R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-65-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-65 / Section 23-65-1
§ 23-65-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Assistant superintendent means the individual who is an operator who is responsible for the management, operation, and maintenance of a water supply treatment facility or water transmission and distribution system in the absence of the superintendent and who shall have a certificate appropriate to the type and grade of the water treatment facility or water transmission and distribution system. Water system officials not working at the water system treatment facilities or transmission or distribution system, as further defined through the development and establishment of the boards rules and regulations, are not covered by this section.

(2) Board means the board of certification established by § 23-65-2.

(3) Certificate means a certificate of competency issued by the director to an individual to operate one or more specified classes of public water supply facilities.

(4) Community water supply means any public water supply which served at least fifteen (15) service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) year-round residents.

(5) Director means the director of the department of health or a subordinate to whom the director has assigned his or her functions.

(6) Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water means any water beneath the surface of the ground with (i) significant occurrence of insects or other microorganisms, algae, or large diameter pathogens such as Giardia Iamblia, or (ii) significant and relatively rapid shifts in water characteristics such as turbidity, temperature, conductivity, or PH which closely correlate to climatological or surface water conditions.

(7) Non-community non-transient water system means a non-community water system that regularly services at least twenty-five (25) of the same persons over six (6) months per year.

(8) Non-community water system means a public water system that is not a community water system.

(9) Operator means an individual whose routine job duties involve performing operational activities or making decisions regarding the daily operational activities of a public water system, water treatment facility and/or transmission and distribution system, that may directly impact the quality and/or quantity of drinking water. Operator does not apply to an official exercising only general administrative supervision or engineering design duties, such as the city engineer or an elected water commissioner, or clerical or administrative workers involved only in activities such as customer relations, billing, payroll, time keeping, etc.

(10) Person means any individual, partnership, firm, association, joint venture, public or private corporation, trust estate, commission, board, public or private institution, utility, cooperative, municipality or any other political subdivision of this state, any interstate body, or any other legal entity.

(11) Public water supply means a system for the provisions of the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least fifteen (15) service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five (25) individuals daily at least sixty (60) days out of the year.

(12) Superintendent means the individual who is an operator who is directly responsible for the management, operation, and maintenance of a water supply treatment facility or water transmission and distribution system during all working shifts and who shall hold a certificate appropriate to the type and grade of the water treatment facility or water transmission and distribution system.

(13) Transmission and distribution system means a network of pipes that transports, distributes, and delivers water from a water treatment facility or well(s) to water system customers.

(14) Water supply treatment facility means an arrangement of devices and structures constructed and/or installed for the purpose of treatment of water supply.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-1
§ 23-23-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Clean Air Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-104-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-104 / Section 23-104-6
§ 23-104-6. Confidentiality protections for clinicians seeking assistance.
Status: in_force

(a) Clinicians who voluntarily seek help through the PHP or comparable program shall be protected from automatic reporting to their respective licensing boards, provided the clinician complies with treatment recommendations and does not pose a risk to patient safety.

(b) Communications between clinicians and personnel of the PHP or comparable program shall be confidential and privileged under Rhode Island law, similar to attorney-client and peer support protections.

(c) The PHP or comparable program may act as intermediaries between clinicians and the relevant licensing board to ensure that clinicians can obtain care without unnecessary professional repercussions.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-3
§ 23-1-3. Maintenance of laboratories.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of health shall maintain pathological, bacteriological, and chemical laboratories and shall select in accordance with law qualified persons to conduct and supervise the pathological, bacteriological, and chemical researches made in those laboratories.

(b) The director of health is authorized to establish and modify fees by regulation for all laboratory services provided by the department of health laboratory. The fees as established by the director shall be related to the costs incurred in operating the laboratory and may include administrative, personnel, equipment, supplies, overhead, and other related costs necessary to develop and provide laboratory services. All fees collected under this section, except those fees in subsections (f) through (h) shall be deposited as general revenues.

(c) The testing program for clinical tests designated by the director in regulation shall be a covered benefit and shall be reimbursable by all health insurers, as defined in § 27-38.2-2(1), providing health insurance coverage in Rhode Island except for supplemental policies which only provide coverage for specific diseases, hospital indemnity Medicare supplements, or other supplemental policies. The charges for those testing programs shall be borne by the hospitals or other licensed health care providers and facilities in the absence of a third-party payor.

(d) All funds received under chapter 16.2 of this title shall be deposited as general revenues.

(e) The provisions of §§ 45-13-7 through 45-13-10 shall not apply to this section.

(f) In addition to any other fine, assessment, penalty or forfeiture provided by law, the traffic tribunal shall collect an assessment of one hundred dollars ($100) from each defendant who is required to attend a special course on driver retraining, except from those who are ordered to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated, described in § 31-27-2, by the traffic tribunal.

(g) In addition to any other fine, assessment, penalty, or forfeiture provided by law, the court or tribunal shall collect the sum of one hundred and eighteen dollars ($118) for each drug-related charge from every defendant who is convicted after trial, or who enters a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, with respect to violations of the following chapters and/or sections of the Rhode Island General Laws, which shall include but not be limited to: chapter 15 of title 7, 11-23-2, 11-23-6, 11-25-23, chapter 28 of title 21, 21-28-4.01, 21-28-4.01.1, 21-28-4.01.2, 21-28-4.02, 21-28-4.03, 21-28-4.04, 21-28-4.05, 21-28-4.06, 21-28-4.07, 21-28-4.07.1, 21-28-4.09, 21-28-4.10, 21-28-4.11, 21-28-4.14, 21-28-4.15, 21-28-4.16, 21-28-4.17, 21-28-4.17.1, 21-28-4.19, 31-27-1.1, 31-27-2.2, 31-27-2.4, 31-27-2.6, chapter 22.2 of title 46, 46-22.2-3, 46-22.2-4, and 46-22.2-5.

(h) In addition to any other fine, assessment, penalty, or forfeiture provided by law, the court or tribunal shall collect the sum of one hundred dollars ($100) for each charge from every defendant who is convicted after trial, or who enters a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, with respect to violations of the following chapters and/or sections of the Rhode Island General Laws, which shall include but not be limited to: 11-5-1, 11-5-2, 11-5-2.1, 11-5-4, 11-5-5, 11-5-6, 11-5-7, 11-5-8, 11-5-10, 11-5-10.1, 11-5-10.2, 11-5-10.3, 11-5-10.4, 11-5-11, 11-5-14, 11-5-14.1, 11-8-1, 11-8-2.1, 11-8-2.2, 11-8-2.3, 11-8-2.4, 11-8-3, 11-8-4, 11-8-9, 11-23-1, 11-23-2.1, 11-23-3, 11-25-2, 11-25-3, 11-25-4, 11-26-1, 11-26-1.4, 11-29-1, 11-37-2, 11-37-4, 11-37-6, 11-37-8.1, 11-37-8.3, and 11-39-1.

(i) All fees collected in subsections (f) through (h) shall be placed in the general fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-28 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-28
§ 23-33-28. Municipal regulation.
Status: in_force

No city or town shall have power to make any ordinance, bylaw or resolution concerning elevators, escalators, or other devices subject to the provisions of this chapter regarding the inspection, licensing, construction, installation, maintenance, or repair of any elevator, escalator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter within the limits of the city or town, and any ordinance, bylaw or resolution heretofore made or passed or concerning any of the matters subject to this chapter, shall be void and of no effect. Any application made to municipalities shall be immediately forwarded for consideration and inspection to the division of occupational safety.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-65-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-65 / Section 23-65-3
§ 23-65-3. Powers and duties of the board.
Status: in_force

The board established in this chapter shall have the following duties and powers:

(1) Adopt and amend such rules and regulations with the approval of the director as they deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

(2) Classify all public water supply treatment facilities as to their size and type and establish specifications for certification of operators of each class of public water supply treatment facility and transmission and distribution system;

(3) Determine by examinations, and from the applicants training and experience, the class and type of certificate, if any, the applicant will be issued;

(4) When taking action with regard to subdivisions (1) and (2), consider generally applicable criteria, regulations and guidelines developed by the association of boards of certification for operating personnel in water utilities;

(5) Direct the director of health to issue certificates to duly qualified applicants;

(6) Investigate complaints and charges of unprofessional conduct against any certified operator;

(7) Direct the director of health to revoke, suspend, or implement other disciplinary action with respect to person issued certifications under this chapter;

(8) Keep records of its proceedings and of all applications for certification;

(9) Encourage all operators to attend classes, seminars, and/or other educational programs periodically to keep abreast of changes and advances in the fields of water supply treatment, operation and management;

(10) Work with the state department of elementary and secondary education to establish various levels of training courses, seminars, and/or other educational programs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-1.3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-1.3
§ 23-1-1.3. Transfer of responsibilities.
Status: in_force

Whenever, in any general or public law, the words office of substance abuse, OSA, department of substance abuse shall appear, they shall be deemed to refer to and to mean the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. Whenever, in any general or public law, the words director of the department of substance abuse shall appear, they shall be deemed to refer to and to mean the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-68-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-68 / Section 23-68-3
§ 23-68-3. Tanning facility defined.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, tanning facility means any location, place, area, structure, or business that either as a sole service or in conjunction with other services, provides patrons with access to sunlamps, ultraviolet lamps or other equipment intended to induce skin tanning through the irradiation of any part of the human body for cosmetic or nonmedical purposes.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-16 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-16
§ 23-3-16. Death registration.
Status: in_force

(a) A death certificate for each death that occurs in this state shall be filed with the state registrar of vital records or as otherwise directed by the state registrar within seven (7) calendar days after death and prior to removal of the body from the state, and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section, provided:

(1) That if the place of death is unknown, a death certificate shall be filed with the state registrar of vital records or as otherwise directed by the state registrar within seven (7) calendar days after the occurrence; and

(2) That if death occurs in a moving conveyance, a death certificate shall be filed with the state registrar of vital records or as otherwise directed by the state registrar.

(b) The funeral director, his or her duly authorized agent, or person acting as agent, who first assumes custody of a dead body, shall file the death certificate. He or she shall obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available. He or she shall obtain the medical certification of cause of death from the person responsible for certification. The death certificate shall indicate the following:

(1) The sex of the decedent shall be recorded to reflect the decedents gender identity, as reported by the next of kin or the best qualified person available, unless the person completing the death certificate is presented with a document that memorializes the decedents gender transition. In case of conflicting information on the sex of the decedent from the sources, the death certificate shall be based on documentation that memorializes the decedents gender transition. Documents that may memorialize a gender transition include: written instructions from the decedent; a court order approving a name or gender change; an advance healthcare directive; documentation of an appropriate course of treatment for the purpose of gender transition; documentation of a change to the gender marker on a birth certificate; or a state or federally issued identification card, or any additional document as authorized by the Rhode Island department of health. If more than one document is presented and the documents are in conflict regarding the decedents gender identity, the most recent document that memorializes the decedents gender transition shall prevail. If documentation is not available, it shall be based on information from individuals most familiar with the decedents gender identity at the time of death.

(c) A physician, after the death of a person whom he or she has attended during his or her last illness, or the physician declaring that person dead, or if the death occurred in a hospital, a registered hospital medical officer duly appointed by the hospital director or administrator, shall immediately furnish for registration a standard certificate of death to a funeral director or other authorized person or any member of the family of the deceased, stating to the best of his or her knowledge and belief the name of the deceased; the disease of which he or she died; where it was contracted; the duration of the illness from which he or she died; when last seen alive by the physician, or, if death occurs in a hospital, when last seen alive by a physician; and the date of death.

(d) When death occurred without medical attendance as set forth in subsection (c) or when inquiry is required by chapter 4 of this title, the medical examiner shall investigate the cause of death and shall complete and sign the medical certification within forty-eight (48) hours after taking charge of the case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-69-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-69 / Section 23-69-3
§ 23-69-3. Formulation of plan.
Status: in_force

The director of health shall formulate and keep current a tuberculosis control involuntary detention plan for this state, in accordance with the duty assumed in § 23-10-6.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-8-19 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-8 / Section 23-8-19
§ 23-8-19. Compliance with quarantine by transportation agencies.
Status: in_force

Whenever quarantine is declared, all railroad and steamboat corporations, stage lines, the owners, assignees, officials, and employees of those companies, and all vehicles and modes of conveyance of passengers, baggage, and freight, shall observe and comply with the rules and regulations made by the director of health; and any person knowingly violating any of the rules and regulations of the director shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00), or be imprisoned not more than two (2) years.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-24-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-24 / Section 23-24-10
§ 23-24-10. Regulations.
Status: in_force

The authority to promulgate regulations for the efficient enforcement of this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, is vested in the consumer protection unit.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-13 / Section 23-13-4
§ 23-13-4. Ophthalmia neonatorum  Definition  Treatment.
Status: in_force

(a) Any diseased condition of the eye or eyes of an infant in which there is inflammation, redness, swelling, or any unnatural discharge at any time within two (2) weeks after birth shall, for the purpose of §§ 23-13-4  23-13-8 be deemed to be ophthalmia neonatorum.

(b) It shall be the duty of the physician, nurse, or midwife attending the birth of an infant immediately after the birth to treat the eyes of that infant with any approved prophylactic remedy as may be recommended by the department of health.

(c) For the purpose of §§ 23-13-4  23-13-8, midwives, who previously have not been permitted to use medical agents under any conditions, may employ the approved prophylactic of the department of health with the consent of the parent or guardian.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-26 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-26
§ 23-1-26. Adoption of regulations  Status of present regulations.
Status: repealed

Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42, rules or regulations adopted by the director on or before December 31, 1966 and pursuant to authority granted to the director by law shall become effective twenty (20) days after filing those rules or regulations in the office of the secretary of state. The director shall hold a hearing on those rules and regulations, after reasonable notice, if within six (6) months of the adoption of the rules or regulations any interested person requests a hearing. At that hearing, all interested persons shall be given an opportunity to submit data, views, or arguments, orally or in writing, relative to the rules or regulations. Rules or regulations filed with the secretary of state under this section shall remain in effect notwithstanding that hearing, but following a hearing the director may file amendments to the rules or regulations as he or she deems advisable, those amendments to become effective twenty (20) days after filing. All rules and regulations of the director in effect on July 1, 1966 shall remain in full force and effect after that date unless expressly repealed by the director or by any provision of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-21-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-21 / Section 23-21-7
§ 23-21-7. Places exempt from chapter.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any recreation facility and/or use maintained by an individual for the sole use of the individuals immediate family and private guests, or to any campground used by any of the military forces of the state or of the United States, or to any swimming pool licensed under the authority of chapter 22 of this title. No license fee shall be required by the department of health for any facility, owned and operated by the state, by any municipality, or by any nonprofit organization.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-82-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-82 / Section 23-82-4
§ 23-82-4. Regional greenhouse gas initiative implementation.
Status: in_force

(a) The department shall, in consultation with the public utilities commission, the office, council, and board, through rules and regulations, establish the states rules for participation in RGGI.

(b) The departments rules and regulations for participation in a carbon cap and trade program shall be designed to meet the mutual understandings and commitments for participation in RGGI, and permit the holders of carbon allowances to trade them in a regional market to be established through the RGGI.

