information by employer.
Status: in_force

The chemical and common names of all designated substances introduced into the workplace subsequent to the original listing shall be appended to the chemical identification lists prior to introduction of the substance into the workplace. The original listing and appendages shall be annually revised and alphabetized.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-12
§ 28-44-12. Availability and registration for work.
Status: in_force

(a) An individual shall not be eligible for benefits for any week of his or her partial or total unemployment unless during that week he or she is physically able to work full-time and be available for full-time work. To prove availability for work, every individual partially or totally unemployed shall register for work and shall:

(1) File a claim for benefits within any time limits, with any frequency, and in any manner, in person or in writing, as the director may prescribe;

(2) Respond whenever duly called for work through the employment office; and

(3) Make an active, independent search for suitable, full-time work.

(b) If an unemployed individual has been determined to be likely to exhaust regular benefits and to need reemployment services pursuant to a profiling system established by the director, the individual shall be eligible to receive benefits with respect to any week only if the individual participates in reemployment services, such as job search assistance services, unless the director determines that:

(1) The individual has completed those services; or

(2) There is justifiable cause for the individuals failure to participate in those services.

(c) No individual shall be eligible for any benefits for any week in which he or she fails, without good cause, to comply with the requirements as set forth above.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, individuals with a definite return-to-work date that is within twelve (12) weeks of their last day of physical work, as certified by their employer on the employer separation notice provided to the department, shall be exempt from the work search requirements of subsections (a)(2) and (a)(3).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-20-34 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-20 / Section 28-20-34
§ 28-20-34. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or the application of the provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter or the application of the provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid shall not be affected by the invalidity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-54 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-54
§ 28-35-54. Certification of papers to court.
Status: in_force

Whenever the director certifies to the workers compensation court papers, agreements, and documents in any proceedings as are provided in chapters 29  38 of this title, he or she shall certify them to the workers compensation court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-21 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-21
§ 28-14-21. Acceptance of claims of nonresidents for collection.
Status: in_force

The labor relations board shall not accept for collection the unpaid wage claim of any nonresident of this state unless the state of which that nonresident is a citizen accepts for collection the unpaid wage claims of Rhode Island residents.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-3
§ 28-26-3. Secretary.
Status: in_force

The chief of the section shall appoint one secretary for the hoisting engineers' licensing section who shall be in the unclassified service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-70 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-70
§ 28-42-70. Prosecution of criminal actions.
Status: in_force

All criminal actions for any violation of chapters 42  44 of this title or of any rule or regulation shall be prosecuted by the attorney general or by any qualified member of the Rhode Island bar who shall be designated by the director and approved by the attorney general to institute and prosecute that action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-20-26 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-20 / Section 28-20-26
§ 28-20-26. Effective date of codes and changes.
Status: in_force

All codes and all amendments to them and repeals of them shall take effect twenty (20) days after certified copies are filed in the office of the secretary of state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-8
§ 28-26-8. Conduct of examinations  Revocation of license.
Status: in_force

The examinations shall be conducted in the manner and under rules and regulations issued by the division. Initial licenses may be subject to a field examination, if deemed necessary by the division of professional regulation, which examination shall be conducted by the chief hoisting engineer investigator, before renewal. Under written charges after notice and hearing, the division may revoke the license of a person guilty of fraud in obtaining his or her license, or who for any reason has become unfit to discharge the duties of a steam, internal combustion engines, electric, or compressed air engineer. Licenses will not be issued to individuals who have not paid their violations in full.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-41 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-41
§ 28-44-41. Determinations with respect to labor disputes.
Status: in_force

(a) In any case in which the payment or denial of benefits will be affected by the provisions of § 28-44-16, the director shall promptly transmit his or her full findings of fact with respect to that section to the board of review or an appeal tribunal designated by it, which, on the basis of the evidence submitted, and that additional evidence as it may require, shall affirm, modify, or set aside those findings of fact and transmit to the director a decision upon the issues involved under that section. Any action by the board of review in that case shall be by the full board of review, or in the absence or disqualification of either the member representing labor, or the member representing industry, that action shall be by the member representing the public generally, acting alone.

(b) In any case involving this section where the board of review has designated an appeal tribunal to hear and decide the case, the determination of the appeal tribunal shall then be subject to appeal, as of right, to the board of review within the same period as that provided for appealing a determination made by the director. If the board of review elects to make a determination, it shall afford all parties a fair hearing as required with respect to proceedings before an appeal tribunal. No further administrative appeal shall be permitted from the determination of the board of review in that case but judicial review may be initiated as otherwise provided for in chapters 42  44 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-59-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-59 / Section 28-59-2
§ 28-59-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Business entity means any person as defined in § 43-3-6 and includes a corporation, business trust, estate trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(2) Earnings means wages or compensation paid to an employee in the first forty (40) hours of work in a given week, not inclusive of hours paid at an overtime, Sunday, or holiday rate.

(3) Employee means an individual who works for hire, including an individual employed in a supervisory, managerial, or confidential position, but shall not include an independent contractor.

(4) Employer means any person, business entity, partnership, individual proprietorship, joint venture, firm, company, or other similar legal entity who or that employs one or more employees, and shall include the state and its instrumentalities and political subdivisions, public corporations, and charitable organizations.

(5) Forfeiture agreement means an agreement that imposes adverse financial consequences on a former employee as a result of the termination of an employment relationship, regardless of whether the employee engaged in competitive activities, following cessation of the employment relationship. Forfeiture agreements do not include forfeiture for competition agreements.

(6) Forfeiture for competition agreement means an agreement that by its terms or through the manner in which it is enforced, imposes adverse financial consequences on a former employee as a result of the termination of an employment relationship if the employee engages in competitive activities.

(7) Low-wage employee means an employee whose average annual earnings, as defined in subsection (2), are not more than two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level for individuals as established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services federal poverty guidelines.

(8) Noncompetition agreement means an agreement between an employer and an employee, or otherwise arising out of an existing or anticipated employment relationship, under which the employee or expected employee agrees that he or she will not engage in certain specified activities competitive with his or her employer after the employment relationship has ended. Noncompetition agreements include forfeiture for competition agreements, but do not include:

(i) Covenants not to solicit or hire employees of the employer;

(ii) Covenants not to solicit or transact business with customers, clients, or vendors of the employer;

(iii) Noncompetition agreements made in connection with the sale of a business entity or all or substantially all of the operating assets of a business entity or partnership, or otherwise disposing of the ownership interest of a business entity or partnership, or division or subsidiary of any of the foregoing, when the party restricted by the noncompetition agreement is a significant owner of, or member or partner in, the business entity who will receive significant consideration or benefit from the sale or disposal;

(iv) Noncompetition agreements originating outside of an employment relationship;

(v) Forfeiture agreements;

(vi) Nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements;

(vii) Invention assignment agreements;

(viii) Noncompetition agreements made in connection with the cessation of or separation from employment if the employee is expressly granted seven (7) business days to rescind acceptance; or

(ix) Agreements by which an employee agrees to not reapply for employment to the same employer after termination of the employee.

(9) Trade secret means information as defined in § 6-41-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-7.3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-7.3
§ 28-5-7.3. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor.
Status: in_force

An unlawful employment practice may be established in an action or proceeding under this chapter when the complainant demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin was a motivating factor for any employment practice, even though the practice was also motivated by other factors. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as requiring direct evidence of unlawful intent or as limiting the methods of proof of unlawful employment practices under § 28-5-7.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-15
§ 28-35-15. Service on parties outside state.
Status: in_force

In case an interested party is located out of the state, and has no post office address within this state, a copy of the petition and copies of all notices shall be filed by the petitioner in the office of the insurance commissioner and shall also be sent by registered or certified mail to the last known post office address of that party. This filing and mailing shall constitute sufficient service, with the same force and effect as if served upon a party located within the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-25 / Section 28-25-12
§ 28-25-12. Inspection fees.
Status: in_force

For every inspection made by the division under the provisions of this chapter, the owner shall pay to the administrator of the division the required fee which shall be paid upon the conclusion of the inspection and before a certificate is issued. The proceeds of any fees or fines collected pursuant to this section, shall be deposited as general revenues provided, that no fee shall be paid by any city, town, or fire district, nor by the state; and provided, further, that no fee shall be paid by any religious and/or charitable society whenever the aims, activities, and objectives of the religious or charitable society continue to be strictly religious or charitable in nature.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-50 / Section 28-50-3
§ 28-50-3. Protection.
Status: in_force

An employer shall not discharge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against an employee regarding the employees compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment nor shall an employer report or threaten to report an employees immigration status to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or any other immigration agency or law enforcement agency including local and state police:

(1) Because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports or is about to report to a public body, verbally or in writing, a violation, that the employee knows or reasonably believes has occurred or is about to occur, of a law or regulation or rule promulgated under the law of this state, a political subdivision of this state, or the United States, unless the employee knows or has reason to know that the report is false; or

(2) Because an employee is requested by a public body to participate in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry held by that public body, or a court action; or

(3) Because an employee refuses to violate or assist in violating federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation; or

(4) Because the employee reports verbally or in writing to the employer or to the employees supervisor a violation, which the employee knows or reasonably believes has occurred or is about to occur, of a law or regulation or rule promulgated under the laws of this state, a political subdivision of this state, or the United States, unless the employee knows or has reason to know that the report is false. Provided, that if the report is verbally made, the employee must establish by clear and convincing evidence that the report was made.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-11
§ 28-29-11. Annual certificate of compliance.
Status: in_force

All corporations that are or may become employers subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title shall annually in the month of June obtain and file or cause to be obtained and filed with the director a certificate from the secretary of state to the effect that the corporation has in all respects complied with the provisions of chapters 1  6 of title 7.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-6
§ 28-7-6. Annual report of board  Opinions.
Status: in_force

The board shall at the end of every year make a report in writing to the director of labor and training, stating in detail the work it has done in hearing and deciding cases and otherwise. It shall sign and report in full an opinion in every case decided by it. The director shall include the report in his or her annual report to the governor.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-39 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-39
§ 28-41-39. Powers and duties.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of labor and training shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To promulgate regulations relative to the operation of the temporary caregiver insurance program;

(2) To create all necessary applications and certificates to fulfill the purposes of this section;

(3) To disseminate information regarding the program to Rhode Island employers and shall carry out a public education program to inform workers and employers about the availability of benefits under the temporary caregiver insurance program. The director may use a proportion of the funds collected for the temporary caregiver insurance program in a given year to pay for the public education program and/or funding received from other sources for the purpose of educating the public about their benefits. Outreach information shall be available in English and other languages; and

(4) To inform Rhode Island employees of their disability insurance rights and benefits due to the employees own sickness, injury, or pregnancy, or the employees need to provide care for any sick or injured family member or new child. The notice shall be given by every eligible employer to each new employee hired on or after January 1, 2014, and to each employee taking leave from work on or after January 1, 2014, due to pregnancy or the need to provide care for any sick or injured family member or new child. The director shall require each employer to post and maintain information regarding the program in accordance with § 28-41-15.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-47-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-47 / Section 28-47-11
§ 28-47-11. Assessment against group self-insurers.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever the director determines that the compensation and benefits provided by this chapter may be unpaid by reason of the default of an insolvent group self-insurance plan, and the penal sum of the surety bond, trust fund, or other security is about to become exhausted, the director shall levy an assessment against all self-insured employers in that group self-insurance plan to assure prompt payment of that compensation and benefits.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, in the event that an employee leasing firm approved under this chapter does not pay the compensation and benefits provided by this chapter by reason of insolvency, and the penal sum of the surety or other security is about to become exhausted, the director shall levy an assessment against all client companies of the employee leasing firm to ensure prompt payment of the compensation and benefits.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-45 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-45
§ 28-35-45. Review and modification of decrees.
Status: in_force

(a) At any time after the date of the approval of any agreement or at any time after the date of the entry of any decree concerning compensation, and if compensation has ceased under the agreement or decree, within ten (10) years after that, any agreement, award, order, finding, or decree may be from time to time reviewed by the workers compensation court, upon its own motion or upon a petition of either party upon forms prescribed by the court, after due notice to the interested parties:

(1) Upon the ground that the:

(i) Incapacity of the injured employee has diminished, ended, increased, or returned;

(ii) Employee has recovered from the effects of his or her work-related injury and is disabled only as a result of a preexisting condition;

(iii) Employee is able to return to the same work he or she performed at the time of his or her injury;

(iv) Employee has refused an offer of suitable employment; or

(v) Weekly compensation payments have been based upon an erroneous average weekly wage; or

(2) Regarding any other obligation established under chapters 29  38 of this title.

(b) Upon this review, the workers compensation court may decrease, suspend, increase, commence, or recommence compensation payments in accordance with the facts, or make any other order that the justice of the case may require. No review shall affect the agreement, award, order, finding, or decree as regards money already paid, except that an award increasing the compensation rate may be made effective from the date of the injury, and except that if any part of the compensation due or to become due is unpaid, an award decreasing the compensation rate may be made effective from the date of injury, and any payments made prior thereto in excess of the decreased rate shall be deducted from any unpaid compensation, in the manner and by the methods that may be determined by the workers compensation court.

(c) Relief on review shall not be denied an employee or granted an employer or his or her insurer on the grounds that the employee is incapacitated by an injury or disease that is different from the one for which the employee was paid compensation if the injury or disease incapacitating the employee results from an injury or disease for which the employee was paid compensation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-18.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-18.1
§ 28-30-18.1. Retirement contribution.
Status: in_force

(a) Workers compensation judges engaged after December 31, 1989, shall have deducted from total salary beginning December 31, 1989, and ending on June 30, 2012, an amount equal to a rate percent of compensation as specified in § 36-10-1 relating to member contributions to the state retirement system. Effective July 1, 2012, all active workers compensation judges whether engaged before or after December 31, 1989, shall have deducted from compensation as defined in § 36-8-1 an amount equal to twelve percent (12%) of compensation. The receipts collected under this provision shall be deposited in a restricted revenue account entitled workers compensation judges retirement benefits on the date contributions are withheld but no later than three (3) business days following the pay period ending in which contributions were withheld. Proceeds deposited in this account shall be held in trust for the purpose of paying retirement benefits to participating judges or their beneficiaries. The retirement board shall establish rules and regulations to govern the provisions of this section.

