R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-28 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-28
§ 28-27-28. Practices for which a license is required.
Status: in_force

(a) A license is required for the installation, repair, replacement, servicing, maintenance, and alteration of:

(1) Any devices or accessories for what is normally considered heating/cooling equipment, air distribution equipment, duct work, process piping, power piping, pipefitting, and fire protection sprinkler with no reference to the plumbing industry; and

(2) Vacuum and pneumatic systems, oil and petroleum products, ice making machinery, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, and piping systems used for the conveyance and storage of liquids, solids, and industrial type gases as per § 28-27-1, and vacuum piping used for domestic vacuum cleaning systems and natural or manufactured gas piping used for emergency electric generators. Heating piping system does not mean or include, and nothing in the regulation shall be held or construed to have any application to, the installation or servicing as detailed of factory manufactured domestic plug-in units or other package assemblies not requiring special wiring over and above the normal #5 AWG wire used in domestic two hundred twenty (220) volt household duplex receptacles for sixteen (16) AMP branch circuits with two (2) or three (3) outlets, field hook up or checking by qualified licensed pipefitters/refrigeration technicians. Servicing as defined for these units means the seasonal filter changes or general cleaning, and shall be made obvious to the consumer by clearly printing on the work order or bills that the consumer is not paying for state licensed masters or journeypersons doing mechanical service work. Commercial applications of domestic units shall be regulated pursuant to § 28-27-1.

(b) A license is required for any of the following work when, and only when, carried out within a building or structure, or within five feet (5²) of the outer wall of a building or structure: the installation, repair, replacement, alteration, or maintenance of fire protection apparatus within a structure, standpipes that are not connected to sprinkler systems, also including the layout, onsite fabrication, installation, alteration, or repair of any automatic or manual sprinkler system designed for the protection of the interior or exterior of a building or structure from fire, also any piping or tubing and appurtenances and equipment pertaining to the system including overhead and underground water mains, fire hydrants and hydrant mains, standpipes and hose connections to sprinkler systems, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines and thermal systems used in connection with sprinkler and alarm systems, or special hazard systems including water sprays, foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical systems, halon and other liquid or gas fire suppression systems, and excluding any engineering design work connected with the layout of fire protection sprinkler systems.

(c) A license is required for sheet metal work, which is defined as the manufacturing, fabrication, assembling, handling, erection, installation, dismantling, conditioning, adjustment, alteration, repairing, and servicing of all ferrous or nonferrous metal work and all other materials in lieu thereof and air-handling systems regardless of the material used, including specifically: The handling, fabrication, setting, installation, assembling, dismantling, adjustment, alteration, reconditioning, repairing of all duct work, installation of fans, sheaves, belt guards, dampers, louvers, screens, registers, grills, diffusers, sound traps, attenuators, mixing boxes, access doors to air-handling systems, breaching, hoods and all appurtenances relating to HVAC and exhaust systems and the testing, adjusting, and balancing of all air-handling equipment and duct work. Holders of the NEBB (National Environmental Balancing Bureau), AABC (Associated Air Balancing Council) or a TABB (Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau) certificate are exempt for the purposes of testing and balancing HVAC systems.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-9
§ 28-27-9. Application for license.
Status: in_force

Any applicant for a license as pipefitter or refrigeration/air conditioning or fire protection sprinkler contractor or sheet metal contractor or journeyperson sheet metal worker or sprinkler fitter master or journeyperson in the state shall present his or her application to the department on the printed form provided for the application.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-24
§ 28-42-24. Custody and investment of fund or discontinuance of unemployment trust fund.
Status: in_force

Sections 28-42-18  28-42-23, to the extent that they relate to the unemployment trust fund, shall be operative only so long as that unemployment trust fund continues to exist and so long as the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States continues to maintain for this state a separate book account of all funds deposited in that fund by this state for benefit purposes, together with this states proportionate share of the earnings of that unemployment trust fund, from which no other state is permitted to make withdrawals. If and when that unemployment trust fund ceases to exist, or the separate book account is no longer maintained, all moneys, properties, or securities in it, belonging to the employment security fund of this state shall be requisitioned by the director, and shall be transferred to the general treasurer as the custodian of the fund, who shall hold, invest, transfer, sell, deposit, and release those moneys, properties, or securities in a manner approved by the director in accordance with chapters 42  44 of this title. These moneys shall be invested in the classes of securities legal for the investment of public moneys of this state, and this investment shall at all times be so made that all the assets of the fund shall always be readily convertible into cash when needed for the payment of benefits. The treasurer shall dispose of securities or other properties belonging to the employment security fund only under the direction of the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-12
§ 28-43-12. Adjustments  Refund of overpayments.
Status: in_force

(a) If an employer makes application for refund or credit of any amount paid as contributions or interest under this title and the director determines that the amount or any portion of it was erroneously collected, the director shall, in his or her discretion, either allow a credit for it, or by voucher duly drawn by the director in an amount and in a manner that the director may prescribe, direct the general treasurer to pay the amount determined to be erroneously collected from the clearance account of the employment security fund or, in the event of an overpayment of interest, from the employment security interest fund. If, in the discretion of the director, a credit is to be allowed, that credit shall be applied against the payment or payments of contributions next due from the employer subsequent to the determination of the director. No refund or credit shall be allowed with respect to a payment as contributions or interest, unless an application for it is made in writing on or before whichever of the following dates is later: (1) One year from the date on which the payment was made; or (2) Three (3) years from the last day of the period with respect to which the payment was made. For a like cause and within the same period a refund may be made, or a credit allowed, on the motion of the director. If the director determines that contributions or interest were erroneously paid to this state on wages insured under the employment security law of some other state or of the federal government, refund or adjustment of the payment may be made without interest, irrespective of the time limits provided in this section, on the submission of proof satisfactory to the director that contributions or interest on the wages have been paid to the other state or to the federal government. No interest shall be allowed or paid with respect to any refund. No refund or credit shall be allowed if the amount involved is less than one dollar ($1.00). Nothing in this title, or any part of it, shall be construed to authorize any refund or credit of money due and payable under the law and regulations in effect at the time the money was paid, except that refunds to federal instrumentalities may be made in accordance with the terms set forth in § 28-42-8(5).