(c) The responsibilities created by implementing RGGI shall be in addition to all other responsibilities imposed by any other general or special law or rule or regulation and shall not diminish or reduce any power or authority of the department, including the authority to adopt standards and regulations necessary for the state to join and fully participate in any multi-state program, at any stage in the development and implementation of such a program, intended to control emissions of carbon dioxide and/or other substances that are determined by the department to be damaging and/or altering the climate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-70-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-70 / Section 23-70-2
§ 23-70-2. Osteoporosis program.
Status: in_force

Using existing resources, the department shall educate the public on the causes of osteoporosis and the personal risk factors associated with the development of osteoporosis, publicize the value of early detection and prevention, and identify the most cost-effective options available for treatment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-105-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-105 / Section 23-105-3
§ 23-105-3. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The department shall, by July 1, 2026, promulgate rules and regulations necessary and not inconsistent with law to implement the purpose and intent of this chapter, which rules and regulations shall provide for, though not be limited to, the licensing of medical spas as healthcare facilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-61-9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-61 / Section 23-61-9
§ 23-61-9. Use of the radon control appropriations.
Status: in_force

Funds appropriated shall be used to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including but not limited to, personnel costs, operating costs, and capital expenditures associated with the regulatory and public education mandates placed on the department by this chapter, as well as the development and implementation of the building codes for radon resistant construction. The department is further authorized to enter into contracts for the purpose of: developing building codes for radon resistant buildings; developing construction techniques for mitigation of radon in existing buildings; conducting training relevant to all changes in building codes adopted pursuant to authority conferred by this chapter; and to otherwise carry out the mandates of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-6-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-6 / Section 23-6-4
§ 23-6-4. Employment of physicians for vaccinations.
Status: in_force

The city or town councils shall contract with and provide a suitable number of physicians to vaccinate as provided in § 23-6-3 and order the city or town treasurers of the several cities or towns respectively to pay them the compensation that may be previously agreed upon; and the physicians shall give due and reasonable notice of the time and place of meeting for the purpose of vaccination.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-104-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-104 / Section 23-104-5
§ 23-104-5. Recognition and expansion of confidential clinician wellness programs.
Status: in_force

Physicians, physician assistants, podiatrists, and dentists.

(1) The physician health program (PHP) or comparable program shall be recognized as a designated entity to provide confidential, non-disciplinary assistance to physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and podiatrists experiencing burnout, mental health challenges, or substance use disorders.

(2) The PHP shall continue working with professional medical, dental, podiatric, and physician assistant associations, private healthcare organizations, and insurers to support physician, physician assistant, dentist, and podiatrist wellness resources without reliance on state funding.

(3) The PHP shall maintain its early intervention and peer support programs to help clinicians seek care before health conditions impact patient safety.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-19 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-19
§ 23-33-19. Appeals to superior court.
Status: in_force

Any owner of any elevator or device aggrieved by any decision of the occupational safety and health review board refusing to grant a variation or modification of the code of rules governing the construction, inspection, maintenance, and operation, may, within thirty (30) days after the decision, commence action in the superior court against the director of labor and training for a review of the decision under the provisions of § 28-20-20.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-75-9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-75 / Section 23-75-9
§ 23-75-9. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of health shall investigate and enforce the provisions of § 23-75-3(e), and promulgate rules and regulations deemed necessary to enforce it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-29.5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-29.5
§ 23-23-29.5. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

The responsibility and jurisdiction for enforcement of §§ 23-23-29.1  23-23-29.4 shall be with state and local law enforcement authorities, including, but not limited to, state and local police and parking enforcement personnel, the Rhode Island department of environmental management and the Rhode Island division of motor vehicles.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-13.4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-13.4
§ 23-19-13.4. Host community assessment committee  Definition  Funding  Powers and duties.
Status: in_force

(a) All applicants shall within seven (7) days from the date of the filing for a solid waste disposal license, notify the chief elected official or the chief executive officer of the municipality in which the facility is proposed to be sited of the filing for a solid waste disposal license. Within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice, the municipality may submit to the director a request for an amount not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) for the establishment of a local host community assessment committee which shall negotiate with the applicant a host community agreement that includes a host community benefit package. The host community agreement may address, but shall not be limited to, traffic concerns, hours of operation, highway improvements and litter control. The agreements may be over-ridden in the case of emergency by the director. The host community agreement may provide for benefits to the municipality, either monetary or nonmonetary which are in addition to the payments required by subsection (b). The request shall be in writing and shall state reasons for the requested amount. Within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the written request of the municipality, the director shall determine the amount payable by the applicant for establishment of the local host community assessment committee based upon the reasons stated in the request. The director shall notify the applicant and the municipality of the determination and the terms and conditions of payment. The failure of the applicant to comply shall be considered a withdrawal of the application.

(b) All public solid waste landfill and waste to energy facilities shall be required to pay to the municipality at minimum a per annum fee of one dollar ($1.00) per ton of solid waste disposed at the site or seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000), whichever is greater. The director may, by regulation, determine and impose disposal fees for other solid waste facilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-23 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-23
§ 23-1-23. Enforcement of compliance orders.
Status: in_force

Whenever a compliance order has become effective, whether automatically where no hearing has been requested, where an immediate compliance order has been issued, or upon decision following a hearing, the director may institute injunction proceedings in the superior court of the state for enforcement of the compliance order and for appropriate temporary relief, and in the proceeding the correctness of a compliance order shall be presumed and the person attacking the order shall bear the burden of proving error in the compliance order, except that the director shall bear the burden of proving in the proceeding the correctness of an immediate compliance order. The remedy provided for in this section shall be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to remedies relating to the removal or abatement of nuisances or any other remedies provided by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-98-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-98 / Section 23-98-4
§ 23-98-4. Mandatory submission and testing requirements for newly collected sexual assault evidence kits.
Status: in_force

(a) Medical facilities and all other facilities that conduct medical forensic examinations shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately, and no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the collection of a new sexual assault evidence kit.

(b) Hospitals and state laboratories shall work together to ensure reported kits are transferred from the hospital to the laboratory within ten (10) days of the kit being collected.

(1) Anonymous kits and unreported kits are exempted from this section unless the victim files a report and consents to the testing of their kit. Anonymous kits shall be safely stored by the state laboratory in a manner that preserves evidence for a duration of ten (10) years or the applicable statute of limitations, whichever is greater.

(2) Victims who do not file a report with law enforcement at the time the kit was collected shall not negate their right to report the crime and have their kit tested in the future.

(3) Kits associated with a reported crime that is uncharged or unsolved shall be preserved by the applicable law enforcement agency for fifty (50) years or the length of the applicable statute of limitations, whichever is greater.

(c) Law enforcement shall contact the department of health when a victim of sexual assault files a police complaint. At that point, the department of health shall begin the forensic analysis. An accredited public crime laboratory shall test all kits within thirty (30) days of receipt.

(1) Testing shall be pursued to develop autosomal DNA profiles that are eligible for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and local DNA databases, with the goal of generating a CODIS-eligible DNA profile. If a laboratory is unable to obtain an autosomal CODIS-eligible DNA profile, the laboratory shall evaluate the case to determine if any other DNA-typing results could be used for investigative purposes.

(2) In cases where testing has resulted in a DNA profile, the laboratory shall enter the full profile into the Combined DNA Index System Database (CODIS) and local DNA databases. The average completion rate for this analysis and classification shall not exceed ninety (90) days.

(3) If an accredited public crime laboratory is unable to meet the deadline specified in subsection (c)(2) of this section, untested kits shall be outsourced to an accredited private crime laboratory.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-8-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-8 / Section 23-8-7
§ 23-8-7. Violation of quarantine.
Status: in_force

Any person who is confined by the director or his or her authorized agent under the provision of § 23-8-4 and who violates that confinement shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) or by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-10.7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-10.7
§ 23-17-10.7. Nursing facility assessment and disclosure for residents on probation or parole.
Status: in_force

The licensing agency shall establish regulations to require each licensed nursing facility, as part of the initial resident admission and assessment process, to review and consider any notice provided to the facility as required in subsection 42-56-10(23) concerning the residents or prospective residents status on parole and recommendations, if any, regarding safety and security measures.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-61-11 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-61 / Section 23-61-11
§ 23-61-11. Interpretation and severability.
Status: in_force

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed and shall be held to be in addition to, and not in substitution for or a limitation of, the provisions of any other law. If any provision or part thereof of this chapter or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remainder of the chapter and the application of such provisions to any other persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-7-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-7 / Section 23-7-10
§ 23-7-10. Notice to cease operation.
Status: in_force

Whenever any city, town, or district commences any activity set forth in this chapter without first having obtained the written consent of the state mosquito abatement board, or violates any rule or regulation of the board, the director of the department of environmental management shall have the power by written notice to order the violator to cease and desist immediately. If the violator does not conform to the boards order, the director may bring prosecution by complaint and warrant and the prosecution shall be made in the district court of the state. The director, without being required to enter into any recognizance or to give surety for cost, may institute those proceedings in the name of the state. It shall be the duty of the attorney general to conduct the prosecution of all of those proceedings brought by the director. The director may obtain relief in equity or by prerogative writ whenever that relief shall be necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties under §§ 23-7-1  23-7-15.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-63-1.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-63 / Section 23-63-1.1
§ 23-63-1.1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) Consumer means an individual who purchases a vehicle tire for use, consumption, or any use other than resale;

(2) Corporation means the Rhode Island economic development corporation created and established pursuant to chapter 64 of title 42.

(3) Retailer means every person in this state who is engaged in the sale of vehicle tires to consumers;

(4) Rhode Island resource recovery corporation means the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation created and established pursuant to chapter 19 of title 23.

(5) Vehicle tire means all tires used on motorized vehicles;
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-39-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-39 / Section 23-39-3
§ 23-39-3. Purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare by licensing and regulating persons engaged in the practice of respiratory care within the state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-7-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-7 / Section 23-7-6
§ 23-7-6. Meetings.
Status: in_force

The members of the board shall meet initially at the call of the director of environmental management and, at their first meeting, shall elect a chairperson, a secretary, and any other officers that they may find necessary. Thereafter, the board shall meet as necessary, but not less than three (3) times per year. All regular board meetings shall be open to the public and all records of its proceedings, resolutions, and actions shall be open to public view.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-82-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-82 / Section 23-82-2
§ 23-82-2. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

It is hereby found and declared by the general assembly as follows:

(1) Scientific findings indicate that the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, is accelerating the natural greenhouse effect resulting in changes in the Earths climate;

(2) Climate changes pose serious health risks to humans, as well as danger to ecosystems worldwide;

(3) This act creates a strong incentive for the creation, development, and deployment of more efficient technologies and processes, energy efficiency and renewable energy supplies which will lead to less dependence on the import of fossil fuels.

(4) Rhode Islands implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, (hereinafter referred to as RGGI), should be managed to maximize the states contribution to lowering carbon emissions while minimizing impacts on electric system reliability and costs to Rhode Island power consumers over the long term. Adoption and use of cost-effective energy-efficient products and programs and the strategic use of low and zero carbon generation are the best means to achieve these goals.

(5) It is the intent of the general assembly in enacting this chapter that the state of Rhode Island shall fulfill the mutual understandings and commitments of the regional greenhouse gas initiative so that the state may fully participate in that initiative and all sales or auctions and other proceedings as may be established under that initiative.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-28.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-28.1
§ 23-19-28.1. Procedures to enforcement.
Status: in_force

(a) In any instance wherein there is a violation of its rules and regulations or any order of the corporation, the corporation and the attorney general shall have the power to order the violator to cease and desist, or to remedy the violations, and the corporation may impose administrative penalties. The corporation may impose administrative penalties only in accordance with the notice and hearing provisions of this chapter, and the corporations enforcement plan, as may be amended from time to time, developed pursuant to the department of environmental managements regulations for reduction and recycling of commercial and non-municipal residential solid waste. Without being required to enter into any recognizance or to give surety for costs, the attorney general and executive director may institute administrative, civil or criminal proceedings in the name of the corporation when there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter and the corporations enforcement plan, as may be amended from time to time, developed pursuant to the department of environmental managements regulations for reduction and recycling of commercial and non-municipal residential solid waste. The attorney general may assist the corporation in carrying out any civil or administrative proceedings. It shall be the duty of the attorney general to carry out all criminal proceedings initiated by the executive director.

(b) The superior court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter and any rule, regulation, permit or administrative order issued pursuant to this chapter. Proceedings for enforcement may be instituted and prosecuted in the name of the corporation. Proceedings provided in this section shall be in addition to other administrative or judicial proceedings authorized by this chapter.

(c) Any person charged with the violation of the provisions of this chapter shall have a right to a trial by jury on every issue of fact.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-24 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-24
§ 23-25-24. Cooperation with other agencies.
Status: in_force

The director may cooperate, receive grants-in-aid, and enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with any agency of the federal government, of this state and its subdivisions, or with any agency of another state, in order to:

(1) Secure uniformity of regulations;

(2) Enter into cooperative agreements with the EPA to register pesticides under the authority of this chapter and FIFRA;

(3) Cooperate in the enforcement of the federal pesticide control laws through the use of state and/or federal personnel and facilities to implement cooperative enforcement programs, including, but not limited to, the registration and inspection of establishments;

(4) Develop and administer state plans for training and for certification of applicators consistent with federal standards;

(5) Contract for training with other agencies for the purpose of training applicators to be certified or licensed;

(6) Contract for monitoring pesticides for the national plan;

(7) Prepare, submit, and maintain state plans to meet federal certification standards, as provided for in § 4 of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. § 136i(a) to (c); and

(8) Regulate certified and licensed applicators.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-12.9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-12.9
§ 23-17-12.9. Resident and family notification.
Status: in_force

The director shall establish regulations which: (1) notify the resident, or his or her legal representative, the residents family representative, the residents attending physicians of record and the nursing facilitys medical director, if that resident has been found to be in immediate jeopardy to health and safety; (2) notify all facility residents, or their legal representatives, their family representatives, their attending physicians and the nursing facilitys medical director, whenever a nursing facility is cited for substandard quality of care as defined in 42 CFR 488.301 or successor regulation; and (3) provide for notification of changes regarding resident condition as provided in federal regulation 42 CFR 483.10 or successor regulation. A facility citation for substandard quality of care shall be considered to be a public record ten (10) days following the citation, or upon departmental approval of the corresponding plan of correction, whichever is sooner.

For purposes of this section, immediate jeopardy to health and safety means a situation which the institutions noncompliance with one or more state or federal requirements or conditions has caused, or is likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident receiving care in the institution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-8
§ 23-33-8. Revocation of permits.
Status: in_force

The chief inspector may at any time revoke any permit issued by him or her to act as an authorized inspector, for cause shown, after a hearing, of which the holder of the permit shall receive five (5) days notice in writing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-39-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-39 / Section 23-39-10
§ 23-39-10. Inactive status.
Status: in_force

(a) Upon request, the division shall grant inactive status to a licensee who does not intend to practice his or her profession within this state during the period covered by the inactive status. The person may be reinstated without payment of a penalty fee upon application and presentation of evidence of completion of these requirements. The person must pay the current license renewal fee.

(b) Upon reinstatement to active status, a licensee must show proof of having completed continuing education during the two (2) years immediately preceding reinstatement in such amount as may be prescribed by rules and regulations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-20 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-20
§ 23-33-20. Penalty for violations  Prosecution.
Status: in_force

(a) Any owner who willfully or repeatedly violates the requirements of §23-33-9.1, any code, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to §28-20-24, or regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, may be assessed an initial civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation.

(b) Any owner who has received a compliance order for a serious violation of the requirements of §23-33-9.1 of any code, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to §28-20-24, or of any other regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, shall be assessed an initial civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation.

(c) Any owner who has received a compliance order for a violation of the requirements of §23-33-9.1 of any code, rule, or order promulgated pursuant to §28-20-24, or of other regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter, and the violation is specifically determined not to be of serious nature, may be assessed a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation. Each day during which any portion of a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(d) Any owner who fails to correct a violation for which a compliance order has been issued under §23-33-9.1 within the period permitted for its correction, which period shall not begin to run until the date of the final order of the review board in the case of any review proceeding under §23-33-15.1, initiated by the owner in good faith and not solely for delay or avoidance of penalties, may be assessed a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation. Each day during which any portion of a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(e) Any owner who willfully violates any code, rule or order promulgated pursuant to §28-20-24, or of any regulations prescribed pursuant to this chapter and that violation causes death to any person, shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

(f) Any person who gives advance notice of any inspection to be conducted under this chapter, without authority from the director, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

(g) Whoever knowingly makes any false statements, representations, or certifications in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both.

(h)(1) Any person who shall refuse to have inspected any elevator or other device subject to this chapter, or who shall obstruct or otherwise interfere with the director of labor and training or his or her representative while engaged in the performance of their duties, shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year, or be fined a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

(2) The preceding provision in no way shall limit the authority of the state to impose such other penalties as may be deemed appropriate for other offenses by any person against any employee or other representative of the division of occupational safety while engaged in the performance of his or her duties.