(b) The state is required to deduct and withhold member contributions and to transmit same to the retirement system and is hereby made liable for the contribution. In addition, any amount of employee contributions actually deducted and withheld shall be deemed to be a special fund in trust for the benefit of the member and shall be transmitted to the retirement system as set forth herein.

(c) A judge of the court who withdraws from service or ceases to be a judge for any reason other than retirement shall be paid on demand a refund consisting of the accumulated contributions standing to his or her credit in his or her individual account in the workers compensation judges retirement benefits account. Any judge receiving a refund shall forfeit and relinquish all accrued rights as a member of the system together with credits for total service previously granted to the judge; provided, that if any judge who has received a refund subsequently reenters the service and again becomes a member of the system, he or she shall have the privilege of restoring all money previously received or disbursed to his or her credit as refund of contributions, together with regular interest for the time period from the date of refund to the date of restoration. Upon the repayment of the refund, the judge shall again receive credit for the amount of total service that he or she had previously forfeited by the acceptance of the refund.

(d) Whenever any judge of the workers compensation court dies from any cause before retirement and has no surviving spouse, domestic partner, or minor child(ren), a payment shall be made of the accumulated contributions standing to his or her credit in his or her individual account in the workers compensation judges retirement account. The payment of the accumulated contributions of the judge shall be made to such person as the judge shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the retirement board, or if the judge has filed no nomination, or if the person so nominated has died, then to the estate of the deceased judge.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-63 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-63
§ 28-44-63. Benefit payments for services with nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and hospitals.
Status: in_force

Benefits based on service in employment for nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and hospitals, as defined in § 28-42-3, shall be payable in the same amounts on the same conditions as compensation payable on the basis of other services subject to chapters 42  44 of this title; except that benefits based on service in an instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity in an institution of higher education as defined in § 28-42-3 shall not be paid to an individual for any week of unemployment that begins during the period between two (2) successive academic years, or during a similar period between two (2) regular terms, whether or not successive, or during a period of paid sabbatical leave provided for in the individuals contract, if the individual has a contract or contracts to perform services in that capacity for any institution or institutions of higher education for both those academic years or both those terms.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-4
§ 28-33-4. Commencement of compensation.
Status: in_force

No indemnity compensation shall be paid under chapters 29  38 of this title for any injury that does not incapacitate the employee for a period of at least three (3) days from earning full wages, but, if the incapacity extends beyond the period of three (3) days, compensation shall begin on the fourth day from the date of injury, the first two hundred fifty dollars ($250) of indemnity compensation following the three-day (3) period, and the first two hundred fifty dollars ($250) of medical expense for any compensable injury shall, at the discretion of the carrier, be a deductible charged to any employer insured in the residual market, which deductible the insurance carrier shall promptly charge back to the employer. Nonpayment by the employer may be grounds for cancellation of the employers workers compensation insurance policy.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-22
§ 28-14-22. Duties of attorney general.
Status: in_force

It shall be mandatory upon the attorney general of this state to prosecute all civil and criminal cases which shall be referred by the director to the attorney general. It shall be the duty of the attorney general to prosecute actions, both civil and criminal, for those violations of this chapter that come to his or her knowledge and to independently enforce the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-8-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-8 / Section 28-8-3
§ 28-8-3. Remedy cumulative.
Status: in_force

This chapter is not in substitution of any remedies that are now available to the employer or employee, but is cumulative to those remedies.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-22.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-22.2
§ 28-27-22.2. Subpoena powers.
Status: in_force

Prior to or during a hearing the director and division chief shall have the power to administer oaths and examine witnesses under oath, issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, compel the attendance of witnesses, and the production of papers, books, accounts, records, payrolls, documents, and testimony and to take depositions and affidavits in any proceeding before the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-60 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-60
§ 28-44-60. Eligibility for adult basic education or vocational training.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this title to the contrary, a claimant shall not be ineligible for benefits because of his or her regular attendance, whether full-time or part-time, in an adult basic education or a vocational training program as approved by the director and as defined in § 16-63-5(1) and (2); provided, that the director finds that:

(1) The contemplated education or training course will enhance the claimants employability in an occupation or skill for which there are, or are expected to be in the immediate future, employment opportunities in the locality;

(2) The contemplated education or training course will be acquired through an entity in the delivery system set forth in § 16-63-9(a) except subdivisions (5) and (10); and

(3) The claimant has the required qualifications and aptitudes to complete the education or training successfully.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, no otherwise eligible individual shall be denied benefits for any week because he or she is in training approved under 19 U.S.C. § 2296(a)(1), nor shall that individual be denied benefits by reason of leaving work to enter that training; provided, that the work left is not suitable employment, or because of the application to any week in training of provisions in this law or any applicable federal unemployment compensation law, relating to availability for work, active search for work, or refusal to accept work. For purposes of this section, suitable employment means, with respect to an individual, work of a substantially equal or higher skill level than the individuals past adversely affected employment, as defined for purposes of the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., and wages for that work at not less than 80 percent (80%) of the individuals average weekly wage as determined for the purposes of the Trade Act of 1974.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-10-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-10 / Section 28-10-11
§ 28-10-11. Employment of strikebreaker prohibited.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, firm, or corporation, or officer or their agents, involved in a labor strike or lockout knowingly to employ in place of an employee involved in the labor strike or lockout any person who customarily and repeatedly offers himself or herself for employment in the place of employees involved in a labor strike or lockout, or to employ any person in place of an employee involved in a labor strike or lockout who is recruited, procured, supplied, or referred for employment by any person, partnership, agency, firm, or corporation not directly involved in the labor strike or lockout.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person who customarily and repeatedly offers himself or herself for employment in place of employees involved in a labor strike or lockout to take or offer to take the place in employment of employees involved in a labor strike or lockout.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-22
§ 28-29-22. Agreement for alternative scheme  Approval and certification.
Status: in_force

Any employer may enter into an agreement with his or her employees in any employment to which chapters 29  38 of this title apply to provide a scheme of compensation, benefit, or insurance in lieu of the compensation provided for in those chapters, subject to the approval of the director and the chief judge of the workers compensation court. Approval shall be granted only on condition that the scheme proposed provides as great benefits as those provided by these chapters. If the scheme provides for contributions by employees, it shall confer additional benefits at least equivalent to the contributions. If a scheme meets with the approval of the director, he or she shall issue a certificate enabling the employer to contract with any or all of the employers employees in employment to which chapters 29  38 of this title apply to substitute that scheme for the provisions of those chapters for a period of not more than five (5) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-24
§ 28-30-24. Domestic partner  Definition.
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter, domestic partner shall be defined as a person who, prior to the decedents death, was in an exclusive, intimate, and committed relationship with the decedent, and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:

(1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to contract;

(2) Neither partner was married to anyone else;

(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the state of Rhode Island;

(4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of death; and

(5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the following:

(i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;

(ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;

(iii) Two (2) of: (A) Joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) Joint checking account; (C) Joint credit account; (D) Joint lease; and/or

(iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedents will, retirement contract, or life insurance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-52 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-52
§ 28-42-52. Implementation of administrative functions.
Status: in_force

In order to perform the functions and duties as specified under § 28-42-51, the director of administration is empowered to take any action that shall be deemed necessary and advisable and to assign any subordinates or employees to the department of labor and training that he or she shall deem necessary, which subordinates and/or employees shall be within the classified service and shall be paid out of funds made available to the department for administrative purposes, consistent with the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-18 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-3 / Section 28-3-18
§ 28-3-18. Enforcement of provisions  Prosecution of violations.
Status: in_force

The division of labor standards has full power to enforce §§ 28-3-1  28-3-20, and has all the powers of the division of compliance inspection insofar as those powers relate to and affect women and children. All actions, suits, complaints, and prosecutions for the violation of any of the provisions of these sections shall be brought by and in the name of the director of labor and training or the chief of the division of labor standards in the department of labor and training; or by and in the name of any duly authorized representative of the director of labor and training.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-46-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-46 / Section 28-46-11
§ 28-46-11. Rules and regulations of the tax administrator.
Status: in_force

The tax administrator is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the assessment and collection of the tax imposed by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-50.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-50.1
§ 28-44-50.1. Limits of board of review legal precedent.
Status: in_force

Except as provided in § 28-44-50, the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and determinations of eligibility of the director or the board of review, including decisions reviewed by the district, superior, or supreme courts, shall not be binding upon, or determinative of any issue of fact or law, in any criminal prosecution or civil action or administrative proceeding, other than the proceeding under this chapter in which the findings, conclusions, or determinations were made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, documents and testimony developed in proceedings before the department, as well as any determinations of eligibility of the director or board of review, shall remain subject to subpoena, discovery, and admission as evidence in other proceedings as determined in those proceedings, including criminal prosecutions, civil actions, and administrative proceedings.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-38 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-38
§ 28-35-38. Certification of questions to supreme court.
Status: in_force

If, in the course of the proceedings in any cause, any question of law arises which in the opinion of the workers compensation court is of such doubt and importance, and so affects the merits of the controversy, that it ought to be determined by the supreme court before further proceedings, the workers compensation court may certify that question to the supreme court for that purpose, and stay all further proceedings except those that are necessary to preserve the rights of the parties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-6
§ 28-40-6. Overpayments.
Status: in_force

(a) If an employer or employee makes application for refund or credit of any amount paid as contributions or interest under this title, and the director determines that the amount or any portion of it was erroneously collected, the director shall, in his or her discretion, either allow a credit for it, or by voucher duly drawn by the director in an amount and in any manner that the director may prescribe, direct the general treasurer to pay the amount determined to be erroneously collected from the temporary disability insurance reserve fund.

(b) If, in the discretion of the director, a credit is to be allowed, that credit shall be applied against the payment or payments of contributions next due from that employer subsequent to the determination of the director.

(c) No refund or credit shall be allowed with respect to a payment as contributions or interest, unless an application for it is made in writing on or before whichever of the following dates is later:

(1) One year from the date on which the payment was made; or

(2) Three (3) years from the last day of the period with respect to which the payment was made.

(d) For a like cause and within the same period, a refund may be made, or a credit allowed, on the motion of the director.

(e) No interest shall be allowed or paid with respect to any refund.

(f) No refund or credit shall be allowed if the amount involved is less than one dollar ($1.00).

(g) Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize any refund or credit of money due and payable under the law and regulations in effect at the time the money was paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-8
§ 28-5-8. Rhode Island commission for human rights  Composition.
Status: in_force

There is created a commission to be known as the Rhode Island commission for human rights, to consist of seven (7) members to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, one of whom shall be designated by the governor as chairperson. In the appointment of commissioners, the following factors shall be taken into consideration:

(1) A commissioner should have a demonstrated sensitivity to the concerns of the classes protected under this chapter.

(2) A commissioner should have a judicious temperament, analytical ability, and sufficient time to dedicate to commission work.

(3) The commission should reflect the diversity of the states population. In attempting to reflect the diversity of the states population, the governor should attempt to appoint as at least one of the seven (7) commissioners a person with a background in law, business, and/or real estate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-25 / Section 28-25-19
§ 28-25-19. Inspection of unfired pressure vessels being manufactured.
Status: in_force

(a) Manufacturers of unfired pressure vessels in this state shall obtain the services of an authorized inspection agency for shop inspections of unfired pressure vessels being manufactured by them. If manufacturers are unable to obtain the inspection service, they may request that unfired pressure vessels being manufactured by them be inspected by inspectors of the division of occupational safety (holding a valid commission issued by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors). The fee for these inspections by the inspectors shall be established by regulation through the code commission, as shall be the fees for all special inspections, code stamp/certificate of authorization review, and nuclear surveys and reviews that are performed by that division.

(b) All boilers and pressure vessels that are fabricated in accordance with the ASME code and properly identified by ASME code symbol stamping and signed data report shall be registered with the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors in accordance with registration guidelines.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-24
§ 28-12-24. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter and its application to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by the invalidity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-3
§ 28-37-3. Investment of surplus funds.
Status: in_force

The general treasurer as custodian of this fund is authorized to invest any moneys not immediately necessary for the execution of the purposes of this fund in the class of securities legal for the investment of public moneys of this state; provided, that the investment shall at all times be so made that all the assets of the fund shall always be readily convertible into cash when needed for disbursements as provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-24
§ 28-35-24. Examination by or opinion of impartial physician.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever the testimony presented at any hearing indicates a dispute, or creates doubt, as to the extent, nature, or cause of disability or death, the workers compensation court may direct that the injured employee be examined, or may obtain an opinion without examination of an impartial, competent physician designated by the workers compensation court who is not under contract with or regularly employed or regularly retained by a compensation insurer or self-insured employer.

(b) The expense of the examination shall be paid by the employer. The report of the examination shall be transmitted to the workers compensation court and a copy of it shall be furnished by the workers compensation court to each party who shall have an opportunity to rebut it on further hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-21 / Section 28-21-14
§ 28-21-14. Duties of the department of labor and training.
Status: in_force

The director of labor and training is authorized to provide assistance to employers, employee organizations, and employees in the development and conduct of training programs for employees and local public safety personnel, and may provide assistance and consultation to the employer where possible in the completion of material safety data sheets for designated substances and/or mixtures.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-6
§ 28-14-6. Payment of wages of deceased employees.
Status: in_force

(a) Any employer, including the state or a municipal corporation, may at any time after thirty (30) days from the death of an employee pay all wages or personal earnings due to the deceased employee, in order of preference, to: (1) The surviving husband or wife; (2) Children eighteen (18) years of age or older in equal shares; (3) Father and mother, or the survivor; (4) Sisters and brothers in equal shares of the deceased employee; or (5) The person who has paid the funeral bill of the deceased employee; provided the employer has no actual notice of the issuance of any letters testamentary or letters of administration upon the estate of the deceased employee, or of the pendency of any petition for them, provided the wages or personal earnings do not exceed the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

(b) The payment of wages or personal earnings as provided in subsection (a) shall be a full discharge and release to the employer from any claim for those wages or personal earnings by the estate of the deceased employee or any other person.