(i) Any person that shall use or allow to be used any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter before a certificate of inspection has been issued, or after the certificate has been revoked or after use of the elevator or other device has been prohibited shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Any owner that shall use or allow to be used any elevator or other device and fails to conspicuously post, within the required frame, a valid certificate of operation when issued shall be assessed a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100).

(j)(1) Any person, firm, or corporation who installs or constructs, or attempts to install or construct, any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter without having first obtained a permit to install or construct and without paying the required fee; or (2) any person, firm, or corporation that shall repair or maintain or attempt to repair or maintain any elevator or other device subject to the provisions of this chapter without being licensed pursuant to §23-33-2.3, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and all such work shall be stopped until the required permit or license has been obtained.

(k) The director shall have the authority to propose all civil penalties provided in this section, consideration to the appropriateness of the penalty with respect to the size of the business of the owner being charged, and the history of previous violations. The review board shall have the authority to review or modify proposed assessments of penalty.

(l) For purposes of this section, a serious violation shall be deemed to exist if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition which exists, or from one or more practices or processes which have been adopted or are in use, unless the owner could not with the exercise of reasonable diligence know of the presence of the violation.

(m) Civil penalties due under this chapter shall be paid to the director for deposit into the restricted receipt account established for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter.

(n) The director or the chief of the division of occupational safety may make complaint to the justice or clerk of any district court within whose jurisdiction any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall occur, and shall not be required to give surety for costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-12 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-12
§ 23-25-12. Licenses for commercial applicators  Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

(a) No commercial applicator shall apply any pesticide classified for general use by EPA or the director unless that application is by or under the direct supervision of a person certified under § 23-25-13 or licensed under this section; provided, that the application may be made without compliance with § 23-25-13 or this section on land owned or rented by the applicator or his or her employer.

(b) The director is authorized to adopt rules and regulations, including but not limited to regulations:

(1) Establishing procedures for filing a license application, applicant qualifications, license classifications if necessary, standards, and the scope and types of examinations necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter;

(2) Establishing license fees not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00);

(3) Establishing the term during which a license remains valid (unless suspended or revoked for cause), expiration dates, credentials, and requirements for renewal (which may include reexamination if deemed necessary);

(4) Enabling the transfer of existing licenses to classifications established under this section with or without re-examination;

(5) Establishing limits of liability covering the applicants spraying operations;

(6) Requiring the display of a decal, indicating that the applicant has met the requirements of this chapter, in a prominent place on any vehicle used in the applicants spraying operations;

(7) Prescribing exceptions for utility and other employees who are not normally involved in pesticide applications but who may find it necessary when performing their normal tasks to use a general use pesticide to protect themselves from attacks by wasps, hornets, or other biting or stinging insects.

(c) If the director does not qualify an applicant for a license or renewal or suspends or revokes a license for any violation under this chapter, the director shall inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for revocation and, if requested, provide opportunity for a hearing before the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-33 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-33
§ 23-19-33. Bonus incentive program.
Status: in_force

The corporation shall create and manage a program providing for incentive payments of one hundred dollars ($100) each to anyone who submits a plan or program which is eventually implemented by the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation or by any person, agency, or corporation contributing to the flow of solid waste materials into the system, which would in any manner significantly reduce the flow of solid waste within this state, or provide for more efficient recycling or re-use of any solid waste materials, or in any other manner impact beneficially upon the management and control of solid waste materials.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-18 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-18
§ 23-17-18. Obtaining treatment or services under false pretenses.
Status: in_force

Any person who shall obtain medical or surgical or obstetrical treatment, under false representations of his or her financial condition, from any health care facility, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both, in the discretion of the court, for each offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-63-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-63 / Section 23-63-6
§ 23-63-6. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-16 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-16
§ 23-1-16. Receipt and use of funds.
Status: in_force

(a) The state department of health shall have authority to receive and expend any funds which may become available from the federal government for public health purposes whenever it is so authorized by the governor. The department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall have authority:

(1) To meet those federal requirements with respect to the administration of those funds that may be set forth as conditions precedent to receiving those federal funds;

(2) To enter into and execute contracts to perform services for which the state may be compensated from the federal government for public health services, and

(3) To meet federal requirements with respect to the execution of public health services contracts between the federal government and the state.

(b) To carry out the purposes of this chapter, the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall also have the authority to receive and expend monies from any other sources, public or private, including but not limited to legislative enactments, bond issues, gifts, devises, grants, bequests, or donations. The department of health, with the approval of the governor, is authorized to enter into any contracts necessary to obtain and expend those funds.

(c) All monies received by the state department of health from any federal agency, department, or any other source, as provided in this section, shall be paid into the state treasury and shall be for the use of the department of health. The monies so received shall be used solely for the purposes for which the grant or grants shall have been made and for no other purpose.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-11.4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-11.4
§ 23-19-11.4. Initial resource recovery facilities.
Status: in_force

In view of the criticality of the solid waste disposal problem in the state, the procurement of the statutorily mandated Central Falls resource recovery facilities included in the initial resource recovery system shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 2 of title 37.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-14 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-14
§ 23-4-14. Preservation of reports  Tabular reports.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of health shall cause the returns received by the office of state medical examiners and reports made by that office on causes of death for each year, in accordance with this chapter, to be bound together with an index to the volume. The director of health in his or her capacity as ex officio state registrar shall prepare or cause to be prepared from the returns tabular results that will render them of practical utility, and shall annually report thereof in connection with the report of births, marriages, and deaths required by chapter 3 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13-19 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-13 / Section 23-13-19
§ 23-13-19. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing.
Status: in_force

(a) Every physician or healthcare provider attending any person for prenatal care or family planning services shall include HIV screening consistent with the provisions of chapter 23-6.3.

(b)  (i) [Deleted by P.L. 2009, ch. 196, § 6 and P.L. 2009, ch. 289, § 6.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-38-2.2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-38 / Section 23-38-2.2
§ 23-38-2.2. Readily removable caps, lids, or rings.
Status: in_force

(a) No beverage shall be sold, offered for sale, or distributed within the state in a plastic container composed of more than one resin, excluding the cap, lid, or ring for the container. The cap, lid, or ring of the container shall be readily removable from the body of the container.

(b) This section shall not apply to containers that are recycled or can be demonstrated to be recyclable, or if the manufacturer can show that more than one resin is necessary to preserve product integrity.

(c) The department of environmental management shall promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-1
§ 23-4-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) Assistant medical examiner means a duly licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy appointed to assist the office of state medical examiners on a part-time basis.

(b) Autopsy means the dissection of a dead body and the removal and examination of bone, tissue, organs, and foreign objects for the purpose of determining the condition of the body and the cause and the manner of the death.

(c) Cause of death means the agent that has directly or indirectly resulted in a death.

(d) Inquest means an official judicial inquiry before a medical examiner and/or medical examiners jury for the purpose of determining the manner of death.

(e) Manner of death means the means or fatal agency that caused a death.

(f) Postmortem examination means examination after death and includes an examination of the dead body and surroundings by an agent of the office of state medical examiners but does not include dissection of the body for any purpose.

(g) Work product means preliminary drafts, notes, impressions, memoranda, working papers, and similar documents of a governmental entity, whether in electronic or other format.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-74-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-74 / Section 23-74-6
§ 23-74-6. Evidence in actions.
Status: in_force

In any disciplinary action alleging a professional violation of the provisions of this chapter, a copy of the judgment or proceeding under the seal of the court administrator or clerk of the administrative agency that entered the judgment or proceeding is admissible into evidence without further authentication and constitutes prima facie evidence of its contents.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-81-3.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-81 / Section 23-81-3.1
§ 23-81-3.1. Establishment of health care planning and accountability advisory council.
Status: in_force

Contingent upon funding:

(a) The health care planning and accountability advisory council shall be appointed by the secretary of the executive office of health and human services and the health insurance commissioner, no later than September 30, 2011, to develop and promote recommendations on the health care system in the form of health planning documents described in subsection 23-81-4(a).

(b) The secretary of the executive office of health and human services and the health insurance commissioner shall serve as co-chairs of the health care planning council.

(c) The department of health, in coordination with the executive office of health and human services and the office of the health insurance commissioner, shall be the principal staff agency of the council to develop analysis of the health care system for use by the council, including, but not limited to, health planning studies and health plan documents; making recommendations for the council to consider for adoption, modification and promotion; and ensuring the continuous and efficient functioning of the health care planning council.

(d) The health care planning council shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Five (5) consumer representatives. A consumer is defined as someone who does not directly or through a spouse or partner receive any of his/her livelihood from the health care system. Consumers may be nominated from the labor unions in Rhode Island; the health care consumer advocacy organizations in Rhode Island, the business community; and organizations representing the minority community who have an understanding of the linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing health care in Rhode Island;

(2) One hospital CEO nominated from among the hospitals in Rhode Island;

(3) One physician nominated from among the primary care specialty societies in Rhode Island;

(4) One physician nominated from among the specialty physician organizations in Rhode Island;

(5) One nurse or allied health professional nominated from among their state trade organizations in Rhode Island;

(6) One practicing nursing home administrator, nominated by a long-term care provider organization in Rhode Island;

(7) One provider from among the community mental health centers in Rhode Island;

(8) One representative from among the community health centers of Rhode Island;

(9) One person from a health professional learning institution located in Rhode Island;

(10) Director of the Department of Health;

(11) Director of the department of human services or designee;

(12) CEOs of each health insurance company that administers the health insurance of ten percent (10%) or more of insured Rhode Islanders;

(13) The speaker of the house or designee;

(14) The house minority leader or designee;

(15) The president of the senate or designee;

(16) The senate minority leader or designee; and

(17) The health care advocate of the department of the attorney general.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-33 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-33
§ 23-25-33. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provisions of this chapter are declared unconstitutional or the applicability of these provisions to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this chapter and applicability of this chapter to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected by this invalidity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-3.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-3.1
§ 23-4-3.1. Immunity.
Status: in_force

No member of the multidisciplinary teams shall be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including, but not limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business, occupational, or professional licensing board or entity (and, for members who are state employees, termination or loss of employee or pension benefits), for acting in accordance with § 23-4-3.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-12 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-12
§ 23-23-12. Tests.
Status: in_force

Whenever the director has reason to believe that emission is occurring in excess of that permitted under any rule, regulation, or order made under this chapter, the director may, without hearing, conduct tests to determine the emission of air contaminants from premises, buildings, or other places belonging to or controlled by any person, or to require the person to provide any information as he or she may request regarding this emission. The person owning or controlling the premises, building, or other place to be tested shall provide the director or his or her representatives or consultants access during working hours. The director, his or her representatives, or consultants shall be empowered to erect scaffolding and to provide necessary holes and stack or duct work or other sampling and test facilities. The director may specify the testing method to be used by qualified personnel in accordance with good professional practice, and should that test show that a violation of a rule or regulation made under this chapter any order of the director was occurring, the person shall pay in addition to any other regulatory, civil, and/or criminal penalties the entire cost of the test or tests and an additional administrative fine of up to one hundred percent (100%) of the cost of the test or tests. Those costs and fines shall be deposited as general revenues.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-16 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-16
§ 23-25-16. Monitoring of environment.
Status: in_force

(a) As part of his or her responsibility in administering this chapter, the director will carry out a program of monitoring the amounts of pesticides throughout the environment in the state. Portions of the environment to be monitored will include but will not be limited to: fresh and salt waters of the state; soils; crops intended for human or animal consumption; places where food is served commercially or in institutions and where food for human or animal consumption is handled, stored, transported, prepared, or processed; and wildlife.

(b) Results of the monitoring program will be reviewed at least annually by the pesticide relief advisory board.

(c) In carrying out the provisions of this section, the director may enter into agreements with public or private agencies to secure any technical assistance it deems necessary.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-7
§ 23-1-7. Industrial hygiene.
Status: in_force

The department of health and director of health shall perform the functions relating to industrial hygiene, which shall include the following:

(1) The study of the problems of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases in industry;

(2) Recommendation to the general assembly of those measures that study and experience may demonstrate to be advisable; and

(3) The maintenance of proper records of its activities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-19 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-19
§ 23-17-19. Injunction to restrain operation without license.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the existence or pursuit of any other remedy, the licensing agency may, in the manner provided by law upon the advice of the attorney general who shall represent the licensing agency in the proceedings, maintain an action in the name of the state for injunction or other process against any person to restrain or prevent the establishment, conduct, management, or operation of a health care facility without a license under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-4
§ 23-19-4. Legislative purposes of Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.
Status: in_force

(a) In furtherance of these policies, it is the intent of this legislation to create a solid waste management corporation, as defined in this chapter.

(b) The corporation will prepare and implement a plan for an integrated statewide system of solid waste management facilities which plan shall define the states disposal needs and define the manner to meet the needs in accordance with the requirements of this chapter. Capacity, maximizing the use of source reduction, reuse, and recycling at public and private facilities shall be considered when assessing state need. No public facility shall be constructed unless need is established pursuant to the plan. The plan shall be reviewed and adopted as an element of the state guide plan by the state planning council.

(c) The facilities and services of the corporation shall be used by persons and municipalities within the state, and the corporation may require all persons and municipalities therein to use the services and facilities of the corporation under terms and conditions that the corporation shall reasonably fix and establish. This section shall not be construed, however, to affect or impair any valid contract for disposal of municipal waste in effect on March 1, 1985, until expiration at the end of the original term of the contract or any extension approved by the corporation or sooner termination of the contract, or the right of any municipality to continue the operation of its own landfill facility which is in use on December 1, 1986.

(d) The corporation will make its waste management facilities available under contract to any municipality, institution, or person at reasonable fees established by the corporation.

(e) Any revenues received by the corporation through the fees it charges for the use of facilities and services, from state subsidies, or through the sale of the material and energy resources recovered from the wastes it processes in the solid waste facilities within its jurisdiction, shall be used by the corporation to finance its administrative costs, its contractual costs, and other costs imposed by law, and to discharge its indebtedness and other obligations and to otherwise provide the financial support that is required for the corporation to maintain financial solvency.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-55 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-55
§ 23-17-55. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or the application of it to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-3
§ 23-23-3. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall, where the context permits, be construed as follows:

(1) Air contaminant means soot, cinders, ashes, any dust, fumes, gas, mist, smoke, vapor, odor, toxic or radioactive material, particulate matter, or any combination of these.

(2) Air pollution means presence in the outdoor atmosphere of one or more air contaminants in sufficient quantities that either alone or in connection with other emissions by reason of their concentration and duration, may be injurious to human, plant, or animal life or cause damage to property or unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life and property.

(3) Director means the director of environmental management or any subordinate or subordinates to whom he or she has delegated the powers and duties vested in him or her by this chapter.

(4) Extremely toxic air contaminant means any air contaminant that has been classified as a potential carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or the National Toxicology Program (NTP); or any air contaminant that induces mutagenic or teratogenic effects; or any air contaminant that, when inhaled, has caused significant chronic adverse effects in test animals; or any air contaminant having an acute toxicity of:

(i) LD50 (oral) less than 500mg/kg;

(ii) LD50 (inhalation) less than 2000ppm; or

(iii) LD50 (dermal) less than 1000mg/kg;

and/or has been adopted by the director pursuant to the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42. In addition to the above, it may also include any hazardous air pollutant as defined in §112(b) of the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7412(b).

(5) Motor vehicle means every vehicle that is self-propelled and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved exclusively by human power and motorized wheelchairs.

(6) Open fire means any fire from which the products of combustion are emitted directly into the open air without passing through a stack or chimney.

(7) Person means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation (including a quasi-governmental corporation), partnership, association, syndicate, municipality, municipal or state agency, fire district, club, non-profit agency or any subdivision, commission, department, bureau, agency, or department of state or federal government (including quasi-government corporation), or of any interstate body.