(c) As a condition of payment, the employer may require satisfactory proof by affidavit or otherwise as to the relationship of the parties and may also require proper receipts or releases for the payment or payments.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-5
§ 28-26-5. License required for operation of hoisting machinery.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) No person shall operate or be in direct charge of hoisting or excavation equipment that uses steam, internal combustion engines, electric, or compressed air of five horsepower (5 h.p.) or more and/or can lift more than five hundred pounds (500 lbs.) without obtaining a license to do so as provided in this chapter.

(2) No user or agent of a user of any machinery described in subsection (a)(1) shall permit the machinery to be operated unless it is operated by a duly licensed person as provided in this chapter.

(b) Every contract in the construction of public works by the state or by any city or town, or by persons contracting with the city, town, or state for the construction, shall contain a clause embodying the provision of this section.

(c) In the event of any inconsistencies and/or contradiction between the requirements of this section and those of § 23-33-30, and/or in any respective rules and/or regulations promulgated pursuant to that section, the provisions of this section and any rules and/or regulations promulgated pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be controlling.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-1.0 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-1.0
§ 28-27-1.0. Mechanical board.
Status: in_force

There shall be in the department of labor and training, a mechanical board, responsible for the licensing and regulating of masters, journeypersons, and apprentices in the pipefitting, air conditioning/refrigeration, sprinkler fitting, and sheet metal trades, hereafter to be referred to as the mechanical trades. The board, under the direction and supervision of the division of professional regulation, shall advise the division in the proper installation, modification and disassembly for reuse of process piping systems used in the conveyance and storage of liquids, solids, and industrial type gases, all heating, cooling, air distribution, fire protection systems, and venting systems. It shall exclude those systems that are self-contained home appliances and all piping systems specified under the plumbing law. The board shall advise the division of the proper license needed for layout, on-site fabrication, installation, alteration, testing, or repair of any automatic or manual sprinkler systems designed for the protection of the interior or exterior of a building or structure from fire, or any piping or tubing and appurtenances and equipment pertaining to such system including overhead and underground water mains, fire hydrants and hydrant mains, standpipes and hose connections to sprinkler systems, sprinkler and tank heaters, air lines and thermal systems used in connection with sprinkler and alarm systems connected to them, foam extinguishing systems or special hazard systems including water spray, foam, carbon dioxide, dry chemical systems, halon liquid, or gas fire suppression systems.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-57 / Section 28-57-15
§ 28-57-15. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation created under this chapter, or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the chapter, rule, or regulation and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. The invalidity of any section or sections or parts of any section of this chapter shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this chapter and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-11
§ 28-7-11. Boards independence from department of labor and training.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, neither the director of labor and training nor any board or other agency of the department of labor and training shall in any way direct, review, modify, or reverse any decision or finding of the board; nor shall the director of labor and training or any board or other agency of the department of labor and training supervise or control the board in the exercise of any powers or in the performance of any duties under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-6
§ 28-39-6. Treasurer of fund.
Status: in_force

The general treasurer shall be custodian and treasurer of the fund and shall pay all vouchers duly authenticated and drawn upon the fund. He or she shall have custody of all moneys belonging to the fund and not otherwise held or deposited or invested pursuant to chapters 39  41 of this title. The general treasurer shall give bond conditioned on the faithful performance of his or her duties as custodian and treasurer of the fund, in a form prescribed by statute and approved by the attorney general, and in an amount specified by the director and approved by the governor. All premiums upon bonds required pursuant to this section when furnished by an authorized surety company or by a duly constituted governmental bonding fund shall be paid by the state from funds made available for that purpose by the general assembly. The general treasurer shall deposit the moneys in his or her custody subject to chapters 39  41 of this title. The general treasurer, as treasurer of the fund, shall assign any subordinates or employees to the department of labor and training that he or she deems necessary, and shall be paid out of funds made available to the department for administration purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-46-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-46 / Section 28-46-4
§ 28-46-4. Employers notice of intent to cease operations.
Status: in_force

Any employer who or that intends to cease to operate a place of employment within this state shall notify the director of that intention not later than six (6) months prior to the date the employer intends to cease to operate its place of employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-21 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-21
§ 28-37-21. Determination of amount due without return.
Status: in_force

If any certified employer or insurer fails to file a return within the time and as required in this chapter, the director shall determine the amount of payment due from any information that he or she may obtain.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-83 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-83
§ 28-42-83. Job development fund  Establishment  Sources.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) There is created as a restricted-receipt account within the general fund the job development fund, to be administered by the governors workforce board Rhode Island (workforce board), without liability on the part of the state beyond the amounts paid into and earned by the fund. This fund shall consist of:

(i) All payments received from employers and paid pursuant to §28-43-8.5;

(ii) All other moneys paid into and received by the fund;

(iii) Property and securities acquired by, and through the use of, moneys belonging to the fund; and

(iv) Interest earned upon moneys belonging to the fund.

(2) All moneys in the job development fund shall be mingled and undivided.

(b) All moneys received by the director for the job development fund shall, upon receipt, be deposited by the director in a clearance account in a bank in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-7 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-7
§ 28-27-7. Functions of board of examiners.
Status: in_force

The board shall act in an advisory capacity to the division of professional regulation in:

(1) Preparing forms for application for examination for licenses.

(2) Preparing subject matter, questions, and all necessary items for examination as provided in this chapter.

(3) Preparation of rules to govern examinations and hearings for revocation and reinstatement of licenses.

(4) The performance of any other duties for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter that are from time to time prescribed by the director of the department.

(5) The adoption and from time to time the revision of any rules and regulations and a licensing criteria guide not inconsistent with the law that may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter subject to the administrative procedures act, chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-38 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-38
§ 28-44-38. Filing of claims  Procedures  Printed copies  Notices.
Status: in_force

(a) Claims for waiting period credit and for benefits shall be filed in accordance with regulations adopted as prescribed. Each employer shall post and maintain printed copies or statements of those regulations in places readily accessible to individuals employed by him or her. The director shall supply each employer with copies of those regulations or statements of the regulations without cost to the employers.

(b) The director shall prescribe the type of reports required from employers and the manner in which the reports shall be presented.

(c) Upon the filing of a claim, the director shall promptly notify the most recent employer and all employers for whom the claimant states he or she performed services and earned wages during his or her base period. The employers shall promptly furnish the information required to determine the claimants benefit rights. If the claimants employer or employers have any information that might affect either the validity of the claim or the right of the claimant to waiting period credit or benefits, the employer shall return the notice with that information. If an employer fails without good cause as established to the satisfaction of the director to return this notice within ten (10) working days of its mailing, the employer shall have no standing to contest any determination to be made by the director with respect to the claim and any benefit charges pursuant to it, and the employer shall be barred from being a party to any further proceedings relating to the claim. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title, any employer who or that fails to return the notice within that time shall pay a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each failure. The preceding penalty shall be paid into the employment security tardy account fund, and if any employer fails to pay the penalty, when assessed, it shall be collected by civil action as provided in § 28-43-18.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-2-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-2 / Section 28-2-6
§ 28-2-6. Penalty for failure to do assigned work.
Status: in_force

Any person failing or refusing to do, or to continue to do, the work assigned to him, or who, in the meanwhile, has not become regularly or continuously employed in some lawful, useful, and recognized business, occupation, trade, profession, or employment, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall pay a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100), or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three (3) months, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-6
§ 28-35-6. Notice of amendments to memorandum of agreement.
Status: in_force

(a) If the workers compensation court makes any amendment or addition to the memorandum of agreement, the workers compensation court shall immediately notify the department of the changes in the agreement.

(b) If an employer or insurer and an employee and his or her attorney, if represented, reach an agreement, subsequent to the filing of a memorandum of agreement, order, or decree, as to any issue, the parties shall file a written agreement and receipt with the department, signed by the parties, and on a form prescribed by the department. A copy of any agreement and receipt shall be delivered to each of the parties. Upon the filing of the agreement and receipt with the department, it shall be as binding upon both parties as a preliminary determination order or decree.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-12
§ 28-12-12. Records of employers.
Status: in_force

Every employer subject to any provision of this chapter, or of any regulation or order issued under this chapter, shall make and keep for a period of not less than three (3) years in or about the premises where any employee is employed a record of the name, address, and occupation of each of his or her employees, the rate of pay, and the amount paid each pay period to each employee, the hours worked each day and each workweek by the employee, and any other information that the director of labor and training shall prescribe by regulation as necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or the regulations or orders issued under this chapter. The records shall be open for inspection or transcription by the director of labor and training or his or her authorized representative at any reasonable time. Every employer shall furnish to the director of labor and training or to his or her authorized representative on demand a sworn statement of the records and information upon forms prescribed or approved by the director of labor and training.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-12
§ 28-5-12. Removal of commission members.
Status: in_force

Any member of the commission may be removed by the governor for inefficiency, neglect of duty, misconduct, or malfeasance in office, after being given a written statement of the charges and an opportunity to be publicly heard on them.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-31 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-31
§ 28-7-31. Court not limited by equity jurisdiction.
Status: in_force

When granting appropriate temporary relief or a restraining order, or making and entering a decree enforcing, modifying, and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part an order of the board, as provided in §§ 28-7-26  28-7-30, the jurisdiction of courts sitting in equity shall not be limited by acts pertaining to equity jurisdiction of courts.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-53-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-53 / Section 28-53-2
§ 28-53-2. Establishment  Sources  Administration.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) There shall be established within the department of labor and training a special restricted receipt account to be known as the Rhode Island uninsured protection fund. The department shall maintain the fund for the exclusive purpose of making payments to an injured employee otherwise entitled to benefits pursuant to chapters 29  38 of this title, or in the case of death of the injured employee, to person(s) presumed wholly dependent for support upon the deceased employee, as defined in § 28-33-13, and any costs specifically associated therewith, where the employer required to secure payment of the compensation failed to insure or self-insure its liability at the time the injury took place as determined by the director and the workers compensation court.

(2) The fund shall be capitalized from excise taxes assessed against uninsured employers pursuant to the provisions of § 28-53-9 and from general revenues appropriated by the legislature. Beginning in the state fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the legislature may appropriate up to two million dollars ($2,000,000) in general revenue funds annually for deposit into the Rhode Island uninsured protection fund.

(b) All moneys in the fund shall be mingled and undivided. The fund shall be administered by the director of the department of labor and training, or his or her designee, but in no case shall the director incur any liability beyond the amounts paid into and earned by the fund.

(c) All amounts owed to the uninsured protection fund from illegally uninsured employers are intended to be excise taxes and as such, all ambiguities and uncertainties are to be resolved in favor of a determination that such assessments are excise taxes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-3 / Section 28-3-15
§ 28-3-15. Penalty for violation of provisions of this chapter.
Status: in_force

Every person who willfully employs or has in his or her employ or under his or her charge any person in violation of the provisions of this chapter, and every parent or guardian who permits any child to be so employed, shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100) for each offense. The certificates of age and the permits to work required by §§ 28-3-2 and 28-3-3 shall be prima facie evidence of the age of a child upon trial of any person other than the parent or guardian for the violation of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-38 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-38
§ 28-41-38. Confidential health information.
Status: in_force

Information pursuant to any individuals temporary disability claim or temporary caregiver insurance claim shall be held confidential in accordance with chapters 39  41 of this title, § 28-39-19, and chapter 37.3 of title 5, and all applicable state and federal regulations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-12.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-12.1
§ 28-35-12.1. Prompt decision required.
Status: in_force

The judge who hears a case pursuant to § 28-35-12 shall render his or her decision no later than thirty (30) days after each party has completed presenting its case. This provision shall not apply in any case for which the judge has shown just cause, as determined by rules of practice of the workers compensation court adopted pursuant to the authority granted to the court by § 28-29-26, for delay beyond thirty (30) days.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-19
§ 28-5-19. Amendment of complaint and answer  Participation by commissioner assigned to preliminary hearing.
Status: in_force

The commission, member of the commission, or hearing examiner conducting the hearing shall have the power to reasonably and fairly amend any written complaint at any time prior to the issuance of an order based on the complaint. The respondent shall have like power to amend its answer to the original or amended complaint at any time prior to the issuance of an order. The commissioner assigned to the preliminary hearing of any complaint shall take no part in the final hearing except as a witness upon competent matters and will have no part in the determination or decision of the case after hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-34 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-34
§ 28-39-34. Appropriations for administration.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient for the payment of expenses of administering chapters 39  41 of this title during each fiscal year, which sum shall be payable out of the temporary disability insurance reserve fund; provided, that those sums shall be available to the director for the payment of expenses of administration of those chapters only to the extent that moneys received from the federal government are not available for that purpose as provided in § 28-39-33.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-8
§ 28-12-8. Judicial review of regulations.
Status: in_force

(a) Any interested person in any occupation for which any wage order or any administrative regulation has been issued under the provisions of this chapter who may be aggrieved by any order or regulation may obtain the review of the order or regulation in the superior court for Providence and Bristol counties by filing in the court within thirty (30) days after the date of publication of the order or regulation a written petition praying that the order or regulation be modified or set aside. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the director of labor and training. The findings of facts shall be conclusive upon the court. The court shall determine whether the order or regulation is in accordance with law.

(b) Hearings in the superior court on all appeals taken under the provisions of this chapter shall take precedence over all matters, except matters of the same character. The jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and decree shall be final except that the judgment and decree shall be subject to review by the supreme court.

(c) The commencement of proceedings under subsection (a) of this section shall not operate as a stay of a wage order or of an administrative regulation issued under the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-2
§ 28-27-2. Licensing  Mechanical board of examiners created  Senior chief investigator.
Status: in_force

(a) The division of professional regulation with the assistance of the board shall promulgate rules and regulations for the examining and licensing of masters, journeypersons, and apprentices of the mechanical trades.

(b)(1) A state mechanical board is created in the department of labor and training whose duty it shall be to advise the division in its area of expertise in promulgating any policy that may be necessary to improve the operations of the division, and to hold license revocation and violations hearings as described in this chapter. The promulgation of policy shall be subject to the approval of the division.

(2) The board shall consist of eleven (11) qualified electors of the state appointed by the governor as follows:

(i) One member who shall be a master pipefitter at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a master pipefitter.

(ii) One member who shall be a refrigeration/air conditioning master at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a refrigeration/air conditioning master.

(iii) One member who has been employed as a pipefitter journeyperson for ten (10) years.

(iv) One member who has been employed as a refrigeration/air conditioning journeyperson for ten (10) years.

(v) One member who shall be a fire protection sprinkler master at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a fire protection sprinkler master.

(vi) One member who has been employed as a journeyperson sprinkler fitter for ten (10) years.

(vii) One member shall be the state fire marshal or his or her designee.

(viii) Two (2) members to be appointed from a list submitted by the Oil Heat Institute, Inc. and who have been doing business as masters for at least ten (10) years.

(ix) One member who shall be a sheet metal master at the time of appointment, having at least ten (10) years in business as a sheet metal master.

(x) One member who has been employed as a journeyperson sheet metal worker for ten (10) years.

(3) Members shall be appointed to serve for three (3) years and their successors shall be appointed for three (3) years.

(4) On the expiration of the term of any master or journeyperson member of the board, the governor shall appoint for a term of three (3) years a master or journeyperson or member having the qualifications required by this chapter to take the place of the master or journeyperson whose term has expired.

(5) Any vacancy that occurs for any cause shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(6) The board shall have an advisory role in the preparation and composition of the license examinations to be administered by the division. Subsequent to the administration of the examinations, the board of examiners shall review the examinations to evaluate their effectiveness.

(7) A chairperson shall be elected every three (3) years from the members; a majority will constitute a quorum of the full board. The senior chief investigator for the division shall have both a master pipefitter I and master refrigeration I license, with a minimum of five (5) years employment in the state of Rhode Island as a journeyperson and five (5) years as a contractor. He or she shall be appointed by the licensing board and the position shall be in the classified service at not less than pay grade 335.

(8) There shall be a chief investigator for the division who shall have both a master pipefitter and master refrigeration license, with a minimum of five (5) years employment in the state of Rhode Island as a journeyperson and five (5) years as a contractor. He or she shall be appointed by the director of labor and training, upon recommendation from the licensing board, and this position shall be in the classified service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-1
§ 28-42-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

Chapters 42  44 of this title shall be known and may be cited as the Employment Security Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-9
§ 28-26-9. Renewal of license.
Status: in_force

Licenses shall expire biennially on a fixed date or on the licensees birthday, as the board may provide in rules and regulations. Upon application, the person to whom a license is issued under this chapter shall be entitled to a renewal, unless the division for a cause named in § 28-26-8 and upon notice and hearing shall refuse renewal. Refusal shall have approval of the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-17-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-17 / Section 28-17-2
§ 28-17-2. Accumulation of income  Perpetuities  Suspension of power of alienation.
Status: in_force

The income arising from any personal property held in any employees trust as defined in § 28-17-1 may be permitted to accumulate in accordance with the terms of the trust and the plan to which the trust forms a part for any time that may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which the trust has been created. An employees trust shall not be deemed to be invalid as violating the rule against perpetuities or any law or rule against perpetuities or the suspension of the power of alienation of title to property, but may continue for any time that may be necessary to accomplish the purposes for which it has been created.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-27 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-27
§ 28-29-27. Appropriations and disbursements.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated any sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders on the general treasurer for the payment of that sum or so much of it as may be from time to time required, upon the receipt by him or her of duly authenticated vouchers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-20 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-20
§ 28-5-20. Answer to complaint  Respondents rights at hearing.
Status: in_force

The respondent shall have the right to file an answer to the complaint, and shall appear at the hearing in person, or otherwise, with or without counsel, to present evidence and to examine and cross-examine witnesses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-31 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-31
§ 28-42-31. Responsibility for administration  General powers of director.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the director to administer chapters 42  44 of this title subject to the provisions of those chapters; and he or she shall have the power and authority to:

(1) Enforce all the reasonable rules and regulations that may be adopted as provided elsewhere in those chapters and all orders necessary or suitable to that end;

(2) Employ any persons;

(3) Make expenditures;

(4) Require reports; and

(5) Take any other action, within his or her means and consistent with those chapters, necessary or suitable to that end.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-22
§ 28-5-22. Evidence of predetermined pattern.
Status: in_force

The commission shall, in ascertaining the practices followed by the respondent, take into account all evidence, statistical or otherwise, that may tend to prove the existence of a predetermined pattern of employment or membership. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or require any employer or labor organization to employ or admit applicants for employment or membership in the proportion to which their race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin bears to the total population or in accordance with any criterion other than the individual qualifications of the applicant.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-18 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-18
§ 28-36-18. Safety inspections.
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (b), any insurance company that provides workers compensation insurance to an employer who or that pays annual premiums in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for that insurance shall, within sixty (60) days of a written request by the insured employer, inspect the employers site or sites of employment. The insurance company shall make recommendations in writing to the employer for enhancing the safety and health of the employees on the site or sites.

(b) No employer shall be entitled to request more than two (2) safety inspections in any one calendar year; and no employer whose annual workers compensation insurance premiums are less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or whose experience modification is less than one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50), shall be entitled to request more than one safety inspection in any one calendar year.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-9
§ 28-41-9. Lag day benefits.
Status: in_force

(a) An individual who, having been unemployed due to sickness and who is in receipt of benefits under this chapter, returns to work prior to the end of the immediately succeeding week, shall be entitled to one-fifth ( ) of his or her benefit rate for each day of unemployment due to sickness in which work is ordinarily performed in the occupation in which he or she is employed during the week in which he or she returns to work, figured to the highest dollar, including any holiday when the performance of services is waived by his or her employer; provided, that in no case shall any individual be entitled to more than four-fifths ( ) of his or her benefit rate, figured to the highest dollar, for that week.

(b) An individual who, having been unemployed due to sickness at a later date during his or her benefit year, again becomes unemployed due to sickness, and refiles his or her claim for benefits, shall, if his or her first day of unemployment begins on a day subsequent to the first day of any week, be entitled to one-fifth ( ) of his or her benefit rate for each day in that week in which work is ordinarily performed in the occupation in which he or she was last employed, including any holiday when the performance of services is waived by his or her employer, figured to the highest dollar, if his or her unemployment continues for seven (7) consecutive calendar days, including the first day of unemployment due to sickness for which he or she has refiled his or her claim. In no case shall any individual be entitled to more than four-fifths ( ) of his or her benefit rate, figured to the highest dollar, for the week in which his or her unemployment begins on a day subsequent to the first day of that week.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-86 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-86
§ 28-42-86. Employment security reemployment fund  Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

Whereas, improvements in the standard of living for unemployed Rhode Islanders by facilitating their return to work is one of the top priorities of state government; and

Whereas, the states low unemployment rate has made it increasingly difficult for employers to find qualified workers to fill their job openings; and

Whereas, the federal government has failed to provide sufficient resources for the state to provide the level of services needed to alleviate these problems; and

Whereas, other states have had success with targeted job matching programs and intensive reemployment services; and

Whereas, such programs can help employers fill job openings more rapidly, accelerate the claimants return to work, reduce unemployment costs, and strengthen the states economy as a result;

Now, therefore, the general assembly declares that the department of labor and training shall institute a pilot research and demonstration rapid reemployment program. The program shall include an automated job matching system to match employer job orders with qualified unemployed individuals and an intensive reemployment services project to help those who are not job ready. The reemployment services may include, but not be limited to, focused job search strategies for individuals, resume preparation assistance, job development, interview preparation workshops, and continued job matching and referral.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-79 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-79
§ 28-42-79. Disbursements from tardy account fund  Unexpended balance.
Status: in_force

(a) The moneys in the tardy account fund shall be used solely for the following purposes:

(1) To make refunds of penalties erroneously collected and deposited in the fund; and

(2) To maintain essential department programs.

(b) The general treasurer shall pay all vouchers duly drawn by the director upon the fund, in any amounts and in any manner that the director may prescribe. Vouchers so drawn upon the fund shall be referred to the controller within the department of administration. Upon receipt of these vouchers, the controller shall immediately record and sign them and shall promptly transfer the signed vouchers to the general treasurer. These expenditures shall be used solely for the purposes specified in this section, and its balances shall not lapse at any time.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-36 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-36
§ 28-33-36. Payment of medical examiners fees.
Status: in_force

Whenever, in any case arising under chapters 29  38 of this title, any judge of the court shall have, pursuant to the provisions of § 28-33-35, determined and fixed the reasonable fees of any impartial medical examiner, those medical fees shall be paid immediately, and no appeal of any case in which that impartial medical examiner shall have acted taken to any court of this state shall act as a stay of any order fixing the amount of that medical fees and ordering the payment of the fees, unless the appeal is taken for the purpose of having the court determine the reasonableness of the charge made by the impartial medical examiner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-22
§ 28-37-22. Extension of time for filing of return.
Status: in_force

The director may grant a reasonable extension of time for filing any return required under this chapter. Whenever an extension of time is granted the insurer shall be required to pay, as part of any payment due, interest on the amount at the rate of one percent (1%) per month from the date payment under this chapter is due. Whenever an extension is granted any certified employer, the time for making any payment required by this chapter shall not be extended thereby.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-1
§ 28-26-1. Board of examiners of hoisting engineers.
Status: in_force

(a) The board of examiners of hoisting engineers shall consist of seven (7) qualified electors of the state appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) One individual with fifteen (15) years of practical experience as a fully licensed hoisting engineer;

(2) Two (2) individuals who hold full licenses as hoisting engineers;

(3) One person holding at least the minimum endorsement of pay loader/backhoe licensed operator;

(4) Two (2) individuals, each holding a hoisting engineers license with any regular endorsement; and

(5) The director of the department of labor and training or his or her designee who has a construction background.

(b)(1) Each member shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years.

(2) Any vacancy on the board that occurs for any causes shall be filled by appointment of the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(c) The division of professional regulation shall examine and license hoisting operating engineers of steam, internal combustion engines, electric, and compressed air powered machinery.

(d) The board shall supervise the operations of the division in an advisory capacity in promulgating such policy as may be necessary to improve the operation of the division in its area of expertise. The promulgation of that policy shall be subject to the approval of the director of the department.

(e) The members of the board of examiners of hoisting engineers shall elect a chairperson and secretary annually every February. Vacancies arising in the office of chairperson or secretary between regular appointments shall be cared for in a like manner.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-2-7 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-2 / Section 28-2-7
§ 28-2-7. Rules and regulations for assignment  Circumstances to be considered.
Status: in_force

As soon as the proclamation has been issued as provided in § 28-2-1, it shall be the duty of the director of labor and training to prepare and publish any rules and regulations governing the assignment of persons to work under this chapter as will assure that all persons similarly circumstanced are, as far as it is possible to do so, treated alike. In assigning anyone to work, the director of labor and training shall take into consideration the age, physical condition, and any other appropriate circumstances of the person so assigned, and the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the director of labor and training, under the provisions of this chapter, shall make allowances for those facts and circumstances.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-17
§ 28-43-17. Determination of contributions without report by employer.
Status: in_force

If an employer for any reporting period fails to make any report used for the purpose of determining the amount of contributions payable under chapters 42  44 of this title at the time and in the manner required by the regulations adopted as prescribed or if those reports when filed are incorrect or insufficient, and the employer fails to file a corrected or sufficient report within twenty (20) days after the director has required the correction by written notice, the director shall determine on the basis of that information as the director may be able to obtain, the amount of contributions due from the employer, and the director shall give written notice to the employer of the amount of contributions so determined. That determination shall finally and irrevocably fix the amount of contributions due unless the employer shall, within twenty (20) days after the giving of that notice, apply to the board of review for a hearing, or unless the director on his or her own volition reduces the amount.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-20-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-20 / Section 28-20-24
§ 28-20-24. Power to adopt codes  Advisory committees  Conformance with national standards.
Status: in_force

(a) In addition to any other powers and duties that may be conferred upon it by law, the commission shall have the power and duty to make, amend, and repeal codes for the elimination of safety or health hazards in every employment or place of employment, including the repair and maintenance of places of employment to render them safe. The director of labor and training and the director of health shall each have the right to propose to the commission those codes or amendments to existing codes that they may deem necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter. The commission shall continue to develop, adopt, and amend codes as new or previously unrecognized occupational safety and health hazards are discovered.

(b) In the performance of its duties the commission shall appoint advisory committees, composed of representatives of employers, labor organizations, and experts.

(c) All codes shall, when adopted, be consistent with accepted safety and health standards of nationally recognized standards-producing organizations, which shall be at least as effective as federal standards, which, in themselves, shall be adopted. All codes, when appropriate, shall contain specific provisions for the protection of employees from exposure to hazards by such means as the requirement for use of suitable protective equipment and for control or technological procedures with respect to the hazards, including monitoring or measuring the exposure. No code may apply standards for products distributed or used in interstate commerce that are different from federal standards for those products unless required by compelling local conditions and do not unduly burden interstate commerce.

(d) Any amendments made to any codes by the commission shall be such that, when adopted, the amended codes shall be consistent with existing accepted safety and health standards and at least as effective as federal standards. All new federal standards and revisions or amendments to federal standards shall be adopted as state codes within six (6) months after their publication in the federal register.