(8) Manufactured, unwashed sand means product resulting from the mechanical crushing of rock, boulders, or large cobblestones that has a gradation of fifty percent (50%) or more of coarse fraction passing the No. 4 sieve as referenced in the Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System) and American Society of Testing and Materials Designations D-2487-06 which has not been subject to a mechanical process (using water) that is designed to substantially remove fine fractions passing the No. 200 sieve.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-9-14 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-9 / Section 23-9-14
§ 23-9-14. Hoisting of quarantine colors.
Status: in_force

The commander of a vessel as described in this chapter, on his or her arrival in any of the waters of the state, shall immediately hoist and keep his or her colors in the shrouds of that vessel as a signal that he or she has come from some infected place or has infection or contagion on board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-99-13 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-99 / Section 23-99-13
§ 23-99-13. Lien status  Recording.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision of any other law, including the uniform commercial code:

(1) Any pledge or assignment of revenues of any kind, funds, property, or assets made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter by the hub shall be valid and binding against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise, whether or not the parties have notice thereof, and shall be deemed continuously perfected from the time it is made;

(2) The revenues, funds, property, or assets, rights therein and thereto and proceeds so pledged and then held or thereafter acquired or received by the hub shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery or segregation thereof or further act;

(3) No filing of any kind with respect to a pledge or assignment need be made under the uniform commercial code, as amended, or otherwise; and

(4) For the purposes of this section, the word pledge shall be construed to include the grant of a security interest under the uniform commercial code.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-2
§ 23-18-2. Location of mausoleums and columbaria.
Status: in_force

Every community mausoleum, other than structures containing crypts erected or controlled by churches and religious societies, and every columbarium, or other similar structure intended to hold or contain the bodies or remains of the dead, the spaces, crypts, or niches of which are available to the public, shall be located only within the confines of an established cemetery.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-8
§ 23-4-8. Procedure for investigation of deaths.
Status: in_force

(a) When the office of state medical examiners has notice that there has been found or is lying within this state the body of a person who is supposed to have come to his or her death by violence, or in any manner as stated in § 23-4-7, an agent of the office of state medical examiners shall immediately proceed to the place where the body lies and take charge of it, view it, and make personal inquiry into the cause and manner of death. If the body is found at the residence of the deceased, the agent of the office of state medical examiners shall not remove the body from the residence unless necessary for further postmortem examination or autopsy.

(b) A health care facility shall disclose any and all information in its possession requested by the state medical examiner or his or her agent in connection with the investigation of the death of a current or former patient to the extent necessary to assist the medical examiner in determining the cause of death.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-74-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-74 / Section 23-74-2
§ 23-74-2. Maltreatment of minors prohibited.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall restrict the ability of a local law enforcement agency or the director of the department of children, youth and families to take action regarding the maltreatment of minors. A parent who obtains unlicensed health care for the parents minor child is not relieved of the duty to seek necessary medical care consistent with the requirements of the general laws. A complementary or alternative health care practitioner who is providing services to a child shall be subject to the reporting provisions of chapter 11 of title 40, entitled Abused and Neglected Children.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13-13 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-13 / Section 23-13-13
§ 23-13-13. Testing for hearing impairments.
Status: in_force

(a) It is declared to be the public policy of this state that every newborn infant be evaluated by procedures approved by the state department of health for the detection of hearing impairments, in order to prevent many of the consequences of these disorders. No hearing impairment test shall be made as to any newborn infant if the parents of that child object to the test on the grounds that a hearing impairment test would conflict with their religious tenets or practices.

(b) The physician attending a newborn child shall cause the child to be subject to hearing impairment tests as described in department of health regulations.

(c) In addition, the department of health is authorized to establish by rules and regulations a reasonable fee structure for hearing impairment testing to cover program costs not otherwise covered by federal grant funds specifically secured for this purpose. This testing shall be a covered benefit reimbursable by all health insurers, as defined in § 27-38.2-2(1) except for supplemental policies that only provide coverage for specific diseases, hospital indemnity, Medicare supplement, or other supplemental policies. The department of human services shall pay for hearing impairment testing when the patient is eligible for medical assistance under the provisions of chapter 8 of title 40. In the absence of a third party payor the charges for hearing impairment testing shall be paid by the hospital or other health care facility where the birth occurred. Nothing in this section shall preclude the hospital or health care facility from billing the patient directly. Those fees shall be deposited into a restricted receipt account entitled the newborn screening account.

(d) There is created a hearing impairments testing advisory committee which shall advise the director of the department of health regarding the validity and cost of testing procedures. That advisory committee shall:

(1) Meet at least four (4) times per year;

(2) Be chaired by the director or his or her designee;

(3) Be composed of seven (7) members appointed by the director from the following professions or organizations:

(i) A representative of the health insurance industry;

(ii) A pediatrician, designated by the R.I. chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;

(iii) An audiologist, designated by the R.I. chapter of the American Speech and Hearing Association;

(iv) Two (2) representatives of hospital neonatal nurseries;

(v) A representative of special education designated by the department of elementary and secondary education; and

(vi) The director of health or his or her designee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-15-6.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-15 / Section 23-15-6.1
§ 23-15-6.1. Action subsequent to review.
Status: in_force

Development of any new institutional health services or new health care equipment approved by the state agency must be initiated within one year of the date of the approval and may not exceed the maximum amount of capital expenditures specified in the decision of the state agency without prior authorization of the state agency. The state agency, with the advice of the health services council, shall adopt procedures for the review of the applicants failure to develop new institutional health services or new health care equipment within the timeframe and capital limitation stipulated in this section, and for the withdrawal of approval in the absence of a good faith effort to meet the stipulated timeframe.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-78-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-78 / Section 23-78-1
§ 23-78-1. Rhode Island Comprehensive Stroke Prevention and Treatment Act of 2004  Purpose and declarations.
Status: in_force

(a) The Rhode Island general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that stroke is a leading cause of death and permanent, long-term disability in Rhode Island and that currently available prevention and treatment strategies could reduce the number of deaths and disabilities caused by strokes.

(b) The Rhode Island general assembly further finds that the establishment of a stroke task force will ensure that state-of-the-art information on stroke education, prevention, and treatment is available to healthcare providers and patients. This task force will serve as a consensus group designed to coordinate efforts in stroke treatment and prevention, including bringing additional monies to the state to fund improvements.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-22 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-22
§ 23-17-22. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the provisions or application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-5.3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-5.3
§ 23-23-5.3. Advisory commission created.
Status: in_force

(a) There is created an operating permits advisory commission. The advisory commission shall consist of the director of the department of environmental management, or his or her designee, and six (6) additional members who shall be appointed as follows: three (3) members by the governor, two (2) of whom shall be members of the regulated community, and one of whom shall be a member of an environmental citizens group registered as a nonbusiness corporation in the state; one by the speaker of the house; one by the president of the senate; and one jointly by the house minority leader and the senate minority leader, who shall be a member of the minority party. A chairperson and vice chairperson shall be elected by the members of the commission. The director of the department of environmental management shall be the secretary of the advisory commission.

(b) The duties of the operating permits advisory commission shall be to review, advise, and evaluate the collection of operating fees pursuant to § 23-23-5(18) and the development and administration of the operating permit program. The commission shall conduct or commission an annual program review. The annual program review shall, at a minimum, examine staffing and resource needs, permit program efficiency, and cost requirements. The cost of conducting the activities of the advisory commission, including the cost of the annual program review, shall be paid from the clean air operating permit fee fund. The commission shall meet quarterly. The advisory commission shall have the authority to request and obtain all information from the department necessary to perform its responsibilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-102-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-102 / Section 23-102-1
§ 23-102-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words shall be construed as follows unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) Behavioral health means treatment and services for mental health and substance use disorders.

(2) Eligible organization(s) means the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of RI, and any other organization certified pursuant to the provisions of § 23-102-2.

(3) Eligible services means the programs used for educational purposes, training, and coordination of mental health or substance use disorder treatment providers.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-12-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-12 / Section 23-12-4
§ 23-12-4. Central cancer registry  Reports.
Status: in_force

(a) The state director of health may enter into a contract with a non-profit organization to establish a registry to record certain cases of malignant disease that occur in residents of the state, and any appropriate information concerning these cases that it shall deem necessary and appropriate in order to conduct epidemiologic surveys of cancer and to apply appropriate preventive and control measures.

(b) The state director of health shall require the reporting of certain cases of malignant disease and the submission of any specified additional information on reported cases or control populations that he or she deems necessary and appropriate for the recognition, prevention, or control of certain cases of malignant diseases.

(c) The central cancer registry shall maintain comprehensive records of all reports submitted pursuant to this section. These reports shall be confidential in accordance with chapter 37.3 of title 5 and subject to the restrictions on release incorporated in that chapter.

(d) The state director of health shall conduct those activities to prevent and control cancer among the residents of the state that he or she shall deem necessary and appropriate and as are indicated from the findings of the central cancer registry.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to compel any individual to submit to medical or department examination or supervision.

(f) The department shall make rules and regulations that are necessary to implement the provisions of this section pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42.

(g) The general assembly shall annually appropriate the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) for the support of the central cancer registry.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-39.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-39.1
§ 23-1-39.1. Laser pointing device.
Status: in_force

(a) For purposes of this section, laser pointing device means any hand held device that emits light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation which is visible to the human eye.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to focus, point, or shine a laser beam on another person or an animal in a manner that is intended to alarm, annoy, harass, or harm the person or animal.

(c) No person, firm, corporation, or association shall sell, offer to sell, lease, give, or otherwise provide a laser pointing device to any person under eighteen (18) years of age.

(d) No person, firm, corporation, or association engaged in the sale of laser pointing devices shall display, hold, store, or offer for sale laser pointing devices unless these devices are securely contained within a sealed or locked case, or located behind a service counter, or stored in any other manner which restricts access to the laser pointing devices by customers and/or the general public.

(e) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (b) or any person, firm, corporation, or association who violates subsection (c) of this section shall, upon a first conviction, be deemed guilty of a violation and fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), and upon a second or subsequent conviction, shall be deemed guilty of a petty misdemeanor and fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) and/or imprisoned for not more than six (6) months. Any person, firm, corporation, or association who violates the provisions of subsection (d) shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100).

(f) This section shall not apply to members of the Rhode Island state police or to members of any city or town police department or any state or federal law enforcement officer in the performance of their official duties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-68-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-68 / Section 23-68-8
§ 23-68-8. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-60 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-60
§ 23-17-60. Compilation and publication of the charges for common hospital procedures.
Status: in_force

(a) Each hospital, licensed under this chapter, shall compile a list of its twenty-five (25) most commonly performed outpatient procedures and shall submit annually to the department of health a list of the range of average charges for each procedure, in a uniform reporting form adopted by the department.

(b) The department shall establish a list of the twenty-five (25) most commonly performed inpatient procedures in Rhode Island hospitals, as organized by a Medicare diagnostic-related group. The department of health shall annually develop a list of each hospitals range of average charges for those procedures. The department shall publish this compiled information on its website.

(c) Each hospital shall provide a copy of the lists described in subsections (a) and (b) to any person upon request.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-101-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-101 / Section 23-101-5
§ 23-101-5. Testimony, documents, and subpoenas.
Status: in_force

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter or court rule to the contrary, except as required by federal law, a court may not order a person who is domiciled or found within this state to give testimony or a statement or produce documents or other things with any proceeding in a tribunal outside this state concerning hostile litigation.

(b) Any person in this state upon whom a subpoena seeking information concerning legally protected healthcare activity is served by any state or federal court in connection with hostile litigation, may move to modify or quash such subpoena on any grounds provided by court rule, statute, or on the grounds that the subpoena is inconsistent with the public policy as set out in this act.

(c) Except as required by federal law, a judicial officer may not issue a summons in a case where prosecution is pending concerning legally protected healthcare activity, or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity, or where a grand jury investigation concerning legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity has commenced or is about to commence for a criminal violation of a law of such other state unless the acts forming the basis of the prosecution or investigation would also constitute an offense if occurring entirely in this state.

(d) A judge, clerk, or official may not issue a subpoena if the subpoena is sought to be issued in connection with hostile litigation.

(e) A business entity that is incorporated, or has its principal place of business, in this state may not:

(1) Knowingly provide records, information, facilities, or assistance in response to an out-of-state subpoena, warrant, court order, or other civil or criminal legal process that the business entity has reason to believe relates to an investigation into, or the enforcement of, another states law that asserts criminal or civil liability for legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare; or

(2) Comply with an out-of-state subpoena, warrant, court order, or other civil or criminal legal process for records, information, facilities, or assistance that the business entity has reason to believe relates to legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare.

(3) Any business entity described in subsection (e)(1) or (e)(2) of this section that is served with an out-of-state subpoena, warrant, court order, or other civil or criminal legal process described in subsection (e)(1) or (e)(2) of this section is entitled to request an attestation, made under penalty of perjury, stating that the subpoena, warrant, court order, or other civil or criminal legal process does not seek documents, information, or testimony relating to an investigation into, or the enforcement of, another states law that asserts criminal or civil liability for legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity, before providing records, information, facilities, or assistance.

(f) Any false attestation submitted under this section is subject to a statutory penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation. Submission of such attestation subjects the attester to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for any suit, penalty, or damages arising out of a false attestation under this section. The business entity is entitled to rely on the representations made in an attestation described in subsection (e)(3) of this section in determining whether the out-of-state subpoena, warrant, court order, or other civil or criminal legal process relates to an investigation into, or the enforcement of, another states law that asserts criminal or civil liability for legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-6-9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-6 / Section 23-6-9
§ 23-6-9. Abatement of unauthorized hospital or camp.
Status: in_force

Any hospital, camp, or other establishment, as described in § 23-6-8 established without the authority may be abated as a nuisance by any court of competent jurisdiction.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-24-9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-24 / Section 23-24-9
§ 23-24-9. Style of enforcement procedures  Subpoenas.
Status: in_force

All criminal proceedings and all libel or injunction proceedings for the enforcement, or to restrain violations, of this chapter shall be by and in the name of the state. Subpoenas for witnesses who are required to attend a court of the state in any district or county may run into any other district or county in any proceeding.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-93-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-93 / Section 23-93-2
§ 23-93-2. Exemption for domestic medical tourism.
Status: in_force

(a) Any healthcare facility located in the state of Rhode Island specializing in domestic medical tourism, and having more than fifty percent (50%) of its patients residing outside of the state; or, until July 1, 2015, any in-state hospital licensed under chapter 17 of title 23; or in-state healthcare facility under common ownership with an in-state hospital licensed under chapter 17 of title 23, shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 15 of title 23; provided, however, that such healthcare facility must comply with all other applicable laws and regulations governing healthcare facilities. Any applicant not compliant shall have thirty (30) days to comply with this section and any applicable regulations governing this section.

(b) Any healthcare facility described in subsection (a) shall, on a biennial basis, certify to the department that more than fifty percent (50%) of its patients reside outside of the state.

(c) Any healthcare facility exempt under subsection (a) that fails to certify under subsection (b), or is otherwise found by the department to have not established that more than fifty percent (50%) of its patients currently reside outside of the state, shall be required to apply for a certificate of need during the next review cycle established by the health services council.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-13 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-13
§ 23-23-13. Plans and records.
Status: in_force

Upon request of the director, any person owning or operating a source of air pollution which has the potential to emit any air contaminant, or any person owning or operating a source of air pollution which the director has reason to believe is emitting any extremely toxic air contaminant, that meets the definition in § 23-23-3 but may not have been adopted by the director, or any person owning or operating any air pollution control system shall keep accurate records of operation as may be specified by the director and shall submit these records of operation and a plan and statement or true copies of them, describing all the systems or sources owned or controlled by him or her. Those statements, records, plans and descriptions shall be signed by the person or his or her agent and may be submitted to the department as trade secret or proprietary information to the extent that protection is available under the public records act of title 38.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-14 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-14
§ 23-33-14. Reports of refusal or cancellation of insurance.
Status: in_force

Every authorized inspector holding a permit from the chief shall immediately report to the chief the name of the owner or user and the location of every elevator or escalator on which insurance has been refused, cancelled, or discontinued because of existing dangerous defects, and shall within a reasonable time report all other refusals, cancellations, and discontinuances.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-26-23 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-26 / Section 23-26-23
§ 23-26-23. Acceptance of inspection stamps of other states.
Status: in_force

Inspection stamps of the same value issued by another state shall be accepted in this state in lieu of the stamps required by this chapter, when attached to an article of bedding, before shipment from the other state, upon satisfactory proof to the director that the requirements in the other state as to quality and inspection of manufactured articles and materials are substantially equal to the requirements of this state; provided, that the stamps of this state are likewise accepted in the other state when attached to articles or materials manufactured in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-10.2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-10.2
§ 23-18-10.2. Exemption from liability.
Status: in_force

(a) A city, town, or public body shall not be held civilly liable for any breach of duty resulting in injury to the person or damage to the property or any person who voluntarily and without compensation, undertakes to maintain or to repair any designated historical cemetery pursuant to § 23-18-10.1, provided that nothing in this section shall eliminate or limit the liability of a city, town, or public body:

(1) For acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or

(2) For any malicious, willful, or wanton act.