(e) The codes adopted under this chapter shall have the force and effect of law, and the commission shall conduct hearings and establish rules and regulations pursuant to provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-14
§ 28-5-14. Educational program.
Status: in_force

In order to eliminate prejudice among the various ethnic groups in this state and to further good will among those groups, the commission and the state council on elementary and secondary education are jointly directed to prepare a comprehensive educational program, designed for the students of the public schools of this state and for all other residents of the state, calculated to emphasize the origin of prejudice based on race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin; its harmful effects; and its incompatibility with American principles of equality and fair play.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-61 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-61
§ 28-44-61. Holiday pay.
Status: in_force

Benefits to which an individual is entitled for any week of unemployment shall not be reduced by any holiday pay received by that individual where no services are performed on the holiday for which that payment is made.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-20-20 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-20 / Section 28-20-20
§ 28-20-20. Judicial review.
Status: in_force

Any employer, employee, the director, or other individual who or that is aggrieved by any order of the review board may appeal the order pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-38-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-38 / Section 28-38-22
§ 28-38-22. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provisions of this chapter, or their application to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter and the application of those provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by that invalidity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-6.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-6.2
§ 28-40-6.2. Setoff for delinquent income taxes.
Status: in_force

(a) If the tax administrator determines a person has neglected or refused to pay personal income taxes as defined in chapter 30 of title 44, the tax administrator shall notify the director of labor and training of the delinquency. The director, upon certification of the amount of tax delinquency by the tax administrator, shall set off the amount of the tax delinquency against any temporary disability insurance tax refund due that person and shall forward that amount to the tax administrator.

(b) The tax administrator may not seek such a setoff unless a delinquency determination for the personal income tax has first been directed to the person. Provided, further, that if a person assessed a delinquency determination for the personal income tax has requested a hearing within the statutory period, no request for setoff may be made while the matter is pending in hearing or any appeal from the hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-6-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-6 / Section 28-6-19
§ 28-6-19. Enforcement of provisions.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of labor and training shall have the power and it shall be the directors duty to carry out the provisions of §§ 28-6-17  28-6-24.

(b) In carrying out these provisions, the director shall have the same powers and duties as set forth in chapter 14 of this title to investigate, inspect, subpoena, and enforce any violations through administrative hearing complaints.

(c) The director shall be entitled to the same rights and remedies as set forth in chapter 14 of this title for an employers effort to obstruct the director and authorized representatives in the performance of their duties.

(d) The department of labor and training and the commission for human rights shall cooperate in the investigation of charges filed under this section, when the allegations are within the jurisdiction of both agencies.

(e) At the request of any party aggrieved by a violation of this chapter, the director of labor and training may take an assignment of the claim in trust for the assigning aggrieved party and may bring any legal action necessary to collect the claim. The director of labor and training shall not be required to pay the filing fee or other costs in connection with any action. The director of labor and training shall have the power to join various claimants against the employer, in one cause of action. If the director of labor and training prevails in an enforcement action, the aggrieved party shall be awarded damages and the department of labor and training shall be awarded penalties in accordance with §§ 28-6-20 and 28-6-21.

(f) An applicant for employment, an employee, or a former employee aggrieved by a violation of this chapter may file a complaint with the director of labor and training or may file a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain relief.

(g) An aggrieved applicant for employment, employee, or former employee may not file a civil action under this section if they have also filed a complaint with the director of labor and training and the director has issued notice of an administrative hearing pursuant to this section.

(h) The filing of a civil action under this section shall not preclude the director of the department of labor and training from investigating the matter and/or referring the matter to the attorney general.

(i) All claims filed under this chapter shall be filed within two (2) years of when the claimant knew of, or should have known of, the occurrence of a discriminatory practice; provided, however, a claimant may file a sworn complaint demonstrating facts that establish a willful and wanton violation of this chapter within three (3) years of when the claimant knew of, or should have known of, the occurrence of a discriminatory practice; provided, further, that prior to commencing an action alleging a violation of §§ 28-6-18(a) through (e), a claimant shall provide the employer with written notice of the claimants intent to commence such action at least forty-five (45) days prior to the commencement of any such action and any such written notice shall include a statement from the claimant indicating the claimants belief that an unlawful wage differential exists and that it applies to the claimant.

(j) All claims under this chapter also include each time wages, benefits, or other compensation are paid, resulting in whole or in part from such a decision or other practice.

(k) Any party who is aggrieved by a final decision of the department of labor and training is entitled to a trial de novo in superior court in the county having jurisdiction. Proceedings shall be commenced by the aggrieved party by filing a complaint in the superior court within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the final agency decision. The complaint shall name the opposing party. The rules of civil procedure and evidence shall apply to the proceedings. Thereafter, either party shall have the right of appeal to the supreme court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-61 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-61
§ 28-35-61. Decrees procured by fraud.
Status: in_force

(a) The workers compensation court may, upon petition of an employee, the dependents of a deceased employee, an employer, an insurance carrier, or any other party in interest, vacate, modify, or amend any final decree entered within a period of six (6) months of the date such decree was entered, either by a single judge or by the full court, if it appears that the decree:

(1) Has been procured by fraud; or

(2) Does not accurately and completely set forth and describe the nature and location of all injuries sustained by the employee.

(b) The petition shall be served in the same manner as is provided for in chapters 29  38 of this title for all other petitions.

(c) The workers compensation court shall hear any and all petitions and make its decision in accordance with those chapters.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-38 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-38
§ 28-33-38. Refusal to submit to examination.
Status: in_force

If any employee refuses to submit himself or herself for any examination provided for in chapters 29  38 of this title, or in any way obstructs the examination, his or her rights to compensation shall be suspended and his or her compensation during that period of suspension may be forfeited.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-21 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-21
§ 28-43-21. Notice of transfer of business  Contributions due immediately.
Status: in_force

The sale or transfer by any employer other than receivers, assignees under a voluntary assignment for the benefit of creditors, trustees in bankruptcy, or public officers acting under judicial process, of the major part in value of the assets of that employer otherwise than in the ordinary course of trade and the regular and usual prosecution of that employers business shall be fraudulent and void as against the state, unless that employer, at least five (5) days before the sale or transfer, notifies the director of the proposed sale or transfer and of the price, terms, and conditions of the sale and of the character and location of those assets. Whenever that employer makes the sale or transfer, all contributions imposed by this chapter shall be paid at the time when the director is notified, or, if he or she is not notified, at the time when he or she should have been notified.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-21 / Section 28-21-9
§ 28-21-9. Training and education program.
Status: in_force

(a) Each employer shall provide an employee training and education program prior to an employees initial assignment designed to inform employee(s) about the designated substances to which they are exposed. This training shall be repeated annually.

(b) The employer shall provide additional instruction whenever the employee may be routinely exposed to additional designated substances or that require special precautions or whenever the employees potential for exposure is increased. Training shall include, but not be limited to: the nature of the hazards, appropriate work practices, protective measures, and emergency procedures. Training shall be based upon information contained on the material safety data sheets, and any additional information that the employer may have access to.

(c)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an employer shall not be required to provide training and education as provided in subsection (a) of this section to the employees of any subcontractor of the employer. Before any employees of any subcontractor commence work on the premises of, or at the direction of, an employer, the employer shall provide to the subcontractor those chemical identification lists and material safety data sheets to which the subcontractors employees may be exposed. In addition, the employer shall provide to the subcontractor the lists and data sheets for any new designated substance that is introduced by the employer to which employees of the subcontractor may be exposed prior to the exposure. It shall be the responsibility of the subcontractor to train its employees with regard to these substances, and otherwise comply with its obligations under this chapter, as with any other designated substance to which its employees may be exposed.

(2) In addition, before any subcontractor commences work on the premises of, or in contact with employees of, any other employer, the subcontractor shall supply to the employer chemical information lists and material safety data sheets called for by this chapter for any designated substances that the subcontractor uses on the employers premises or in contact with employees of the employer. The subcontractor shall subsequently provide the lists and data sheets for any new designated substance that is introduced by the subcontractor to which employees of the employer may be exposed prior to the exposure. The employer shall then train its employees with regard to these substances, and otherwise comply with its obligations under this chapter, as with any other designated substance to which its employees may be exposed.

(d) Employers shall have, in writing, an outline of the Right-to-Know training program, including how the employer will inform workers of chemical hazards, nature of protective measures adopted for workers protection, nature of the Rhode Island Right-to-Know law, and how labeling, lists, and the MSDS material safety data sheet program works. The employer, upon request, shall make copies of the Right-to-Know program available to employees, employee representatives, treating physicians, the local fire department, and the department of labor and training.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-9
§ 28-40-9. Interest on delinquent payments.
Status: in_force

Employers who fail to make payment of contributions, as required by chapters 39  41 of this title, or by the prescribed rules and regulations, shall be additionally liable to the temporary disability insurance reserve fund for interest on those delinquent payments at the rate of one and one-half percent (1 1 / 2 %) per month from the date the payment became due until paid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-21 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-21
§ 28-5-21. Rules of evidence.
Status: in_force

In any proceeding pursuant to this chapter the commission, its member, or its agent shall not be bound by the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-14
§ 28-44-14. Waiting period.
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the waiting period of any individual shall be either:

(1) Seven (7) consecutive days, commencing with the Sunday of the week in which the claimant filed a claim for benefits, during which that individual is totally unemployed due to lack of work; or

(2) Seven (7) consecutive days, commencing with the Sunday of the week in which the claimant filed a claim for benefits, during which that individual is employed less than full time due to lack of work and during which he or she has earned remuneration for services performed in an amount less than his or her weekly benefit rate; provided, that no waiting period credit can be given in either case if a disqualification has been imposed with respect to the whole or any portion of that seven-day (7) period under § 28-44-12 or §§ 28-44-16  28-44-21.

(b) No waiting period shall be given to any individual unless he or she has filed a valid claim in accordance with regulations adopted as prescribed.

(c) Benefits shall be payable to an eligible individual only for those weeks of his or her unemployment within a benefit year that occur subsequent to one waiting period, which shall be served at any time during the benefit year.

(d) No period of total or partial unemployment shall be counted towards an individuals required waiting period if, with respect to any portion of that period of unemployment, benefits have been paid under the employment security or temporary disability insurance acts of any other state or of any similar acts of any foreign government, or if benefits have been paid under the temporary disability insurance act of this state or under any similar acts of the United States.

(e) In the event that an individuals unemployment is due to a natural disaster or state of emergency, there shall be no waiting period.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no waiting period shall be in effect from the date of enactment of this article through June 30, 2009.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-27 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-27
§ 28-35-27. Decision of controversies  Decree.
Status: in_force

(a) In any controversy over which the workers compensation court has jurisdiction pursuant to this chapter and § 45-21.2-9, any judge of that court shall, pursuant to §§ 28-35-11  28-35-28, and the rules of practice of the court, hear all questions of law and fact involved in the controversy and presented by any party in interest, and he or she shall within ten (10) days after the hearing, unless the parties otherwise agree, decide the merits of the controversy pursuant to the law and the fair preponderance of the evidence and the court shall immediately notify the parties.

(b) Within seventy-two (72) hours of notice, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the judge shall enter a decree upon the decision, which shall contain findings of fact, but within that time any party may appear and present a form of decree for consideration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-11
§ 28-36-11. Direct liability of insurers other than under workers compensation law.
Status: in_force

(a) Every policy subsequently written insuring against liability for personal injuries to employees, other than payment of compensation under chapters 29  38 of this title, shall contain provisions to the effect that the insurer shall be directly liable to the injured party and, in the event of his or her death, to the party entitled to sue, to pay him or her the amount of damages for which the insured is liable. The injured party or, in the event of his or her death, the party entitled to sue, in his or her suit against the insured, may join the insurer as a defendant or, in case of suit versus the insurer, may join the insured or the employer, in which case judgment shall bind either or both the insured and the insurer; or the injured party, or in the event of his or her death, the party entitled to sue, after having obtained judgment against the insured or the insurer alone, may proceed on the judgment in a separate action against the insured or insurer. Payment in whole or in part of that liability by either the insured or the insurer shall, to the extent of the payment, be a bar to recovery against the other of the amount so paid. In no case shall the insurer be liable for damages beyond the amount of the face of the policy. This section shall not apply to policies of insurance against loss from explosion of boilers or flywheels or other similar single catastrophic hazards.

(b) All policies made for the insurance against liability described in this section shall be deemed to be made subject to the provisions of this section and all provisions of those policies inconsistent with this section shall be void.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law or any regulation to the contrary, no workers compensation insurer that primarily writes insurance to agricultural employers shall be assessed charges or premiums for an assigned risk pool. For purposes of this section, agricultural employer includes any employer that receives eighty percent (80%) or more of its gross income from farming.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-25 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-25
§ 28-5-25. Order dismissing complaint.
Status: in_force

If the commission finds that no probable cause exists for crediting the charges, or, if upon all the evidence it finds that a respondent has not engaged in unfair employment practices, the commission shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on the complainant an order dismissing the complaint as to the respondent. A copy of the order shall be delivered in all cases to the attorney general and any other public officers that the commission deems proper.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-18.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-18.2
§ 28-30-18.2. State contributions.
Status: in_force

The state of Rhode Island shall make its contribution for the maintaining of the system established by § 28-30-18.1 and providing the annuities, benefits, and retirement allowances in accordance with the provisions of this chapter by annually appropriating an amount that will pay a rate percent of the compensation paid after December 31, 1989, to judges engaged after December 31, 1989. The rate percent shall be computed and certified in accordance with the procedures set forth in §§ 36-8-13 and 36-10-2 under rules and regulations promulgated by the retirement board pursuant to § 36-8-3 and shall be transmitted on the date contributions are withheld but no later than three (3) business days following the pay period ending in which contributions were withheld.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-19.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-19.1
§ 28-7-19.1. Mergers and consolidations of companies.
Status: in_force

(a) No business combination transaction shall result in the termination or impairment of the provisions of any labor contract covering persons engaged in employment in the state negotiated by a labor organization or by a collective bargaining agent or other representative. Notwithstanding a business combination transaction, the labor contract shall continue in effect until its termination date or until otherwise agreed by the parties to the contract or their legal successors.