(b) A private landowner permitting access over his or her property to a historical cemetery for the purpose of voluntary maintenance or repair of the cemetery shall not be held civilly liable for any breach of duty resulting in injury to the person or damage to the property of those seeking to repair or maintain the cemetery.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-22 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-22
§ 23-19-22. Notes and bonds as legal investments.
Status: in_force

The notes and bonds of the corporation shall be legal investments in which all public officers and public bodies of this state, its political subdivisions, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, banking institutions including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, trust companies, savings banks and savings associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or in other obligations of the state, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. The notes and bonds are also made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by all public officers and bodies of the state or any agency or political subdivision of the state and all municipalities and public corporations, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the state is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-13.3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-13.3
§ 23-19-13.3. Prohibiting business due to conviction of certain acts.
Status: in_force

Any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of collecting and/or disposing of solid waste, which has been convicted of violating any statute relating to bribery, fraud, or bid-rigging in this state or in any other state in this country, shall for a period of three (3) years from the date of conviction, be prohibited from doing business in this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-104-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-104 / Section 23-104-3
§ 23-104-3. Authority.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of health or the directors designee are authorized to oversee compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-63-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-63 / Section 23-63-1
§ 23-63-1. Legislative findings and policy.
Status: in_force

The general assembly finds and declares that accumulation of stored used vehicle tires and the disposal of the tires by land filling present an unacceptable risk to the public health and safety, and that it is necessary to control disposal and promote safe recycling or recovery of the tires. The general assembly also recognizes: (1) that the stockpiling of whole vehicle tires poses unacceptable risks to the environment and public health, (2) that the haphazard dumping of vehicle tires in Rhode Island is both unsightly and environmentally unsound, (3) that used vehicle tires represent a form of recyclable waste which should, for the purpose of reuse, be fully segregated from solid waste, and (4) that the state should take every reasonable step to ensure that recycling is pursued as the preferred method of handling waste tires.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-10.3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-10.3
§ 23-17-10.3. Special care unit disclosure by facilities.
Status: in_force

(a) Any nursing facility which offers to provide or provides care for patients or residents with Alzheimers disease or other dementia by means of an Alzheimers special care unit shall be required to disclose the form of care or treatment provided, in addition to that care and treatment required by the rules and regulations for the licensing of nursing facilities. That disclosure shall be made to the licensing agency and to any person seeking placement in an Alzheimers special care unit of a nursing facility. The information disclosed shall explain the additional care provided in each of the following areas:

(1) Philosophy. The Alzheimers special care units written statement of its overall philosophy and mission which reflects the needs of residents with dementia.

(2) Pre-admission, admission, and discharge. The process and criteria for placement, transfer or discharge from the unit.

(3) Assessment, care planning, and implementation. The process used for assessment and establishing the plan of care and its implementation, including the method by which the plan of care evolves and is responsive to changes in condition.

(4) Staffing patterns and training ratios. Staff training and continuing education practices.

(5) Physical environment. The physical environment and design features appropriate to support the functioning of cognitively impaired adult residents.

(6) Residents activities. The frequency and types of resident activities.

(7) Family role in care. The involvement of families and family support programs.

(8) Program costs. The cost of care and any additional fees.

(b) The licensing agency shall develop a standard disclosure form and shall review the information provided on the disclosure form by the nursing facility to verify the accuracy of the information reported on it. Any significant changes in the information provided by the nursing facility will be reported to the licensing agency at the time the changes are made.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-66-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-66 / Section 23-66-2
§ 23-66-2. Assessment.
Status: in_force

Any party or parties wishing to construct and operate a new sewage sludge incineration facility (hereinafter called the proponent) shall complete an assessment. The assessment shall comply with the requirements listed within this chapter as well as any rules, regulations and/or guidance pertaining to the assessment issued by the department of environmental management.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-26-7.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-26 / Section 23-26-7.1
§ 23-26-7.1. Sterilization, disinfection, and disinfestation of bedding and materials.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall sell, offer for sale, or include in a sale any item of secondhand bedding or any item of bedding of any type manufactured in whole or in part from secondhand material, including their component parts or wiping rags, unless such material has been sterilized, disinfected, and cleaned, by a method approved by the department of business regulation; provided, further, that any product used for sterilization or disinfection of secondhand bedding must be registered as consumer and health benefit products and labeled for use on bedding and upholstered furniture by the EPA in accordance with § 23-25-6. The department of business regulation shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this chapter.

(b) No person shall use in the manufacture, repair, and renovation of bedding of any type any material that has been used by a person with an infectious or contagious disease, or that is filthy, oily, or harbors loathsome insects or pathogenic bacteria.

(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, or include in a sale any material or bedding that under the provisions of this chapter or regulations requires treatment unless there is securely attached in accordance with regulations, a yellow tag not less than twelve square inches (12 sq. in.) in size, made of substantial cloth or a material of equal quality. Upon the tag there shall be plainly printed, in black ink, in the English language, a statement showing:

(1) That the item or material has been treated by a method approved by the department of business regulation, and the method of treatment applied.

(2) The lot number and the tag number of the item treated.

(3) The registration number of the person applying treatment.

(4) The name and address of the person for whom treated.

(d) The tag required by this section shall be in addition to any other tag required pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Holders of registrations to apply sterilization, disinfection, or disinfestation treatment shall be required to keep an accurate record of all materials which have been subjected to treatment, including the source of material, date of treatment, and the name and address of the receiver of each. Such records shall be available for inspection at any time by authorized representatives of the department.

(e) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-39 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-39
§ 23-17-39. Immunity from liability.
Status: in_force

No employer who disqualifies an individual from employment or continued employment within thirty (30) days of receipt of a letter containing disqualifying information as defined in § 23-17-37 or of a criminal background report relating to the individual shall be liable for civil damages or subject to any claim, demand, cause of action or proceeding of any nature as a result of the disqualification.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-74-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-74 / Section 23-74-3
§ 23-74-3. Professional accountability.
Status: in_force

The department shall maintain and keep current a file containing the reports and complaints filed against unlicensed health care practitioners within the directors jurisdiction. Each complaint filed with the department must be investigated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-28 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-28
§ 23-3-28. Penalties.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Any person who willfully and knowingly makes any false statement in a report, record, or certificate required to be filed under this chapter, or in an application for an amendment of those, or who willfully and knowingly supplies false information intending that this false information be used in the preparation of any report, record, or certificate, or amendment; or

(2) Any person who without lawful authority and with the intent to deceive, makes, alters, amends, or mutilates any report, record, or certificate required to be filed under this chapter or a certified copy of any report, record, or certificate; or

(3) Any person who willfully and knowingly uses or attempts to use, or furnish to another for use, for any purpose of deception, any certificate, record, report, or certified copy thereof so made, altered, amended, or mutilated; or

(4) Any person who with the intention to deceive willfully uses or attempts to use any certificate of birth or certified copy of a record of birth knowing that the certificate or certified copy was issued upon a record which is false in whole or in part or which relates to the birth of another person; or

(5) Any person who willfully and knowingly furnishes a certificate of birth or a certified copy of a record of birth with the intention that it be used by a person other than the person to whom the record of birth relates;

Shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(b)(1) Any person who knowingly transports and accepts for transportation, interment, or other disposition a dead body without an accompanying permit as provided in this chapter; or

(2) Any person who refuses to provide information required by this chapter; or

(3) Any person who willfully neglects or violates any of the provisions of this chapter or refuses to perform any of the duties imposed upon him by this chapter;

Shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) or be imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both fine and imprisonment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-13 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-13
§ 23-4-13. Establishment of fees.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of health shall establish fees for autopsy reports, cremation certificates, and statistics. The director shall also impose fees, at an hourly or daily rate, to give testimony in civil suits under this chapter. All fees are as set forth in § 23-1-54. The director is authorized to establish in regulation reasonable fees for additional documents not otherwise specified in this section. All of these fees shall be collected and deposited as general revenues; provided, however, that no city or town, or any agency or department of a city and town within the state, or the department of human services, shall be required to pay any fees established by the director pursuant to this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-65-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-65 / Section 23-65-5
§ 23-65-5. Certification of public water supply treatment operators.
Status: in_force

It is unlawful for any public water supply system using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water as determined by the director, or any community or non-community non-transient water supply to supply water for human consumption unless the treatment of the water is under the supervision of a superintendent or assistant superintendent who is assigned direct responsibility for the management, operation, and maintenance of the water supply treatment facility during all working shifts at the facility and who shall hold a certificate equal to the grade or classification of the water supply treatment facility, as established by this chapter. In addition, each operator in charge of a shift at a public water supply system using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water as determined by the director, or any community or non-community non-transient water supply must hold a certificate no less than one grade below the classification of the treatment facility. All persons employed to work as an operator at a water treatment facility must be certified to at least the lowest grade of treatment plant operation certification within a year of hire. Violation of this section is considered a violation of the public drinking water supply under chapter 13 of title 46 and water systems shall be subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions of § 46-13-16.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-11 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-11
§ 23-17-11. Abortion and sterilization  Protection for nonparticipation  Procedure.
Status: in_force

A physician or any other person who is a member of or associated with the medical staff of a health care facility or any employee of a health care facility in which an abortion or any sterilization procedure is scheduled, and who shall state in writing an objection to the abortion or sterilization procedure on moral or religious grounds, shall not be required to participate in the medical procedures which result in the abortion or sterilization, and the refusal of the person to participate in the medical procedures shall not form the basis for any claim of damages on account of the refusal or for any disciplinary or recriminatory action against the person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-61-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-61 / Section 23-61-7
§ 23-61-7. Radon inspections.
Status: in_force

(a) The director, or his or her designee, is authorized to inspect any public or high priority building, during business hours, or by appointment at another time agreed to by the inspector and the owner, occupant or other person in charge of the building. The owner, occupant or other person in charge of the building shall, upon presentation of proper identification by the state inspector, for the limited purpose of inspection for elevated radon/radon progeny levels, grant the inspector entry and free access to every part of the building where elevated radon/radon progeny levels may pose a hazard. If any owner, occupant or other person in charge of the building fails or refuses to permit such access and entry to the building under his or her control, or any part thereof, the state inspector may, upon showing that probable cause exists for the inspection and for the issuance of a court order directing compliance with the inspection requirements of this section, petition and obtain an order from a court of competent jurisdiction. Any person refusing to comply with an order issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to such penalties as may be authorized by law for violation of a court order.

(b) The director shall establish regulations requiring the evaluation of all public and high priority buildings for elevated levels of radon/radon progeny and/or adequacy of any radon/radon progeny mitigation activities. The regulations shall require that:

(1) Evaluations be performed by a person licensed or certified in accordance with this chapter;

(2) Results of the evaluations be submitted promptly to the director;

(3) The director shall provide written notice to the building owner when an evaluation indicates that indoor radon or radon progeny levels exceed a standard or guideline established by the director and/or any radon/radon progeny mitigation activities appear to be inadequate. The notice shall include the results of the evaluation and shall require that appropriate mitigation measures be taken to reduce radon/radon progeny levels to meet the standard or guideline within a time frame established by the director.

(4) Once written notice has been provided to the building owner, the director or his or her designee shall inspect the building at any reasonable time for the purpose of reviewing the implementation of a radon/radon progeny mitigation activity subject to § 23-61-5.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-104-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-104 / Section 23-104-8
§ 23-104-8. Safe haven.
Status: in_force

(a) A safe haven is established whereby a clinician who self-refers to the PHP or comparable program shall be protected from mandatory reporting to the professional licensing board.

(b) A PHP or comparable program shall serve as a confidential liaison between the clinician and the professional licensing board when the clinician:

(1) Is actively engaged in a PHP or comparable program; and

(2) Is compliant with treatment.

(c) Licensing boards shall not penalize clinicians solely for seeking assistance unless there is an imminent risk to patient safety.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-96-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-96 / Section 23-96-1
§ 23-96-1. Prohibited practices.
Status: in_force

(a) No person or entity shall intentionally release, intentionally organize the release of, or otherwise intentionally cause the simultaneous release of ten (10) or more balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air, except for:

(1) A balloon released for scientific or meteorological purposes, on behalf of a governmental agency or pursuant to a governmental contract;

(2) A hot air balloon that is recovered after launching; or

(3) A balloon that is released and remains indoors.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-24 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-24
§ 23-33-24. Inspections  Notice of violations.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the compliance inspectors appointed or empowered by law to inspect all elevators and other devices subject to the provisions of this chapter in every building within their jurisdiction in any city or town, and it shall be the duty of the compliance inspectors to notify the lessee and owner, or some one of the owners, of every building in which an elevator or other device shall be used or operated contrary to the provisions of this chapter, of the violation and require the lessee or owner or some one of the owners of the building, within thirty (30) days after the receipt of the notice, to comply with the provisions of those sections, and it shall be the duty of the lessee and owner, or owners, to comply with that requirement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-81-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-81 / Section 23-81-5
§ 23-81-5. Implementation of the council recommendations.
Status: in_force

In order to promote effective implementation of the unified health plan, the council shall recommend to the governor, the general assembly, and other state agencies actions that may be taken to promote and ensure implementation of the councils policy and program guidance. The secretary of the executive office of health and human services and the health insurance commissioner, as co-chairs, of the council, shall use the powers of their offices to implement the recommendations adopted by the council, as deemed appropriate, or as required by the governor or general assembly. The secretary shall coordinate the implementation of the recommended actions by the state agencies within the executive office of health and human services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-5.2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-5.2
§ 23-23-5.2. Mandamus.
Status: in_force

In the event that the director shall fail to issue the permit or deny the license then the applicant or other interested person may petition the superior court to issue its writ of mandamus ordering the director or some suitable person to immediately issue the license or denial.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-11 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-11
§ 23-23-11. Violation required for criminal conviction.
Status: in_force

No person shall be convicted or found liable in any criminal prosecution or at any other proceeding brought by or in behalf of the state, the director or the public to enjoin, suppress, prohibit, or punish air pollution unless he or she knowingly violated a rule or regulation or order of the director, issued under the authority conferred upon him or her by this chapter; provided, that nothing in this section shall be held to affect any civil right action or remedy of any person at law or in equity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-59-11 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-59 / Section 23-59-11
§ 23-59-11. Right of residents to organize  Meetings.
Status: in_force

(a) Residents shall have the right of self-organization. No retaliatory conduct shall be permitted against any resident for membership or participation in a residents organization. The provider shall be required to provide to the organization a copy of all submissions to the department.

(b) The board of directors, its designated representative, or other such governing body of a continuing care facility shall hold meetings at least quarterly with the residents or representatives elected by the residents of the continuing care facility for the purpose of free discussion of issues relating to the facility. Such issues may include income, expenditures, and financial matters as they apply to the facility and proposed changes in policies, programs, facilities, and services. Residents shall be entitled to seven (7) days notice of each meeting.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-15 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-15
§ 23-25-15. Licenses for dealers of restricted and limited use pesticides  Renewal  Regulations authorized  Responsibility for acts of employees.
Status: in_force

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a pesticide dealer, or advertise as, or assume or act as a pesticide dealer at any time without first becoming licensed under this section and regulations adopted under this section. A license shall be required for each location or outlet located within the state from which the pesticides are distributed; provided, that any out-of-state manufacturer, registrant, or distributor who distributes the pesticides only through or to a licensed pesticide dealer is not required to obtain a license.