(b) As used in this section, the following words, unless the context clearly required otherwise, have the following meanings:

(1) Business combination transaction means any merger or consolidation, any sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, whether of all or substantially all the property and assets, including its good will, of the business operations that are the subject of the labor contract referred to in subsection (a) of this section or any transfer of a controlling interest in the business operations;

(2)(i) Employment means an individuals entire service, if the service is localized in the state. Service is deemed to be localized in the state if:

(A) The service is performed entirely within the state; or

(B) The service is performed both within and without the state but the service performed without the state is incidental to the individuals service within the state;

(ii)(A) Employment shall include an individuals service, performed within and without the state, if the service is not localized in any state, but some of the service is performed in the state; and

(B) The individuals base of operation is in the state; or

(C) If there is no base operations, then the place for which the service is directed or controlled is in the state; or

(D) The individuals base of operations or place from which the service is directed or controlled is not in any state in which some part of the service is performed, but the individuals residence is in the state.

(c) In the event that any employee is denied or fails to receive wage, benefits, or wage supplements as a result of a violation of this section, the employee shall have available civil and other remedies available at law or equity. The department of labor and training may take any and all appropriate actions to enforce the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, injunctions, cease and desist orders, and other penalties provided by law.

(d) Recovery pursuant to a violation of this section shall be applicable to secure recovery against the merged, consolidated, or resulting corporation or other successor employer, notwithstanding anything contained in this section or elsewhere to the contrary.

(e) This section is enacted in order to protect the employment interests of all persons engaged in employment in the state under existing labor contracts and shall be liberally construed in every case in order to achieve that purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-31-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-31 / Section 28-31-4
§ 28-31-4. Settlement of claims.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of administration shall have full authority and power to settle any claims an employee may have against the state under chapters 29  38 of this title.

(b) When any town or city accepts the provisions of those chapters, the town council of that town and the city council of that city shall appoint some person or persons not exceeding three (3) in number who shall have authority and power to settle any claim that an employee may have against that town or city under those chapters. Names of the persons so appointed shall be recorded in the office of the town clerk or city clerk, as the case may be, and that appointment shall continue in force until revoked by vote of the body by whom the appointments are made.

(c) All payments made by the department of administration shall be certified to the state controller, and all payments made by the persons appointed under this section to act for any town or city shall be certified to the treasurer of that town or city.

(d) Every payment made in behalf of the state or of a town or city is subject to the provisions of §§ 28-35-1  28-35-12 and §§ 28-35-14  28-35-63.

(e) The statute of limitations shall be tolled while payments are made pursuant to this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-2.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-2.1
§ 28-40-2.1. Exemption of minors fourteen (14) and fifteen (15) years of age.
Status: in_force

Minors fourteen (14) and fifteen (15) years of age shall be exempt from chapters 39  41 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-24
§ 28-41-24. Conclusiveness of decisions  Reopening in cases of fraud or coercion.
Status: in_force

All final determinations and decisions shall be conclusive upon all parties in interest, including the director. The director, appeal tribunal, or board of review shall reopen a determination or decision or revoke permission for withdrawal of an appeal if:

(1) He, she, or it finds that a worker or employer has been defrauded or coerced in connection with the determination, decision, or withdrawal of the appeal; and

(2) The defrauded or coerced person informs the appropriate officer or body of the fraud or coercion within sixty (60) days after he or she has become aware of the fraud or within sixty (60) days after the coercion has been removed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-15
§ 28-29-15. Exemption of professional hockey personnel.
Status: in_force

Professional ice hockey players, coaches, and trainers employed by a professional ice hockey club, including but not limited to National Hockey League or American Hockey League clubs, shall be exempted from the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title while that employee is temporarily within this state doing work for his or her employer. Professional ice hockey players, coaches, and trainers employed by, or on assignment or transfer from their employer, shall be exempted if the employer has furnished workers compensation insurance coverage under the workers compensation or similar laws of the other state so as to cover the employees employment while in this state; provided, that the extraterritorial provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title are recognized in the other state and provided employers and employees who or that are covered in this state are likewise exempted from the application of the workers compensation or similar laws of the other state; provided further that the requirement for recognition in the other state of the extraterritorial provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title and the requirement that employers and employees who or that are covered in this state are likewise exempted from the application of the workers compensation or similar laws of the other state shall not apply to any employees who are professional ice hockey players, coaches, and trainers employed by a professional ice hockey club, including, but not limited to National Hockey League or American Hockey League clubs described in this section. The benefits under the workers compensation act or similar laws of the other state shall be the exclusive remedy against that employer for any injury, whether resulting in death or not, received by any employee while working for that employer in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-6
§ 28-5-6. Definitions.
Status: in_force

When used in this chapter:

(1) Age means anyone who is at least forty (40) years of age.

(2) Because of sex or on the basis of sex includes, but is not limited to, because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, and women affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the same for all employment related purposes, including receipt of benefits under fringe benefit programs, as other persons not so affected but similar in their ability or inability to work, and nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to permit otherwise.

(3) Commission means the Rhode Island commission against discrimination created by this chapter.

(4) Confidential means to remain secret and not to be disclosed to another person or entity.

(5) Conviction means, for the purposes of this chapter only, any verdict or finding of guilt after a criminal trial or any plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal charge.

(6) Disability means a disability as defined in § 42-87-1.

(7) Discriminate includes segregate or separate.

(8) Employee does not include any individual employed by their parents, spouse, or child, or in the domestic service of any person.

(9)(i) Employer includes the state and all political subdivisions of the state and any person in this state employing four (4) or more individuals, and any person acting in the interest of an employer directly or indirectly.

(ii) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to apply to a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society with respect to the employment of individuals of its religion to perform work connected with the carrying on of its activities.

(10) Employment agency includes any person undertaking, with or without compensation, to procure opportunities to work, or to procure, recruit, refer, or place employees.

(11) Firefighter means an employee the duties of whose position include work connected with the control and extinguishment of fires or the maintenance and use of firefighting apparatus and equipment, including an employee engaged in this activity who is transferred or promoted to a supervisory or administrative position.

(12) Gender identity or expression includes a persons actual or perceived gender, as well as a persons gender identity, gender-related self image, gender-related appearance, or gender-related expression; whether or not that gender identity, gender-related self image, gender-related appearance, or gender-related expression is different from that traditionally associated with the persons sex at birth.

(13) Labor organization includes any organization that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in relation to employment.

(14) Law enforcement officer means an employee the duties of whose position include investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the state, including an employee engaged in such activity who is transferred or promoted to a supervisory or administrative position. For the purpose of this subdivision, detention includes the duties of employees assigned to guard individuals incarcerated in any penal institution.

(15) Non-disparagement agreement means an agreement which restricts an individual from taking any action to include, but not be limited to, speaking or publicizing information that negatively impacts the other party to the agreement to include the reputation, products, services, employees, and management of the protected party.

(16) Person includes one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, or receivers.

(17) Protective hairstyles means and includes, but is not limited to, hair texture or hairstyles, if that hair texture or that hairstyle is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin (including a hairstyle in which hair is tightly coiled or tightly curled, locks, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, and Afros).

(18) Race means and includes traits historically associated with the race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.

(19) Religion includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief, unless an employer, union, or employment agency demonstrates that it is unable to reasonably accommodate to an employees or prospective employees or union members religious observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of its business.

(20) Sexual orientation means having or being perceived as having an orientation for heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality.

(21) The terms, as used regarding persons with disabilities:

(i) Auxiliary aids and services and reasonable accommodation shall have the same meaning as those items are defined in § 42-87-1.1; and

(ii) Hardship means an undue hardship as defined in § 42-87-1.1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-4
§ 28-36-4. Notice of jurisdiction and effect of orders and decrees.
Status: in_force

Every policy subsequently written insuring the payment of compensation under chapters 29  38 of this title shall contain provisions to the effect that as between the employee and the insurer notice to and knowledge of the occurrence of injury on the part of the employer shall be deemed notice and knowledge on the part of the insurer that:

(1) Jurisdiction of the employer for the purposes of those chapters shall be jurisdiction of the insurer; and

(2) The insurer shall in all things be bound by and subject to the determinations, findings, judgments, orders, and decrees rendered against the employer for the payment of compensation under those chapters.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-18.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-18.1
§ 28-27-18.1. Apprentices  Exam requirements.
Status: in_force

To be eligible applicants for mechanical licensing exams, apprentices shall complete an applicable registered apprenticeship program in Rhode Island. Apprentices shall provide transcripts of completed related instruction and work record books from employer(s), or other reasonably satisfactory evidence, to document completion of a registered apprenticeship program appropriate to the license being applied for.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-13
§ 28-12-13. Responsibility for enforcement.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall be carried out by the division of labor standards and it shall be the duty of the division of labor standards to administer the provisions of this chapter, to administer the labor laws of this state concerning women and children, and in general to be responsible for the welfare of women and children employed in industry in this state. Subject to the rules of civil service, the director of labor and training shall appoint a qualified person to act as chief of the division of labor standards.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-27 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-27
§ 28-33-27. Immunity of claims from assignment or liability for debt.
Status: in_force

(a) No claims or payments due for compensation under chapters 29  38 of this title or under any alternative scheme permitted by §§ 28-29-22  28-29-24 shall be assignable, or subject to attachment, or liable in any way for any debts, except as set forth in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) A lien in favor of the department of labor and training and/or the executive office of health and human services shall attach by operation of law to any benefits due and payable under chapters 29  38 of this title, or under any alternative scheme by §§ 28-29-22  28-29-24, to the extent that those payments have been made by the department of labor and training and/or the executive office of health and human services to or on behalf of an injured employee or his or her dependents, but only to the extent that the employee would be entitled to receive benefits under the provision of these chapters. Any such lien is subject to the provisions of § 40-6-10.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-6
§ 28-12-6. Occupational administrative regulations.
Status: in_force

(a) For any occupation for which no wage order issued pursuant to chapter 289 of the general laws of 1938, as amended, was in effect on May 2, 1956, the director of labor and training, after consultation with an advisory board appointed by him or her and composed of one representative each of the employer and employees in the affected occupation and of one disinterested person representing the public, shall make any administrative regulations that he or she deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter or are necessary to prevent the circumvention or evasion of these purposes, and to safeguard the minimum wage rates established by this chapter.

(b) The regulations may include, but are not limited to, regulations defining and delimiting the terms used in this chapter; outside salespersons or traveling salespersons; learners and apprentices, their number, proportion, and length of service. The regulations may also include provisions for special or extra pay for special, overtime, or extra work; no deductions shall be permitted for incentive commissions or bonuses earned by sales personnel.

(c) Regulations issued by the director of labor and training pursuant to this section are effective only after publication and public hearing by the director of labor and training at which hearing any person may be heard.

(d) Neither the director of labor and training, nor the commissioner of minimum wage, nor any advisory board set up under this chapter shall have any right, power, or authority to increase or decrease the minimum fair wage rates designated in § 28-12-3, nor to permit or authorize deductions to be made from the minimum fair wage rates, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-3
§ 28-29-3. Defenses abrogated as to injuries in course of employment.
Status: in_force

In an action to recover damages for personal injury sustained by an employee arising out of and in the course of his or her employment, connected with and referable to the employment, or for death resulting from personal injury so sustained, it shall not be a defense:

(1) That the employee was negligent;

(2) That the injury was caused by the negligence of a fellow employee;

(3) That the employee has assumed the risk of the injury.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-10
§ 28-40-10. Priority of contributions in insolvency or bankruptcy.
Status: in_force

In the event of any distribution of an employers assets pursuant to an order of any court under the laws of this state, including any receivership, assignment for benefit of creditors, adjudicated insolvency, composition, or similar proceeding, contribution payments then or subsequently due shall have the same priority as given to wage claims of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) to each claimant, earned within six (6) months of the commencement of the proceeding. In the event of an employers adjudication in bankruptcy, judicially confirmed extension proposal, or composition, under the federal Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., contributions then or subsequently due shall be entitled to the priority provided in 11 U.S.C. § 507.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-6
§ 28-37-6. Filing of claim  Hearing on questioned claim.
Status: in_force

Any party claiming to be entitled to the benefits of this chapter or § 28-35-20 shall file a request with the director for a determination of his or her claim. If the director denies the claim, the party may file a petition at the workers compensation court that shall follow the procedure as outlined in chapter 35 of this title. In every case where payments may be ordered to be made from the workers compensation administrative fund, the director shall be a necessary party.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-46 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-46
§ 28-44-46. Decision of appeal tribunal.
Status: in_force

After a hearing, an appeal tribunal shall promptly make findings and conclusions and on the basis of those findings and conclusions affirm, modify, or reverse the directors determination. Each party shall promptly be furnished a copy of the decision and supporting findings and conclusions. This decision shall be final unless further review is initiated pursuant to § 28-44-47 within fifteen (15) days after the decision has been mailed to each partys last known address or otherwise delivered to him or her; provided, that the period may be extended for good cause.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-42 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-42
§ 28-5-42. Receipt of assistance  No estoppel effect.
Status: in_force

The fact that an individual has applied for, received, or continues to receive private insurance or government assistance on the basis of a physical or mental impairment shall not, by itself, relieve or excuse any employer, employment agency, or labor organization from its obligations under this chapter, but may be considered as evidence by the commission or court in its determination, nor does such a fact serve as an estoppel or otherwise preclude an individual with a disability from obtaining the protections of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-17
§ 28-29-17. Waiver of common law rights  Notice of claim of common law right.
Status: in_force

Employees or corporate officers of an employer, or managers, managing members, or members of a limited-liability company subject to or who have elected to become subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title as provided in § 28-29-8 shall be held to have waived his or her right of action at common law to recover damages for personal injuries if he or she has not given his or her employer at the time of the contract of hire or appointment notice in writing that he or she claims that right and within ten (10) days after that has filed a copy of the notice with the director, or, if the contract of hire or appointment was made before the employer became subject to or elected to become subject to the provisions of those chapters, the employee, or corporate officer, or manager, managing member, or member of a limited-liability company must have given notice and filed it with the director within ten (10) days after the filing by the employer who or that is subject to or who or that has elected to become subject to the provisions of those chapters of the written statement as provided. That waiver shall continue in force for the term of one year, and after that, without further act on his or her part, for successive terms of one year each, unless the employee, or corporate officer, or manager, managing member, or member of a limited-liability company, at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the first or any succeeding year files with the director a notice in writing to the effect that he or she desires to claim his or her right of action at common law and within ten (10) days thereafter gives notice of this to his or her employer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-34 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-34
§ 28-27-34. Division and chief administrator defined.
Status: in_force

(a) Division means the division of professional regulation within the department of labor and training as established by § 28-22-1, in which all bureaus, boards, and commissions will serve and act in an advisory capacity to the director of labor and training in their area of expertise within the division of professional regulation. The division administers chapters 26 and 27 of this title and chapter 6 of title 5.

(b) Chief administrator means the person appointed by the director of labor and training under § 28-22-1 to act as his or her liaison with all bureaus, boards, and commissions encompassed by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-38.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-38.1
§ 28-42-38.1. Quarterly wage reports.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The department of labor and training is designated and constituted the agency within this state charged with the responsibility of collecting quarterly wage information, as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1320b-7. Each employer shall be required to submit a detailed wage report to the director, for all calendar quarters within thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter in a form and manner prescribed by the director, listing each employees name; social security account number; the total amount of wages paid to each employee; and any other information that the director deems necessary. All reports shall be in addition to those now required by the department.

(2) The department will utilize the quarterly wage information that it collects from employers to establish an individuals eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits and to determine the amount and duration of benefits for all new claims filed.

(3) Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title to the contrary, the department may utilize employee quarterly wage information submitted by employers to measure the progress of the state in meeting the performance measures developed in response to United States Public Law 113-128, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (29 U.S.C. § 3101 et seq.), further provided however, that the department may verify certain employee quarterly wage information for the local workforce investment board and provide it with the verified data under procedures established by rules and regulations promulgated by the director. The director shall also make the quarterly wage information available, upon request, to the agencies of other states in the performance of their public duties under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (29 U.S.C. § 3101 et seq.) in that state. This information shall be made available only to the extent required by the Secretary of Labor and necessary for the valid administrative needs of the authorized agencies, and all agencies requesting this data shall protect it from unauthorized disclosure. The department shall be reimbursed by the agencies requesting the information for the costs incurred in providing the information.

(4) Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title to the contrary, the department may provide quarterly wage information to the United States Census Bureau for the purpose of participating in a joint local employment dynamics program with the United States Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(5) Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title to the contrary, the department may provide employee quarterly wage information to the departments designated research partners for the purpose of its workforce data quality and workforce innovation fund initiatives. The provision of these records will be done in accordance with an approved data-sharing agreement between the department and its designated research partners that protects the security and confidentiality of these records and through procedures established by protocols, rules and/or regulations as determined necessary by the director and appropriately established or promulgated.

(b) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title, an employer who or that fails to file a detailed wage report in the manner and at the times required by subsection (a) of this section for any calendar quarter shall pay a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each failure or refusal to file. An additional penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be assessed for each month the report is delinquent; provided, that this penalty shall not exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00) for any one report. This penalty shall be paid into the employment security tardy account fund and if any employer fails to pay the penalty, when assessed, it shall be collected by civil action as provided in § 28-43-18.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-28 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-28
§ 28-43-28. Waiver of contributions and interest under one dollar.
Status: in_force

If the total amount due to the department of labor and training from an employer in contributions and/or interest for any period is less than one dollar ($1.00), that amount shall not be assessed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-25 / Section 28-25-14
§ 28-25-14. Request for board hearing.
Status: in_force

In case any owner of any boiler or pressure vessel is dissatisfied with the decision of the division in any matter, he or she may within two (2) days after the decision demand, in writing, a hearing before the occupational safety and health review board pursuant to chapter 20 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-4
§ 28-43-4. Statement of condition of employment security fund and balancing account.
Status: in_force

The director shall publish once a year a statement of the condition of the employment security fund, the reserve ratio, and the balancing account for each twelve-month (12) period ending on September 30.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-25-23 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-25 / Section 28-25-23
§ 28-25-23. Relief from personal responsibility.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of labor and training, the administrator of the division of occupational safety, the chief boiler and pressure vessel inspector and his or her authorized inspectors charged with the enforcement of this chapter, while acting for the state, shall not thereby render himself or herself liable personally, and he or she is relieved from all personal liability for any act required or permitted in the discharge of his or her official duties. Any suit instituted against any officer or employee because of an act performed by him or her in the lawful discharge of his or her duties and under the provisions of this chapter shall be defended by the legal representative of the state of Rhode Island in the case of the director or his or her agents or representatives, until the final determination of the proceedings. In the case of an authorized insurance inspector, he or she shall be defended by the legal representative selected by his or her employer, until the final determination of the proceedings. In no case shall the director or any of his or her subordinates be liable for costs or damages in any action, suit, or proceeding that may be instituted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The director or his or her agents acting in good faith and without malice and within the scope of their employment shall be free from liability for acts performed under any provisions or by reason of any act or omission in the performance of his or her official duties in connection with his or her employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-3
§ 28-14-3. Deduction and payment of union dues.
Status: in_force

Whenever a majority of the members of the duly certified collective bargaining unit in any place of employment requests, in writing, from their employer that their union dues be deducted from their salary, the dues shall be deducted and remitted together with a list of the members whose dues have been deducted and the amount so deducted to the treasurer of the labor union designated by the employee in the request. The deductions shall be taken out according to appropriate payroll periods.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-3.4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-3.4
§ 28-40-3.4. Setoff for delinquent contributions.
Status: in_force

If the director determines that any individual, or employing unit or its agent, has failed or refused to transmit contributions withheld from the wages of employees in accordance with chapters 39  41 of this title, the director shall notify the state controller of this delinquency. The state controller, upon certification of the amount of the delinquency by the director, shall set off the amount of the delinquency against any payment due that person or entity and the director shall credit that amount against the contributions due. The director may not seek setoff until such time as a delinquency determination for the contributions has been directed to the person or entity. If a person or entity assessed a delinquency determination for contributions has requested a hearing on the assessment within the applicable statutory period, no request for setoff may be made while the matter is pending in the hearing or from any appeal from the hearing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-5
§ 28-42-5. Localized service defined.
Status: in_force

Service is deemed to be localized within a state if:

(1) The service is performed entirely within that state; or

(2) The service is performed both within and out of that state, but the service performed out of that state is incidental to the individuals service within the state; for example, is temporary or transitory in nature or consists of isolated transactions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-20-7 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-20 / Section 28-20-7
§ 28-20-7. Applicability and reports of places of business.
Status: repealed

This chapter shall apply to every employer now or subsequently doing business in this state and all applicants for industrial registration as provided in chapter 19 [repealed] of this title. Each employer or applicant shall furnish the director his, her, or its name; the character of his, her, or its business; the number of employees; the nature of the business; and the address at which it is conducted, and shall report any changes to the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-10-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-10 / Section 28-10-6
§ 28-10-6. Person defined.
Status: in_force

Whenever used in §§ 28-10-7 and 28-10-8, the word person means any individual, firm, association, corporation, or law enforcement agency; provided, that the word does not include any member of a city or town police department, any member of the division of state police, deputy sheriff, or any member of the militia of this state while acting in the course of duty and under the direction and order of any superior officer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-2
§ 28-33-2. Injuries occasioned by willful intent or intoxication.
Status: in_force

No compensation shall be allowed for the injury or death of an employee occasioned by his or her willful intention to bring about the injury or death of himself or herself or another, where it is proved that his or her injury or death was occasioned by that conduct, or that the injury or death resulted from his or her intoxication or unlawful use of controlled substances as defined in chapter 28 of title 21.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-47 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-47
§ 28-7-47. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstances is, for any reason, adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter and the application of this chapter to other persons or circumstances, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which the judgment has been rendered and to the person or circumstances involved. It is declared to be the legislative intent that this chapter would have been adopted had the invalid provisions not been included.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-47-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-47 / Section 28-47-4
§ 28-47-4. Identifying information.
Status: in_force

Each group self-insurer, in its application for group self-insurance, shall set forth the names and addresses of each of its officers, directors, trustees, and general manager. Notice of any change in the officers, directors, trustees, or general manager shall be given to the director within ten (10) days of the change. No officer, director, trustee, or employee of the group self-insurer may represent or participate directly or indirectly on behalf of an injured worker or his or her dependents in any workers compensation proceeding. All employees of employers participating in group self-insurance are deemed to be included under the group self-insurance plan.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-15-7 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-15 / Section 28-15-7
§ 28-15-7. Effect of assignment.
Status: in_force

An assignment of future earnings or wages made in accordance with all of the provisions of this chapter shall bind all wages earned by the assignor within the period named in the assignment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-37 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-37
§ 28-39-37. Functions of treasurer and director of administration.
Status: in_force

The general treasurer and the state director of administration shall have the same powers and duties with relation to chapters 39  41 of this title as they respectively have to chapters 42  44 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-45-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-45 / Section 28-45-11
§ 28-45-11. Applicability of chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to a firm, person, corporation, or organization of employees or an association of employers only after that person, firm, corporation, or organization of employees or association of employers has voluntarily elected to conform to its provisions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-2
§ 28-36-2. Certificate of compliance by employer.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever an employer has complied with the requirements of § 28-36-1(a)(2) or (a)(3), and with any other reasonable requirements that the director shall make, the director shall issue to the employer a certificate, which shall remain in force for a period fixed by the director, but no longer than one year, and the director may, upon at least sixty (60) days notice and a hearing to the employer, revoke the certificate upon satisfactory evidence for the revocation having been presented. Every employer who or that has been certified pursuant to the requirements of § 28-36-1 and this section, must apply for renewal of its certificate annually, within sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of its current certificate. To qualify for renewal of its certificate, the employer must demonstrate continued compliance with § 28-36-1(a)(2) or (a)(3) and any other reasonable requirements the director may impose at the time of renewal. Upon proof of compliance the director shall issue to the employer a new certificate.

(b) Failure to comply with the requirements pertaining to the renewal process or failure to provide any required data on a renewal application prior to renewal date shall automatically act as nonrenewal. Renewal is not automatic, but must be applied for and processed by the department of labor and training as stipulated in rules and regulations in force. Only when revocation of a certificate is to be made prior to the expiration date, shall a hearing be granted on a revocation process.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-45 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-45
§ 28-42-45. Agreements as to employment offices.
Status: in_force

For the purpose of the establishment, maintenance, and use of free public employment offices in this state, the director is authorized to enter into agreements with any agency of the United States charged with the administration of an unemployment compensation law, with any political subdivision of this state, or with any private nonprofit organization, and as part of that agreement the director may accept for his or her use services or quarters, or the director may accept as contributions to the administration account moneys made available to him or her for the purposes of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-6
§ 28-29-6. Employers subject to law.
Status: in_force

Every person, firm, and private corporation, including any public service corporation, including the state, that regularly employs employees in the same business or in or about the same establishment under any contract of hire, express or implied, and a city or town in this state that votes to accept the provisions of those chapters in the manner provided shall constitute an employer subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-50 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-50
§ 28-44-50. Rule of decision  Certification of questions to board of review.
Status: in_force

Final decisions of the board of review and the principles of law declared in their support shall be binding in all subsequent proceedings involving similar questions, unless expressly or impliedly overruled by a later decision of the board of review or of a court of competent jurisdiction. Final decisions of appeal tribunals and the principles of law declared in their support shall be binding on the director and shall be persuasive authority in subsequent appeal tribunal proceedings. If in any subsequent proceedings, the director or an appeal tribunal has serious doubt as to the correctness of any principles previously declared by an appeal tribunal or by the board of review, or if there is an apparent inconsistency or conflict in final decisions or comparable authority, then the findings of fact in that case may be certified, together with the question of law involved, to the board of review. After giving notice and reasonable opportunity for hearing upon the law to all parties to the proceedings, the board of review shall certify to the director or appeal tribunal and the parties in interest its answer to the question submitted, or the board of review, in its discretion, may remove to itself the entire proceeding as provided in § 28-44-48 and render its decision upon the entire case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-33 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-33
§ 28-42-33. Modifications to protect fund.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever the director believes that a change in contribution and/or benefit rates will become necessary to protect the solvency of the fund, he or she shall at once inform the governor and the general assembly and make recommendations accordingly. In that case, the governor may declare an emergency and authorize the director to announce a modified scale of benefits, an increased waiting period, or other changes in rules and regulations regarding eligibility for payment of benefits that the director may deem necessary to assure the solvency of the fund. Those modified regulations are to be in effect until the governor declares the emergency at an end, or until further action is taken by the general assembly.

(b) The governor may also request Title XII advances from the federal unemployment account to the account of the State of Rhode Island in the unemployment trust fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 1201 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 1321]. The governor may delegate authority to request funds in this manner to the director, who may request advances in payment as he or she deems necessary, provided that upon making such a request, the director shall notify the governor, the speaker of the house, the senate president, the chair of the house finance committee, and the chair of the senate finance committee of the action taken.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-4
§ 28-26-4. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The division of professional regulation, subject to the approval of the director shall make suitable rules and regulations for examining and licensing of hoisting engineers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-26.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-26.1
§ 28-27-26.1. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be the duty of the director of the department of labor and training and of state and local inspection authorities to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Local building and related inspectors, who are involved in day-to-day inspection, shall have the primary responsibility for enforcing the provisions of this chapter. The above individuals shall have authority to demand the production of the licenses and certificates required by this chapter on any site where work that is the subject of this chapter is occurring, and shall have the authority to investigate and where appropriate make complaints pursuant to § 28-27-21, § 28-27-28, or § 28-22-2 where sufficient evidence has been obtained to sustain a reasonable belief that a violation of this chapter has occurred.