(b) Credentials verifying licensing shall be plainly exhibited at each location or distribution center situated within the state from which restricted use or state limited use pesticides are distributed. A manufacturer, registrant, or distributor of those pesticides who has no fixed distribution center within the state but who distributes those pesticides directly to certified applicators within the state shall obtain a license for his or her principal out-of-state location or distribution center and for each of his or her representatives who distribute those pesticides within the state.

(c) The director is authorized to adopt regulations, including but not limited to regulations:

(1) Establishing procedures for filing applications for licensing which shall provide names and full addresses of individuals who are distributors, members of principals, officers of firms, partnerships, associations, corporations or organized groups who are distributors, and the full address of each distribution center or outlet, and the name and full address of a person domiciled within the state authorized to receive and accept service of summons or legal notices of all kinds for the applicant, and other information found necessary by the director;

(2) Establishing license expiration dates and procedures for maintaining and submitting records of restricted use pesticide distribution as required under § 23-25-23;

(3) Requiring, if deemed necessary, any out-of-state distributor to obtain a permit to ship any restricted use or state limited use pesticide to any location within the state. Information required to obtain the permit shall include the full name and address of the shipper, the expected delivery date, the brand name, EPA registration number, the quantity of pesticide, the full name and address of the person receiving the shipment, and any other information found necessary by the director. No fee shall be required for the permit;

(4) Requiring a written examination designed to enable the applicant to demonstrate his or her knowledge of the types of information to be found on a pesticide label and that he or she is familiar with state and federal laws governing his or her sale, storage, and distribution of state limited use and restricted use pesticides;

(5) Establishing annual license fees of not more than thirty dollars ($30.00) for each license issued.

(d) Provisions of this section shall not apply to a certified commercial applicator who sells pesticides only as an integral part of his or her pesticide application service when the pesticides are dispensed only through equipment used for the pesticide application or any federal, state, county, or municipal agency which provides pesticides only for its own programs.

(e) The director shall send a renewal application to each licensed pesticide dealer at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date and the director may renew any applicants license subject to further examination by the director if necessary to show additional knowledge that may be required to distribute pesticides classified for restricted use or state limited use.

(f) Licensed pesticide dealers who, in any year, fail to file a renewal application even though they did not receive a mailed renewal application prior to an expiration date established by regulation shall lose their dealers license as of sixty (60) days later and prior to that date shall be notified in writing. Those dealers may regain licensing under this section by re-examination.

(g) Each licensed pesticide dealer shall be responsible for the acts of each person employed by him or her in the solicitation and sale of pesticides and all claims and recommendations for use of pesticides. The dealers license shall be subject to denial, suspension, or revocation after a hearing before the director for any violation of this chapter whether committed by the dealer or by the dealers officer, agent, or employee.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-4
§ 23-3-4. Appointment of state registrar of vital records.
Status: in_force

The director of health shall appoint the chief of the division of vital records in accordance with civil service laws and regulations, who shall be known as the state registrar of vital records and shall carry out the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-5
§ 23-1-5. Enforcement of sanitary laws.
Status: in_force

The department of health and director of health shall enforce the provisions of all general laws and public laws relating to the sanitary inspection of swimming pools, bathing beaches, camp grounds, barber shops, hairdressing parlors, and any other premises and properties the inspection of which may be conferred upon the department of health. The sanitary inspection of barber shops shall be made by registered barbers and the director of health shall employ at least one registered barber for this purpose who shall enforce rules and regulations as prescribed under chapter 10 of title 5. The department and director shall enforce the provisions of chapter 27 of title 21 insofar as they relate to the inspection of bakeries and other establishments and shall perform the functions relating to child hygiene, food and drugs, the purification of waters, slaughterhouses, and narcotic drugs and pharmacies.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-6
§ 23-18-6. Proceeds of sales.
Status: in_force

The proceeds from the sales of crypts, niches, or any space in the structure, shall be used for the repayment of loans for the purpose of construction thereof with reasonable interest on the loans and for the construction, maintenance, and perpetual care of the structure, and may not be divided among any persons as profits.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-8-1.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-8 / Section 23-8-1.1
§ 23-8-1.1. Consent to testing and treatment  Reportable  Communicable diseases.
Status: in_force

Persons under eighteen (18) years of age may give legal consent for testing, examination, and/or treatment for any reportable communicable disease.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-103-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-103 / Section 23-103-2
§ 23-103-2. Public availability of price information required.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other law, a facility shall make public:

(1) A digital file in a machine-readable format that contains a list of all standard charges for all facility items or services as described by § 23-103-3; and

(2) A consumer-friendly list of standard charges for a limited set of shoppable services as provided in § 23-103-4.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-24-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-24 / Section 23-24-5
§ 23-24-5. Penalties.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of § 23-24-4 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or to imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both; but for offenses committed with intent to defraud or mislead, or for second and subsequent offenses, the penalty shall be imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both.

(b) No person shall be subject to the penalties of subsection (a) of this section:

(1) For having violated § 23-24-4(3) if the receipt, delivery, or proffered delivery of the hazardous substance was made in good faith, unless he or she refuses to furnish on request of an officer or employee duly designated by the consumer protection unit, the name and address of the person from whom he or she purchased or received the hazardous substance, and copies of all documents, if there are any, pertaining to the delivery of the hazardous substance to him or her; or

(2) For having violated § 23-24-4(2) if he or she establishes a guarantee or undertaking, signed by and containing the name and address of the person residing in the state of Rhode Island from whom he or she received in good faith the hazardous substance, to the effect that the hazardous substance is not a misbranded hazardous substance or a banned hazardous substance within the meaning of those terms in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-1
§ 23-17-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the Health Care Facility Licensing Act of Rhode Island.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-46 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-46
§ 23-17-46. Financial interest disclosure.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Any health care facility licensed pursuant to this chapter which refers clients to another licensed health care facility or to a residential care/assisted living facility licensed pursuant to chapter 17.4 of this title or to a certified adult day care program in which the referring entity has a financial interest shall, at the time a referral is made, disclose, in writing, the following information to the client: (i) that the referring entity has a financial interest in the facility or provider to which the referral is being made; (ii) that the client has the option of seeking care from a different facility or provider which is also licensed and/or certified by the state to provide similar services to the client.

(2) The referring entity shall also offer the client a written list prepared by the department of all alternative licensed and/or certified facilities or providers.

(b) Noncompliance with this section shall constitute grounds to revoke, suspend or otherwise discipline the licensee or to deny an application for licensure by the director, or may result in imposition of an administrative penalty in accordance with chapter 17.10 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-82-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-82 / Section 23-82-7
§ 23-82-7. Exemption from taxation.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provisions of the general or public laws or regulation to the contrary, the division of taxation shall grant a permanent exemption from any and all applicable charges or assessments made against the proceeds from the auction of allowances pursuant to this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-25 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-25
§ 23-19-25. Authorization to accept appropriated moneys.
Status: in_force

The corporation is authorized to accept any money that may be appropriated from time to time by the general assembly for effectuating its corporate purposes including, without limitation, the payment of the initial expenses of administration and operation, and the establishment of reserves or contingency funds to be available for the payment of the principal of and the interest of any bonds, notes, or other obligations of the corporation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-29 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-29
§ 23-3-29. Division of vital records and state registrar of vital records.
Status: in_force

Wherever in the general or public laws there appear the words division of vital statistics and the words state registrar of vital statistics in relation to the Rhode Island department of health, the word records shall be substituted for the word statistics.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-61-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-61 / Section 23-61-2
§ 23-61-2. Declaration of purpose.
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health and public interest by establishing a comprehensive program to reduce exposure to radon/radon progeny levels in public and high priority buildings and to ensure that all radon/radon progeny mitigation activity in these buildings is conducted only by appropriately trained and licensed/certified personnel. The goal of this chapter is to reduce the incidence of lung cancer due to radon/radon progeny exposure in Rhode Island to the greatest extent feasible.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-10
§ 23-4-10. Disposition of deceased bodies.
Status: in_force

(a) The office of state medical examiners shall, after any postmortem external examination or any autopsy, promptly release the deceased body to the relatives, representatives, or domestic partners or other persons authorized by law to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedents remains. The cost of transporting the deceased body to the office of state medical examiners shall be borne by the state if the autopsy was required to be performed as provided in this chapter. If the relatives, representatives, or domestic partners of the decedent or other person authorized by law to make arrangements for the disposition of the decedents remains:

(1) Fails or refuses to claim the body within fourteen (14) days of receiving notice of the death of the decedent; or

(2) Fails or refuses to make arrangements with a funeral home for the removal of the body from the state medical examiners morgue within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the death of the decedent, then the body shall be deemed unclaimed and shall be buried in accordance with § 40-6-3.10. If there are no known relatives, representatives or domestic partners, after reasonable public notices, the body shall be deemed unclaimed and the office of state medical examiners shall cause the body of the deceased person to be buried in accordance with § 40-6-3.10. The general treasurer of the state shall have first priority in recovering the expenses of burial from the estate of the deceased person.

(b) For the purpose 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 is married to anyone else;

(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree that 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 the following:

(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 § 23-1-29 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-29
§ 23-1-29. Delegation.
Status: in_force

(a) The director may from time to time designate in writing any person in any department of the state government or any official of a district, county, city, town, or other governmental unit, with that officials consent, to enforce any rule and regulation promulgated and adopted by the director under the provisions of this chapter.

(b) For the purposes of this chapter, the building inspector of the city of Warwick is designated the duly authorized agent of the director and is vested with all the duties, powers, and authority granted to the director by § 23-1-19 and is authorized to exercise them only in the enforcement of minimum standards for the operation and maintenance of refuse disposal facilities or projects situated in the city of Warwick as standards are promulgated by the director of health in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(c) Whenever the building inspector of the city of Warwick determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is a violation of any law administered by him or her pursuant to this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted by the director, he or she may give notice of the alleged violation to the person responsible for it. The notice shall be in writing, shall set forth the alleged violation, shall provide for a time within which the alleged violation shall be remedied and shall inform the person to whom it is directed that a written request for a hearing on the violation may be filed with the director within ten (10) days after service of the notice. A copy of all notices of violations issued by the building inspector of the city of Warwick shall be forwarded immediately to the director. The notice will be deemed properly served upon a person if a copy of the notice is served upon him or her personally or sent by registered or certified mail to the last known address of that person, or if that person is served with notice by any other method of service now or later authorized in a civil action under the laws of this state. If no written request for a hearing is made to the director within ten (10) days of the service of notice, the notice shall automatically become a compliance order.

(d) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to divest the director of the department of health of any duties, powers, or authority contained in this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-76-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-76 / Section 23-76-3
§ 23-76-3. Protection of public.
Status: in_force

The director of the department of health shall develop and adopt by rule and regulation a plan to protect the public health during a vaccine shortage by:

(1) Establishing guidelines for physicians, nurses, hospitals, health systems, pharmacies and others that hold vaccines for the distribution and administration of vaccines. The guidelines shall include, but are not limited to, a definition of high-risk groups for priority protection or treatment in the event a vaccine shortage is imminent;

(2) Implementing rules for imposing a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) against persons who knowingly violate the guidelines for each repeat violation of the guidelines;

(3) Mobilizing public and private health resources to assist in vaccine distribution and administration; and

(4) Notifying health professional regulatory boards and licensing authorities of repeated violations of the guidelines by health professionals regulated by the department of health.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-14-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-14 / Section 23-14-3
§ 23-14-3. Childhood disease fund established  Uses of the fund.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established a separate fund within the general fund to be called the childhood disease fund which shall be administered by the general treasurer in accordance with the same laws and fiscal procedures as the general funds of the state. The fund shall consist of sums collected as a result of the taxpayer check-off as provided for in section 44-30-2.3. The general treasurer is authorized to accept any grant, devise, bequest, donation, gift, or assignment of money, bonds, or other valuable securities for deposit in and credit of the childhood disease fund.

(b) The monies received under this chapter and § 44-30-2.3 shall be made available by the treasurer annually by September 30 to qualified organizations and shall be distributed equally among all qualified organizations certified by the department of health for the funding year.

(c) Upon distribution to qualified organizations, the monies shall be used exclusively for child disease victims and their families for eligible services and emergency services. Provided, however, that qualified organizations shall seek and are entitled to reimbursement from a health insurance program or publicly funded assistance program, for emergency services when the cost of emergency services would normally be provided for by the respective program.

(d) Any eligible organization which seeks qualified organization status for a funding year shall submit an application to the department of health not later than July 15 of the year for which they seek status. The application must include:

(1) The specific nature of the eligible and/or emergency services the eligible organization is proposing to provide and which group or classification(s) of child disease victims the services are proposed to be provided to;

(2) Eligible services that the eligible organization has provided in the past year or is currently providing and the annual cost of the services;

(3) Whether the monies sought under this chapter will be used to fund new or existing programs for eligible services; and

(4) Any other information the department of health deems necessary to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

(e) Upon receipt of the annual application from eligible organizations as provided in this section, the director of the department of health shall review each application to determine if it complies with the intent and requirements of this chapter. Upon a finding by the director of the department of health that the application complies with the intent and requirements of this chapter, the director of the department of health shall certify that the eligible organization has been designated as a qualified organization for the funding year. The director of the department of health shall provide notice of approval or denial of certification not later than September 15 to each eligible organization that has submitted an annual application.

(f) The director of the department of health is authorized to promulgate any rules or regulations and prescribe forms necessary to facilitate the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-9-16 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-9 / Section 23-9-16
§ 23-9-16. Examination of vessel  Guards to prevent unauthorized communication.
Status: in_force

The city or town council of the city or town where a vessel as described in this chapter arrives shall send a physician or other suitable person to examine and report to them of the true state of that vessel and the people on board, at the charge of the master or owner of that vessel; and they shall immediately put on board that vessel some suitable person or persons to secure that vessel and effectually prevent any communication with that vessel, at the like charge of the master or owner of that vessel.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-20 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-20
§ 23-3-20. Court reports of divorce.
Status: in_force

(a) For each divorce granted by any court in this state, a report shall be prepared and filed by the clerk of the court with the state registrar of vital records. The report shall be furnished, with the final decree, to the clerk of the court by the prevailing party or his or her legal representative on forms prescribed and furnished by the state registrar of vital records.

(b) On or before the tenth (10th) day of each third (3rd) month commencing on April 10, 1962, the clerk of the court shall forward to the state registrar of vital records the report of each divorce granted during the preceding three (3) calendar months and related reports that may be required by regulations issued under this chapter.

(c) The clerk of the court shall be paid by the general treasurer the sum of fifty cents ($0.50) for each certificate of divorce so registered and transmitted to the state registrar of vital records in accordance with rules and regulations issued under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-83-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-83 / Section 23-83-6
§ 23-83-6. Hospitals required to facilitate donations.
Status: in_force

Unless it is medically inadvisable, each hospital or other obstetrical facility in the state shall cooperate with the collection staff of a cord blood bank designated by a patient to facilitate the donation of the blood extracted from the umbilical cord of the patients newborn child to a cord blood bank.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-81-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-81 / Section 23-81-6
§ 23-81-6. Funding.
Status: in_force

The executive office of health and human services may provide funding to carry out the requirements of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-1
§ 23-18-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

The following terms used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:

(1) Agencies mean town cemeteries, religious or ecclesiastical society cemeteries, cemetery associations, or any person, firm, corporation, or unincorporated association previously or hereafter engaged in the business of conducting a cemetery or operating a community mausoleum or columbarium.

(2) Columbarium means a structure or room, or other space in a building or structure of durable or lasting fireproof construction, containing niches, used, or intended to be used, to contain cremated human remains.

(3) Community mausoleum means a structure or building of durable or lasting construction, used or intended to be used, for the permanent disposition in crypts or spaces therein of the remains of deceased persons, provided the crypts or spaces and their use are available to or may be obtained by individuals for a price in money or other form of security.

(4) Crypt means the chamber in a mausoleum of sufficient size to contain the remains of a deceased person.