(b) The state board of examiners shall also have concurrent responsibility to enforce the provisions of this chapter, and shall have the authority to demand the production of the licenses and certificates required by this chapter on any site where work that is the subject of this chapter is occurring, and shall have the authority to investigate and where appropriate make complaints pursuant to § 28-27-21, § 28-27-28, or § 28-22-2 where sufficient evidence has been obtained to sustain a reasonable belief that a violation of this chapter has occurred. The director of the department of labor and training shall provide identification to the board members for the purposes of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-27 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-27
§ 28-41-27. Judicial appeals.
Status: in_force

Appeals from administrative orders or decisions made pursuant to any provisions of this chapter shall be to the sixth division district court, pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42, the administrative procedures act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-85 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-85
§ 28-42-85. Job development fund  Treasurer  Bond  Investments.
Status: in_force

(a) The general treasurer shall be custodian and treasurer of the job development fund. The general treasurer shall have custody of all moneys belonging to the fund. The general treasurer shall have custody of all moneys belonging to the fund and not otherwise held, deposited, or invested pursuant to chapters 42  44 of this title, and chapter 102 of title 42.

(b) The general treasurer shall give bond conditioned on the faithful performance of his or her duties as custodian and treasurer of the fund, in a form prescribed by statute and approved by the attorney general, and in an amount specified by the governor. All premiums upon the bond required pursuant to this section when furnished by an authorized surety company or by a duly constituted governmental bonding fund shall be paid from the moneys in the employment security administration account. The general treasurer shall deposit the moneys in his or her custody subject to chapters 42  44 of this title, and chapter 102 of title 42.

(c) The general treasurer, as custodian of the fund, shall hold, invest, transfer, sell, deposit, and release those moneys, properties, or securities in a manner approved by the governor in accordance with chapters 42  44 of this title, and chapter 102 of title 42. Those moneys shall be invested in the classes of securities legal for investment of public moneys of this state, and the investment shall at all times be so made that all assets of the fund shall always be readily convertible into cash when needed for the expenditures specified in § 28-42-84. All investment earnings derived from job development fund balances shall be deposited into a restricted receipt account within the general fund and shall be exempt from the provisions of § 35-4-27.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-51 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-51
§ 28-42-51. Additional functions and duties of director of administration.
Status: in_force

In addition to and/or in lieu of the sections enumerated in § 28-42-50, the director of administration shall perform, at the department of labor and training, in the manner and to the extent that the director may prescribe, the following functions and duties:

(1) Establish and maintain a current system of internal financial controls and checks necessary to insure the proper handling of accounts in connection with the employment security fund and the employment security administration account created by this chapter, by conducting a continuous pre-audit or a continuous post-audit or by conducting a combination of both (pre-audit or post-audit). The cost of these post-audit activities by the office of internal audit and program integrity in the department of administration shall be reimbursed in full by the department;

(2) Establish and maintain any methods, procedures, and systems of accounting that may be deemed necessary; those records and accounts to be considered, for all purposes, the official records of the state and department;

(3) Prepare and furnish financial and any other reports that may be required; and

(4) Perform any other related functions and duties that may be required by chapters 42  44 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-43 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-43
§ 28-42-43. Acceptance of federal provisions.
Status: in_force

The state of Rhode Island accepts the Wagner-Peyser Act, 29 U.S.C. § 49 et seq., in conformity with 29 U.S.C. § 49c, and will observe and comply with the requirements of that Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-14
§ 28-41-14. Disqualification by conviction of fraud.
Status: in_force

(a) An individual who has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of knowingly or fraudulently making a false statement, or knowingly or fraudulently misrepresenting a material fact, with intent to defraud the temporary disability insurance fund of any benefit or wrongfully to obtain or increase any benefit, either for himself or herself or for any other person, shall be disqualified from receiving benefits for a period of one year following that conviction.

(b) This disqualification shall be imposed by the director and shall be in addition to any criminal penalty which may be imposed under any other provision in chapters 39  41 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-5.3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-5.3
§ 28-27-5.3. Oil burnerpersons limited license.
Status: in_force

A P.J.F. limited oil burner servicepersons license shall be granted to any person who has passed an examination before the division. It shall specify the name of the person, who shall thereby be authorized to work on and repair electric wiring and equipment located in or on oil burners burning fuel oil no heavier than no. 2 and other equipment serviced by oil burner contractors, only to the extent necessary to service, maintain, and repair the oil burners and equipment. The license shall limit the holder to do work on electric wiring or equipment located between the meter and the oil burners and equipment, but in no event to do any electrical work on burners burning no. 3, 4, 5, or 6 fuel oil.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-23 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-23
§ 28-42-23. Unclaimed or unpaid moneys from unemployment trust fund.
Status: in_force

Any balance of moneys requisitioned from the unemployment trust fund for the payment of benefits that remains unclaimed or unpaid after the expiration of the period for which those sums were requisitioned shall either be deducted from estimates for, and may be utilized for the payment of, benefits during succeeding periods or, in the discretion of the director, shall be re-deposited with the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, to the credit of this states account in the unemployment trust fund, as provided herein.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-13
§ 28-29-13. Posting of summaries of law.
Status: in_force

(a) Every employer subject to or who or that elects to become subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title shall display a copy of the summary of the major provisions of the workers compensation act in conspicuous places in which workers are employed.

(b) Any employer who or that fails to post the summaries required in this section shall be assessed a penalty of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) per offense.

(c) The director, in his or her discretion, may bring a civil action to collect all penalties assessed. The workers compensation court shall have jurisdiction to enforce compliance with any order of the director made pursuant to this section.

(d) All penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-17
§ 28-27-17. Test fees  License fees  Expiration and renewal of licenses.
Status: in_force

(a) All licenses issued to the pipefitters/refrigeration technicians and fire protection sprinkler contractor/sprinkler fitters and sheet metal contractor or journeyperson sheet metal worker detailed in this section shall be paid for as follows:

(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 330, § 7 and P.L. 2024, ch. 331, § 7.]

(c) Every license issued by the division of professional regulation to license holders born in odd years shall expire on the birthday of the individual qualifying for the license in odd years and all licenses issued by the division of professional regulation to license holders born in even years shall expire on the birthday of the individual qualifying for the license in even years and all licenses may be renewed on or before their expiration date, upon payment of the appropriate fee. If any credit is due in the initial changeover year the amount of credit shall be determined by the chief administrator of the division.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-35 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-35
§ 28-39-35. Educational program.
Status: in_force

The director shall undertake an educational publicity program designed to safeguard the fund created by this chapter. The director shall solicit the cooperation and assistance of labor, industry, and the public generally, in effecting that program. In the exercise of his or her authority under this chapter, the director shall give publicity to the need for accident prevention, and the preservation of health. He or she shall publicize the need for industrial employment to provide the best available safeguards for workers, as well as appropriate sanitary facilities, and he or she shall also publicize the potential results of malingering.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-19
§ 28-12-19. Actions for relief.
Status: in_force

Any person aggrieved by a violation of this chapter shall be entitled to relief as provided in chapter 14 of this title (Payment of Wages).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-25 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-25
§ 28-37-25. Suspension of certification of employer.
Status: in_force

If any certified employer violates any of the provisions of this chapter or any of the rules or regulations promulgated by the director of labor and training, the director of labor and training may suspend the privilege of that certified employer to make workers compensation payments directly to his or her or its employees, in accordance with § 28-36-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-3 / Section 28-3-5
§ 28-3-5. Proof of age for employment certificate.
Status: in_force

If it appears to the satisfaction of the school committee, or person authorized to give the certificate, that neither the birth certificate, baptismal certificate, nor passport of the child can be produced, the age and employment certificate may be granted on other evidence satisfactory to the department of elementary and secondary education.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-4
§ 28-30-4. Workers compensation administrator  Appointment  Powers and duties.
Status: repealed

(a) There shall be a workers compensation administrator who shall be appointed by the chief judge of the workers compensation court with the advice and consent of the senate. The chief judge of the workers compensation court, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a workers compensation administrator to serve for a period of five (5) years, and thereafter until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

(b) The administrator shall:

(1) Supervise the preparation of an annual budget for the workers compensation court;

(2) Formulate procedures governing the administration of workers compensation court services;

(3) Make recommendations to the workers compensation court for improvement in court services;

(4) Collect necessary statistics and prepare the annual report of the work of the workers compensation court;

(5) Provide supervision and consultation to the staff of the workers compensation court concerning administration of court services, training and supervision of personnel, and fiscal management;

(6) Perform any other duties that the workers compensation court specifies;

(7) Have the power to act as a notary public as provided in § 42-30-14 [repealed].
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-26 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-26
§ 28-41-26. Denial of appeal to board deemed decision of board.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of judicial review, an appeal tribunals decision from which an application for appeal has been denied by the board of review shall be deemed to be the decision of the board, except that the time for initiating judicial review shall run from the date of the mailing or delivery of the notice of the denial of the application for appeal by the board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-22
§ 28-27-22. Procedure for revocation of license.
Status: in_force

(a) No proceedings to revoke a license as provided in this section shall be instituted unless filed with the department of labor and training within one year after the date or dates of violation(s).

(b) No license shall be revoked or cancelled until a full and impartial hearing as provided in this section.

(c) No hearing for the purpose of revoking any license of master or contractor or journeyperson shall be held unless there is first placed on file with the department a verified complaint, in writing, reciting therein with reasonable particularity a statement of facts that, if proved, would be sufficient to constitute a violation of one or more of the specifications as set forth in § 28-27-21.

(d) Upon the filing of a verified complaint as provided in this chapter, the department shall promptly set a date for the hearing of the charges which shall be held in the city of Providence in this state. The department shall promptly by registered, certified mail forward to the licensee charged in the complaint a true and honest copy of the complaint and notification of the time and place a hearing of the charges shall be held.

(e) At the time and place fixed in the notification, the department shall proceed to a hearing before the board of the charges specified in the complaint. No hearing upon the charges of the complaint shall be had unless the records of the department contain evidence that the licensee charged in the complaint has been served with a copy of the complaint and notification of at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the hearing; provided, that the appearance of the licensee so charged, either in his or her own behalf or by counsel, shall constitute proof that sufficient notice of hearing was served.

(f) A complaining party by him or herself or by counsel may aid in the presentation of evidence toward sustaining the complaint. Ample opportunity shall be accorded for hearing all evidence and statement of counsel either in support or against the charges of the complaint. Upon good cause shown, the date of the hearing on the complaint may be continued; provided that the licensee and other interested parties shall be reasonably notified about the date of the continuance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-55-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-55 / Section 28-55-4
§ 28-55-4. Reporting.
Status: in_force

On or before October 1, 2013, the department of labor and training shall report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on the progress toward implementing the jobs match enhancement program, along with an estimate of any additional costs related to the purchase of the enhancements listed in § 28-55-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-48-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-48 / Section 28-48-1
§ 28-48-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings:

(1) Director means the director of the department of labor and training.

(2) Employee means any full-time employee who works an average of thirty (30) or more hours per week.

(3) Employer means and includes:

(i) Any person, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other business entity who or that employs fifty (50) or more employees;

(ii) The state of Rhode Island, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and any state department or agency that employs any employees;

(iii) Any city or town or municipal agency that employs thirty (30) or more employees; and

(iv) Any person who acts directly or indirectly in the interest of any employer.

(4) Family leave means leave by reason of the serious illness of a family member.

(5) Family member means a parent, spouse, child, mother-in-law, father-in-law, or the employee himself or herself, and with respect to employees of the state as defined in subsection (3)(ii), shall include domestic partners as defined in § 36-12-1(3).

(6) Parental leave means leave by reason of the birth of a child of an employee or the placement of a child sixteen (16) years of age or less with an employee in connection with the adoption of the child by the employee.

(7) Serious illness means a disabling physical or mental illness, injury, impairment, or condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, a nursing home, or a hospice, or outpatient care requiring continuing treatment or supervision by a healthcare provider.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-3.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-3.2
§ 28-14-3.2. Deductions not authorized.
Status: in_force

(a) No employer shall deduct or withhold from the payment of wages owed to an employee for the performance of work or other reason set forth in this chapter, any monies not authorized by federal or state law or by court order, without first getting written or electronic approval from the employee. However, a deduction shall never be authorized by an employee or deducted by an employer from an employees wage for:

(1) Spoilage or breakage;

(2) Shortages or losses; or

(3) Fines or penalties for tardiness, misconduct, or quitting by an employee without notice.

(b) In addition to any other penalty or enforcement provision set forth in this chapter, any employer violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to treble damages, payable to the employee, of the amount not authorized to be deducted or withheld.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-51-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-51 / Section 28-51-3
§ 28-51-3. Education and training programs.
Status: in_force

Employers are encouraged to conduct an education and training program on sexual harassment consistent with the aims and purposes of this chapter for all employees, including, but not limited to supervisory or managerial personnel, on or before September 1, 1997.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-6
§ 28-42-6. Service by residents performed entirely outside state.
Status: in_force

Services not covered under § 28-42-4 and performed entirely out of this state, with respect to no part of which contributions are required and paid under an unemployment compensation law of any other state or of the federal government, shall be deemed to be employment subject to chapters 42  44 of this title if the individual performing those services is a resident of this state and the director approves the election of the employing unit for whom those services are performed, that the entire service of that individual shall be deemed to be employment subject to those chapters.