(5) Historic cemetery means any tract of land which has been for more than one hundred (100) years used as a burial place, whether or not marked with an historic marker, including but not limited to, ancient burial places known or suspected to contain the remains of one or more American Indians.

(6) Niche means a recess in a columbarium or other structure, used, or intended to be used, for the permanent disposition of the cremated remains of one or more deceased persons.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-26-27 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-26 / Section 23-26-27
§ 23-26-27. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

Any person who:

(1) Makes, remakes, renovates, sterilizes, prepares, sells, or offers for sale, exchange, or lease any article of bedding as defined by § 23-26-1, not properly tagged as required by this chapter; or

(2) Uses in the making, remaking, renovating, or preparing of the article of bedding or in preparing cotton or other material therefor that has been used as a mattress, pillow, or bedding in any public or private hospital, or that has been used by or about any person having an infectious or contagious disease, and that after such use has not been sterilized and approved for use, by the director of business regulation; or

(3) Counterfeits or imitates any stamp or registration issued under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months or both.

(4) Any person or entity who or that violates the provisions of § 23-26-3.1 shall be civilly fined not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first violation and up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each subsequent violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-77-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-77 / Section 23-77-2
§ 23-77-2. Establishment of the healthcare information technology and infrastructure development fund.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established in the department of health, the healthcare information technology and infrastructure development fund to be administered by the director of the department of health for the purpose of promoting the development and adoption of healthcare information technologies designed to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare services and the security of individual patient data.

(b) Moneys in the fund shall be used for projects authorized by the director of health and may be expended by contract, loan, or grant, to develop, maintain, expand, and improve the states healthcare information technology infrastructure and to assist healthcare facilities and health service providers in adopting healthcare information technologies shown to improve healthcare quality, safety or efficiency. Such projects shall incorporate the goal of maintaining the security and confidentiality of individual patient data, and separate projects for that purpose may also be authorized from the fund. The director of health shall develop criteria for the selection of projects to be funded from the fund in consultation with the healthcare information technology and infrastructure advisory committee created in § 23-77-4.

(c) Any moneys provided by loan shall be disbursed for periods not exceeding twenty-five (25) years and at an annual rate of interest not exceeding five percent (5%).

(d) The director of the department of health, in consultation with the state healthcare information technology advisory committee, shall establish criteria for eligible healthcare information technology and infrastructure projects to be funded under this chapter.

(e) The healthcare information technology and infrastructure development fund, as herein described, shall constitute a restricted receipt account within the general fund of the state and housed within the budget of the department of health. The short title of the restricted receipt account shall henceforth be designated as health information technology.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-31 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-31
§ 23-25-31. Reciprocal agreements.
Status: in_force

(a) The director may waive all or part of the examination requirements prescribed in §§ 23-25-12, 23-25-13 and 23-25-14 on a reciprocal basis with any other state which has substantially the same examination requirements and standards of competency, and for federal employees qualified under substantially the same examination requirements and standards of competency.

(b) The director is authorized to adopt regulations, including, but not limited to, regulations establishing procedures for establishing and implementing reciprocal agreements, providing verifying credentials to out-of-state applicators, and assuring compliance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-49 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-49
§ 23-1-49. Registry of persons with head injuries and/or spinal cord injuries.
Status: in_force

(a) The state department of health is authorized, empowered, and directed to establish and maintain a central registry of persons suffering from acquired traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries.

(b) The state director of health shall require the reporting of all newly diagnosed traumatic brain and/or spinal cord injuries and the submission of any specified additional information on reported injuries that she or he deems necessary and appropriate for the recognition, prevention, or control of those injuries.

(c) The central traumatic brain and spinal cord injury registry shall maintain comprehensive records of all reports submitted pursuant to this section. These reports shall be confidential in accordance with chapter 37.3 of title 5 and subject to the restrictions on release incorporated in that chapter.

(d) The state department of health shall make rules and regulations that are necessary to implement the provisions of this section pursuant to chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-9-24 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-9 / Section 23-9-24
§ 23-9-24. Waters under concurrent jurisdiction of Newport.
Status: in_force

The health officer of the city of Newport shall, under the direction of the council of that city, have authority concurrent with the city or town councils of the several cities or towns in the county of Newport bordering on the public waters of the state in all matters arising under this chapter in relation to any vessel coming within Dutch Island Harbor or within the waters of the East River below the bridges between Portsmouth and Tiverton.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-8
§ 23-1-8. Forensic scientist  Crime detection.
Status: in_force

The director of health shall appoint in accordance with law a suitable and qualified forensic scientist to conduct examinations of evidence in connection with scientific crime detection, and for that purpose the director shall cooperate with the Rhode Island state police, the department of the attorney general, and other law enforcement agencies in the matter of scientific crime detection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-7
§ 23-4-7. Reporting of certain deaths required  Violations  Penalties.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Where any person shall die in any manner to suggest the possibility of a criminal act or as the result of violence or apparent suicide, or from a criminal abortion or in any suspicious or unusual manner, it shall be the duty of any person having knowledge of those deaths to immediately notify the police of the city or town where the body of the deceased person lies or to notify the office of state medical examiners. The same procedure shall be followed upon discovery of anatomical material suspected of being or determined to be a part of a human body.

(2) Any person who willfully neglects or refuses to report that death or who without an order from an agent of the office of medical examiners willfully touches, removes, or disturbs the body of that dead person, or willfully touches, removes, or disturbs the clothing or any article upon or near that body, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) If any person buries or causes to be buried the dead body of a person supposed to have come to a violent death before giving notice as stated in subsection (a) and before inquiry is made into the manner and circumstances of the death, that person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(c) When any person may appear to have met death when unattended by a physician, or in any unnatural manner, or as the apparent result of the negligence of another person, or as the consequence of any physical or toxic injury incurred while employed, or from the use of any addictive or unidentifiable chemical agent, or from accidental hypothermia, or from an infectious agent capable of spreading an epidemic within the state, it shall be the duty of any physician, law enforcement officer, funeral director, hospital official having knowledge of the death, or of any other person having responsibility for burial or cremation of the deceased person to notify the office of the state medical examiners. In the case of any prisoner committed by law to the custody of the department of corrections or in the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals who dies or in the case of a person who dies while in the custody of the state police or local police departments, the person charged with the responsibility for that custody shall have the duty to immediately notify the office of the state medical examiners. Any person charged with the responsibility of notifying the office of state medical examiners of any of the deaths stated in the first sentence of this subsection who neglects to give that notice shall upon conviction be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) If an agent of the office of state medical examiners is of the opinion that a death was caused by the act of neglect of some person other than the deceased, he or she shall at once notify the attorney general, and the police of the city or town where the body was found or in which it lies. If any person shall be arrested and charged with causing any death by the act of neglect, the person so arrested shall be entitled to receive a copy of the record of the autopsy, upon written request delivered to the attorney general.

(e) Where any person age sixty-five (65) years or older may appear to have died from accidental hypothermia, the death shall be reported to the department of elderly affairs by the state medical examiner or when any person, under the age of eighteen (18) shall die, the physician signing the death certificate shall report the death to the state medical examiners office within twenty-four (24) hours of the death.

(f) Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section and does so with the intention of concealing a crime shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term of not more than five (5) years or fined ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-12.10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-12.10
§ 23-17-12.10. Quality predictive modeling  Established.
Status: in_force

The department of health shall develop a data modeling or other capacity to use quality data already collected from nursing facilities to detect patterns of high performance and/or potential deficiency(ies) affecting resident care.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-10
§ 23-33-10. Inspectors authorized to conduct inspections.
Status: in_force

Only the chief inspector and/or any of the chiefs compliance inspectors shall inspect new elevators, and other devices subject to the provisions of this chapter in any building within this state, including sidewalk elevators and outside wall elevators. Existing elevators and escalators shall be inspected either by the chief or any of his or her compliance inspectors, or by any authorized inspector.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-37 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-37
§ 23-25-37. Pesticide applications and notification of pesticide applications at schools.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of environmental management and the department of health shall develop regulations as follows: (1) to restrict the use of hazardous pesticides in schools, pre-schools and child care centers in Rhode Island; (2) for the promotion and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) as defined in § 23-25.2-2; (3) to cover situations where an emergency application of pesticide must be conducted to eliminate an immediate threat to human health, and establish reporting requirements for these emergency applications.

(b) On and after July 1, 2001, no person other than a licensed or certified commercial applicator as defined in § 23-25-4, shall apply pesticide within any building or on the grounds of any school. This section shall not apply in the case of an emergency application of pesticide to eliminate an immediate threat to human health, where it is impractical to obtain the services of any such applicator; provided the emergency application does not involve a restricted use or state limited use pesticide. For purposes of this section, emergency means a sudden need to mitigate or eliminate a pest which threatens the health or safety of a student or staff member.

(c)(1) On and after July 1, 2002, at the beginning of each school year, each local school authority shall provide the staff of each school and the parents or guardians of each child enrolled in each school with a written statement of the committees policy on pesticide application on school property and a description of any pesticide applications made at the school during the previous school year.

(2) The statement and description shall be provided to the parents or guardians of any child who transfers to a school during the school year. The statement shall: (i) indicate that the staff, parents, or guardians may register for prior notice of pesticide applications at the school; and (ii) describe the emergency notification procedures provided for in this section. Notice of any modification to the pesticide application policy shall be sent to any person who registers for notice under this section.

(d) On and after July 1, 2002, parents or guardians of children in any school and school staff may register for prior notice of pesticide application at their school. Each school shall maintain a registry of persons requesting the notice. Prior to providing for any application of pesticide within any building or on the grounds of any school, the local school authority shall provide for the distribution of notice to parents and guardians who have registered for prior notice under this section, such that the notice is received no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the application. Notice shall be given by any means practicable to school staff who have registered for the notice. Notice under this subsection shall include: (1) the common or trade name and the name of the active ingredient; (2) the EPA registration number as listed on the pesticide label; (3) the target pest; (4) the exact location of the application on the school property; (5) the date of the application; and (6) the name of the school administrator, or a designee, who may be contacted for further information.

(e) On and after July 1, 2003, no application of pesticide may be made in any building or on the grounds of any school during regular school hours or during planned activities at any school. No child shall enter an area where the application has been made until it is safe to do so according to the provisions on the pesticide label. This section shall not apply to the use of germicides, disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, antimicrobal agents, insecticidal gels, non-volatile insect or rodent bait in a tamper resistant container, insect repellants or the application of a pesticide classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as an exempt material under 40 CFR 152.25.

(f) On and after July 1, 2002, a local school authority may make an emergency application of pesticide without prior notice under this section in the event of an immediate threat to human health, provided the board provides for notice, by any means practicable, on or before the day that the application is to take place, to any person who has requested prior notice under this section.

(g) On and after July 1, 2002, notice of any pesticide application at a school shall be given, by any means practicable, to the parents or guardians of any child enrolled at the school and to the staff of the school not later than one week after the application. The notice shall include: (1) the common or trade name and the name of the active ingredient; (2) the EPA registration number as listed on the pesticide label; (3) the target pest; (4) the exact location of the application on the school property; (5) the date of the application; and (6) the name of the school administrator, or a designee, who may be contacted for further information. A copy of the record of each pesticide application at a school shall be maintained at the school for a period of five (5) years.

(h) Not later than July 1, 2002, the department of environmental management and the department of health shall jointly establish a task force which shall specifically address methods to promote public education and professional training about pesticides, their potential health effects and IPM least toxic alternatives, and for evaluation and analysis of current pest control practices at school and child care facilities.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-60-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-60 / Section 23-60-10
§ 23-60-10. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, for any reason, be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter or its application to other persons or circumstances.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-8
§ 23-23-8. Investigations  Orders.
Status: in_force

(a) If any person is causing air pollution and if after investigation and hearing the director shall so find, he or she may enter an order directing that person to adopt or to use, or to operate properly, some practicable and reasonably available control system or device or means to prevent the pollution, having due regard for the rights and interests of all persons concerned. The order may specify the particular control systems, device, or means to be adopted, used, or operated; provided, that where there is more than one practical and reasonably available system or means, the order shall give to the person complained of the right to adopt or use one of the systems or means as he or she may choose. The order shall specify the time within which the system or means shall be adopted or used or the operation of the system shall be commenced. The time may be extended by the director in his or her discretion upon application being made by the person, and the order may, upon application be modified in any other particular. No order or modification of the order may be entered by the director deferring compliance with a requirement of this chapter or the rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter, unless the deferral is consistent with provisions and procedures of the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.

(b) Where any order of the director does not specify the system or means to be adopted, the person against whom the order is entered shall, before proceeding to install any system, submit to the director a plan or statement describing the system or means which he or she proposes to adopt. In the case where the person subsequently desires to make any substantial change in the system or means adopted, he or she shall, before proceeding to do so, file with the director a plan or statement describing the change. The director may upon the application of any person at any time enter an order approving the system or means which he or she has adopted or may desire to adopt. A copy of each order entered by the director shall be sent to the person or persons affected by either certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13-16.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-13 / Section 23-13-16.1
§ 23-13-16.1. Maternity patients informational pamphlet.
Status: in_force

(a) The director of health shall require that each hospital submit to the department statistics relating to the annual rate of caesarean sections, primary and repeat;

(b) A pamphlet shall be prepared annually by each hospital listing the statistics stated in subsection (a), and that pamphlet shall be presented in a three (3) year aggregate with each of the years included in the aggregate listed separately;

(c) The director of health shall require each hospital to distribute to each prospective maternity patient prior to treatment (in other than a medical emergency), and upon request, to the general public, that maternity informational pamphlet.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), the informational pamphlet for the first (1st) and second (2nd) year after January 1, 1989 need only contain statistical information in a one or two (2) year aggregate, respectively.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-88-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-88 / Section 23-88-2
§ 23-88-2. Establishment.
Status: in_force

(a) There is hereby established a council to be called the Code Consistency Council consisting of sixteen (16) members:

(1) One of whom shall be the state fire marshal and who shall serve as a co-chairperson;

(2) One of whom shall be the state building code commissioner who shall serve as a co-chairperson;

(3) One of whom shall be the Director of Regulatory Reform, or his or her designee;

(4) One of whom shall be the president of the American institute of architects Rhode Island, or his or her designee;

(5) One of whom shall be the president of the structural engineers association of Rhode Island, or his or her designee;

(6) One of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island association of fire fighters, or his or her designee;

(7) One of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island chapter of the associated general contractors, or his or her designee;

(8) One of whom shall be the president of the housing network or his or her designee;

(9) Two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the director of the department of labor and training, one with an expertise in elevator safety rules and regulations and one with an expertise in boiler safety rules and regulations;

(10) Two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the League of Cities and Towns, one from a city and one from a town to represent the interests of municipalities that administer building code issues;

(11) One of whom shall be the chairperson of the Rhode Island historical preservation and heritage commission, or his or her designee;

(12) One of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island builders association or his or her designee;

(13) One of whom shall be an environmental engineer, to be appointed by the governor; and

(14) One of whom shall be an attorney whose practice is concentrated in building and construction, to be appointed by the governor.

(b) Forthwith upon the effective date of this chapter, the members of the council shall meet at the call of the chairs and organize. Vacancies in the council shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

(c) The department of public safety is hereby directed to provide suitable quarters for the council.

(d) All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information documentary and otherwise to the commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-27 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-27
§ 23-25-27. Subpoenas.
Status: in_force

The director may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and/or production of books, documents, and records in the state in any hearing affecting the authority or privilege granted by license, registration, certification, or permit issued under the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-59-16 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-59 / Section 23-59-16
§ 23-59-16. Cease and desist orders  Injunctions.
Status: in_force

Whenever it appears to the department that any person has engaged in, or is about to engage in, any act or practice constituting a violation of this chapter or any rule, regulation, or order issued under this chapter, the department may:

(1) Issue an order directed at any such person requiring him or her to cease and desist from engaging in the act or practice; and/or

(2) By application to a court of competent jurisdiction seek a permanent or temporary injunction or a restraining order to enforce compliance with this chapter or any rule, regulation, or order issued under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-67-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-67 / Section 23-67-3
§ 23-67-3. Severability.
Status: in_force

If the provisions of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-26-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-26 / Section 23-26-3
§ 23-26-3. Sale of second-hand material as new.
Status: in_force

No person shall sell, representing it to be new material, any old or second-hand hair, down, feathers, wool, cotton, kapok, or other material used for filling articles of bedding.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-26-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-26 / Section 23-26-2
§ 23-26-2. All new materials required for new articles  Tagging.
Status: in_force

No person shall sell as new any article of bedding unless it is made from all new material and is tagged as provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-63-4.4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-63 / Section 23-63-4.4
§ 23-63-4.4. Penalties on delinquent payments.
Status: in_force

Any retailer who fails to pay any fees to the tax administrator, except amounts of determinations made by the tax administrator, under § 23-63-4.6 within the time required shall pay a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the fees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-12.5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-12.5
§ 23-17-12.5. Complaints  Nursing homes.
Status: in_force

(a) Complaints regarding a nursing facility that do not constitute patient abuse, neglect or mistreatment, as regulated under chapter 17.8 of this title, shall be investigated and evaluated by the department as follows:

(1) The investigation and evaluation shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours if the department has reasonable cause to believe the patients or residents health or safety is in immediate jeopardy; within seven (7) days for reports  deemed by the department to be of non-immediate jeopardy  high potential for harm; within twenty-one (21) days for reports deemed by the department to be of non-immediate jeopardy  medium potential for harm; and within sixty (60) days for reports deemed by the department to be of non-immediate jeopardy  low potential for harm.

(2) The investigation shall include a visit to the facility.

(3) Reports of complaint investigations shall be governed in accordance with chapter 17.8 of this title.

(b) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Immediate jeopardy means a situation in which the nursing facilitys alleged noncompliance with one or more state or federal requirements or conditions has caused, or is likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident; or shall be defined in accordance with 42 CFR 489 or any subsequent applicable federal regulations.

(2) Non-immediate jeopardy  high potential for harm means a situation in which a nursing facilitys alleged noncompliance with one or more state or federal requirements or conditions may have caused harm that negatively impacts the individuals mental, physical and/or psychosocial status; or shall be defined in accordance with 42 CFR 489 or any subsequent applicable federal regulations.

(3) Non-immediate jeopardy  medium potential for harm means a situation in which a nursing facilitys alleged noncompliance with one or more state or federal requirements or conditions has caused or may have caused harm that is of limited consequence and does not significantly impair the individuals mental, physical and/or psychosocial status to function; or shall be defined in accordance with 42 CFR 489 or any subsequent applicable federal regulations.

(4) Non-immediate jeopardy  low potential for harm means a situation in which a nursing facilitys alleged noncompliance with one or more state or federal requirements or conditions may have caused mental, physical and/or psychosocial discomfort that does not constitute injury or damage; or shall be defined in accordance with 42 CFR 489 or any subsequent applicable federal regulations.

(c) Avoidance of conflict. The department shall establish procedures to insure that the prioritization and classification of complaints received in accordance with section (a) above, and chapter 17.8 of this title, shall be independent of other nursing facility regulatory functions. The department shall include procedures to assure that no employee or agent of the department shall be participating in or supervising a complaint investigation concerning any facility to which that employee has any ownership, employment, or consultant arrangement. The restrictions imposed by the department under this subsection shall be in addition to, and not in place of, the requirements of chapter 14 of title 36.

(d) Interagency agreements. The department shall enter into interagency agreements with any other departments or agents of state government clarifying roles and responsibilities for the receipt and investigation of complaints regarding nursing facility care, including guidelines to allow an exchange of data unless such exchange is explicitly prohibited by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-5.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-5.1
§ 23-3-5.1. Transfer of public historical documents.
Status: in_force

(a) At the end of each calendar year, original records of births and marriages that have occurred one hundred (100) years or more from the date of transfer and deaths that have occurred fifty (50) years or more from the date of transfer, shall be permanently transferred by the state registrar of vital records to the custody of the state archives under control of the secretary of state who may promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to these public historical documents. In order to preserve the integrity of historical public vital records, which are maintained at the Rhode Island state archives, public historical vital records shall not be amended. Prior to transferring the records to the state archives, the division of vital records shall ensure that an electronic copy of the records is provided to all local registrars for the purpose of issuance of accurate copies, or certified copies, to the public as authorized by law.

(b) Amendments to records on file with the local registrar, which are not available in electronic format, shall be forwarded upon amendment to the local registrar for the purpose of issuance of accurate copies, or certified copies, to the public as authorized by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-29 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-29
§ 23-33-29. 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 elevator inspector and his or her compliance inspectors charged with the enforcement of this code, while acting for the state, shall not thereby render himself or herself liable personally, and he or she is hereby relieved from all personal liability for any damages that may accrue to persons or property as a result of 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 duties and under the provisions of this code shall be defended by the legal representative of the state in the case of the director or his or her agents or representatives, 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 code. 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 of its provisions or by reason of any act or omission in the performance of his or her official duties in connection therewith.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-60-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-60 / Section 23-60-8
§ 23-60-8. Penalty.
Status: in_force

Any person who violates a provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). Each day that the violation continues or exists shall constitute a separate offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-25 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-25
§ 23-25-25. Publication of information.
Status: in_force

The director may publish, at least annually, and in any form that he or she may deem proper, results of analyses based on official samples as compared with the analyses guaranteed and information concerning the distribution of pesticides; provided, that individual distribution information shall not be a public record. The director, in cooperation with the land grant universities or other educational institutions, may publish information and conduct short courses of instruction in the areas of knowledge required in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-10
§ 23-18-10. City and town regulation of burial grounds.
Status: in_force

(a) The city or town council of any city or town may prohibit burials in the compact or thickly-populated parts of the city or town, and may make any bylaws and ordinances relating to burials and the use of grounds for burials in the city or town that it may think necessary for preserving the health of the city or town, and as necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and may enforce the ordinances in the manner provided in chapter 18 of this title.

(b) The town councils of the towns of East Greenwich and Smithfield and the city councils of the cities of East Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and Woonsocket, after having prevented further burials in those parts of their towns or cities as provided in subsection (a), may order, in accordance with this chapter, the owner of the burial ground so prohibited, and in the interest of public welfare, to cause to be removed the cadavers or remains of any persons buried in the burial ground, and transferred to and interred in some other cemetery within the state, the removal and interment to be under the direction of a qualified funeral director and with the approval of the nearest of kin of the deceased and at the expense of the owner of the land.

(c) No cadaver or remains shall be removed unless the owner of the land shall give notice by certified mail to the nearest of kin known to him or her, and by advertising in one or more daily newspapers having circulation within the town or city at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks. In the event there shall be no nearest of kin known to the owner or that the nearest of kin shall neglect or refuse to approve the removal and interment, the city or town shall cause the cadavers or remains to be removed, transferred, and interred in any other cemetery in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations of the religious denomination, if any shall be known or ascertained, to which the deceased subscribed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-36 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-36
§ 23-25-36. Protective clothing and equipment.
Status: in_force

The director may promulgate rules and regulations requiring the use of protective clothing and equipment by any person operating equipment for the application of any pesticide, insecticide, fungicide, herbicide, and rodenticide.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-101-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-101 / Section 23-101-3
§ 23-101-3. Tortious interference with legally protected healthcare activity.
Status: in_force

(a) If a person, whether or not acting under color of law, engages or attempts to engage in hostile litigation, any aggrieved person may initiate a civil action against that person for injunctive, monetary, or other appropriate relief within three (3) years after the cause of action accrues.

(b) If the court finds for the aggrieved person/petitioner in an action authorized by this section, recovery may include damages for the amount of any judgment issued in connection with any hostile litigation, and any and all other expenses, costs, and reasonable attorneys fees incurred in connection with the hostile litigation and with the tortious interference action.

(c) A court of this state may exercise jurisdiction over a person in an action authorized by this section if:

(1) Personal jurisdiction is found;

(2) The person who engages or attempts to engage in hostile litigation has commenced any action in any court in this state and, during the pendency of that action or any appeal therefrom, a summons and complaint is served on the person, authorized representative, or the attorney appearing on the persons behalf in that action or as otherwise permitted by law; or

(3) The exercise of jurisdiction is permitted under the Constitution of the United States.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-10.5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-10.5
§ 23-17-10.5. Medical director and attending physician file.
Status: in_force

(a) Each nursing facility licensed under this chapter shall designate a physician to serve as medical director. The medical director shall be responsible for implementation of resident care policies and for the coordination of medical care in the facility. Such responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to: the implementation of facility policies and procedures related to the medical care delivered in the facility; physician and advanced practice practitioner credentialing; practitioner performance reviews; employee health including infection control measures; evaluation of health care delivery, including oversight of medical records and participation in quality improvement; provision of staff education on medical issues; participation in state survey process, including the resolution of deficiencies as needed; and such other duties and responsibilities as may be stipulated in regulations promulgated by the department of health.

(b) The medical director, charged with the aforementioned duties and responsibilities for the delivery of medical care in the nursing facility, shall be immune from civil or criminal prosecution for reporting to the board of medical licensure and discipline the unprofessional conduct, incompetence or negligence of a nursing facility physician or limited registrant; provided, that the report, testimony or other communication was made in good faith and while acting within the scope of authority conferred by this section. Each nursing facility shall maintain an active file of all current attending physicians including their phone number and address, an emergency phone number, their current medical license number, and their preferred hospital admitting privileges. The director of the department of health is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-101-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-101 / Section 23-101-7
§ 23-101-7. Noncooperation.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as required by federal law, an officer or employee of a law enforcement agency, while acting under color of law, may not provide information or assistance to a federal law enforcement agency, to any law enforcement agency in another state or political subdivision of another state, or to any private citizen in relation to an investigation or inquiry into services constituting legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity, if such services would be lawful as provided if they occurred entirely in this state.

(b) No arrest. Notwithstanding any provision of state law to the contrary and except as required by federal law, arrest of a person in this state is prohibited if at the time of the arrest the arresting official has information or knowledge that the arrest is related to criminal liability that is based on legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity and the services would be lawful if they occurred entirely in this state.

(c) Exceptions. This section does not apply to a public agency, including a law enforcement agency, or an employee, appointee, officer, or official or any other person acting on behalf of a public agency:

(1) When responding to a warrant or extradition demand on the good faith belief that the warrant or demand is valid in this state; or

(2) When exigent circumstances make compliance with this section impossible. For the purposes of this subsection, exigent circumstances means circumstances in which there is an insufficient time to comply with this section and there is a compelling need for action due to the presence of an imminent danger to public safety, there is a potential where evidence faces imminent destruction, or any other circumstances where exigent circumstances as defined by common law exists.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-22-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-22 / Section 23-22-6
§ 23-22-6. License required  Term of license  Application  Fee.
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall maintain within this state a swimming pool until that person shall have obtained the appropriate license from the department. Licenses shall be of two (2) types, year-round or seasonal. The director, upon receipt of an application for a license to operate a swimming pool, shall cause that swimming pool to be inspected and if the swimming pool is found to comply with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations adopted in accordance with this chapter, shall issue a license upon receipt of a fee for a year-round license, for the first pool at one location and an additional fee for each additional pool at the same location. The director shall issue a license upon receipt of a fee for a seasonal license for the first pool at one location and an additional fee for each additional pool at the same location. Seasonal licenses shall begin no sooner than June 1, and expire on September 30 of the year issued and year-round licenses shall expire on December 31 of the year issued, unless sooner revoked for violation of the provisions of this chapter or of the regulations adopted in accordance with this chapter. Provided, however, every organization which provides recreational facilities for persons under the age of eighteen (18) years and which is exempt from income taxes pursuant to the provisions of 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3), and which maintains a swimming pool shall pay a fee for a year-round license. All fees required by this section shall be as set forth in § 23-1-54. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any swimming pool maintained by the state.

(b) No lifeguard shall be required for any pool licensed in this chapter; provided, a lifeguard shall be on duty if the pool is used by a swim club or a group of unsupervised children who may have access to the pool. Operators of pools shall, when no lifeguard is on duty:

(1) Require an attendant and/or a mechanical system to limit access to guests and members only;

(2) Require a person trained in first aid to be physically located in close proximity to the pool in question;

(3) Require the following signs to be posted in a conspicuous place:

(i) NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY  SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK (minimum 4³ letters in RED)

(ii) NO ONE UNDER 18 PERMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

(iii) ADULTS SHOULD NOT SWIM ALONE

(iv) A SCHEDULE OF POOL HOURS

(v) NO GLASS IN POOL AREA

(vi) NO RUNNING OR ROUGH HOUSING

(vii) NO DIVING

(viii) NO ANIMALS OR PETS

(4) Require, in the case of outdoor pools, in addition to the above requirements, a fence with a lockable gate or door, a minimum of not less than six feet (6²) in height, which completely surrounds the pool area.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-15-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-15 / Section 23-15-5
§ 23-15-5. Expeditious review.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who proposes to offer or develop new institutional health services or new healthcare equipment for documented emergency needs; or for the purpose of eliminating or preventing documented fire or safety hazards affecting the lives and health of patients or staff; or for compliance with accreditation standards required for receipt of federal or state reimbursement; or for any other purpose that the state agency may specify in rules and regulations, may apply for an expeditious review. The state agency may exercise its discretion in recommending approvals through an expeditious review, except that no new institutional health service or new healthcare equipment may be approved through the expeditious review if provision of the new institutional health service or new healthcare equipment is contra-indicated by the state health plan as may be formulated by the state agency. Specific procedures for the conduct of expeditious reviews shall be promulgated in rules and regulations adopted by the state agency with the advice of the health services council.

(b) The decision of the state agency not to conduct an expeditious review shall be reconsidered upon a written petition to the state agency, and the state agency shall be required to respond to the written petition within ten (10) days stating whether expeditious review is granted. If the request for reconsideration is denied, the state agency shall state the reasons in writing why the expeditious request had been denied.

(c) The decision of the state agency in connection with an expeditious review shall be rendered within thirty (30) days after the commencement of said review.

(d) Any healthcare facility that provides a service performed in another state and that is not performed in the state of Rhode Island, or such service is performed in the state on a very limited basis, shall be granted expeditious review upon request under this section, provided that such service, among other things, has a clear effect on the timeliness, access, or quality of care and is able to meet licensing standards.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-21-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-21 / Section 23-21-3
§ 23-21-3. Suspension or revocation of license.
Status: in_force

The director may suspend or revoke any license for violation of the provisions of this chapter or the regulations pursuant to this chapter. All action pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-59-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-59 / Section 23-59-4
§ 23-59-4. Availability of disclosure statement to prospective residents.
Status: in_force

At least three (3) days prior to the execution of a continuing care contract or the transfer of any money or other property to a provider by or on behalf of a prospective resident, whichever first occurs, the provider shall deliver to the person with whom the contract is to be entered into a copy of a disclosure statement with respect to the facility in question meeting all requirements of this chapter as of the date of its delivery.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-22-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-22 / Section 23-22-5
§ 23-22-5. Advice as to sanitary methods.
Status: in_force

The department of health shall from time to time advise each person maintaining a swimming pool as to the best methods for maintaining the proper sanitary conditions in the swimming pool.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-59-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-59 / Section 23-59-8
§ 23-59-8. Financial instability.
Status: in_force

The department may act as authorized by § 23-59-16 to protect residents or prospective residents when the department determines that:

(1) A provider has been or will be unable, in such a manner as may endanger the ability of the provider to fully perform its obligations pursuant to its continuing care contracts, to meet the pro forma income or cash flow projections previously filed by the provider; or

(2) A provider is bankrupt, insolvent, under reorganization pursuant to federal bankruptcy laws, or in imminent danger of becoming bankrupt or insolvent.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-68-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-68 / Section 23-68-6
§ 23-68-6. Registration of facilities.
Status: in_force

(a) A tanning facility shall register annually with the department of health on forms provided by the department and shall pay to the department an annual registration fee established by the director for a license.

(b) The director of the department of health shall establish a registration fee schedule, by regulation, to cover the costs of implementing the provisions of this chapter, including the costs incurred by the director pursuant to the provisions of § 23-68-5.