(b) Whenever an employer is liable to provisions of chapters 39  44 of this title does not report the correct amount of contributions, an assessment of additional contributions must be made within three (3) years, except in the case of fraud or intent to evade the provision of law, in which case the limitation does not apply.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-9
§ 28-39-9. Custodian of reserve fund.
Status: in_force

The general treasurer shall be custodian of the reserve fund, and shall pay all vouchers duly drawn upon the reserve fund and properly authenticated. He or she shall have custody of all moneys belonging to the reserve fund and not otherwise held or deposited or invested pursuant to chapters 39  41 of this title. The general treasurer shall give bond conditioned on the faithful performance of his or her duties as custodian of the fund, in a form prescribed by statute and approved by the attorney general, and in an amount specified by the director and approved by the governor. All premiums upon bonds required pursuant to this section when furnished by an authorized surety company or by a duly constituted governmental bonding fund shall be paid by the state from funds made available for that purpose by the general assembly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-18 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-18
§ 28-5-18. Complaint and notice of hearing.
Status: in_force

(a) If the commission fails to effect the elimination of the unlawful employment practices and to obtain voluntary compliance with this chapter, or, if the circumstances warrant, in advance of any preliminary investigation or endeavors, the commission shall have the power to issue and cause to be served on any person or respondent a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice of hearing before the commission, a member of the commission, or a hearing examiner at a place fixed in the complaint to be held not less than ten (10) days after the service of the complaint.

(b) Any complaint issued pursuant to this section must be issued within two (2) years after a signed and notarized charge has been filed with the commission pursuant to § 28-5-17.

(c) No proceeding which was pending under this chapter on April 5, 1996, shall be subject to dismissal on the basis of the commissions failure to issue a complaint within one year after the alleged unfair employment practice occurred or has been applied to affect adversely the person aggrieved, where that charge was filed with the commission within one year after the alleged unfair employment practice occurred or has been applied to affect adversely the person aggrieved, whichever is later, and the respondent had agreed to extend or waive the one-year period of limitations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-88 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-88
§ 28-42-88. Employment security reemployment fund  Disbursements  Unexpended balance.
Status: in_force

(a) The moneys in the employment security reemployment fund shall be used for the following purposes:

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

(2) To pay any administrative expenses incurred by the department of labor and training associated with the collection of the contributions for employers paid pursuant to § 28-43-8.6, and any other administrative expenses associated with the maintenance of the fund, including the payment of all premiums upon bonds required pursuant to § 28-42-89; and

(3) To pay any administrative expenses incurred by the department of labor and training to implement and operate a three-year pilot research and demonstration rapid reemployment program.

(b) The general treasurer shall pay all vouchers duly drawn by the director upon the fund, in any amounts and in any manner that the director may prescribe. Vouchers so drawn upon the fund shall be referred to the controller within the department of administration. Upon receipt of those vouchers, the controller shall immediately record and sign them and shall promptly transfer those signed vouchers to the general treasurer. Those expenditures shall be used solely for the purposes specified in this section and its balance shall not lapse at any time but shall remain continuously available for expenditures consistent with this section. Effective July 1, 2000, and thereafter, the general assembly shall annually appropriate the funds contained in the fund for the use of the department of labor and training.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-7 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-7
§ 28-39-7. Creation of reserve fund  Sources.
Status: in_force

(a) There is created the temporary disability insurance reserve fund, to be administered in the manner subsequently prescribed in this chapter, without liability on the part of the state beyond the amounts paid into and earned by the reserve fund. This reserve fund shall consist of:

(1) All contributions;

(2) All penalties paid subsequent to June 30, 1947, pursuant to §§ 28-39-23  28-39-32 and §§ 28-40-1  28-40-8;

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

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

(5) Interest earned upon the moneys belonging to the reserve fund.

(b) All moneys in the reserve fund shall be mingled and undivided.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-13
§ 28-36-13. Information furnished by insurers or self-insurers on request of director.
Status: in_force

(a) Any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer insuring employers against liability for personal injuries to employees shall fill out all blanks and answer all questions submitted to it by the director relating to classifications, premium rates, amount of compensation paid, and any other information that the director may deem important either for the proper administration of chapters 29  38 of this title or for statistical purposes. The director shall have the authority and the jurisdiction that may be necessary to carry out duties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, including with cause, the power to subpoena. The director shall have discretion to assess an administrative penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per offense against any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that fails to provide information requested by the director under this section. Any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that willfully fails to notify the director as required in this section shall be subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense. All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general at the request of the director.

(b) Any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that willfully fails to apply the proper classification based on a ruling of the classification appeals board or to timely adjust incurred losses shall be subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense. All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general at the request of the director. Additionally, the director shall have discretion to assess an administrative penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per offense against any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer that violates this section.

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

(d) All fines or penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-13
§ 28-41-13. Disqualification by receipt of unemployment compensation benefits.
Status: repealed

(a)(1) An individual shall be disqualified from receiving benefits during any week with respect to which he or she will receive remuneration in the form of benefits under an unemployment compensation law of any state or of the United States.

(2) Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 39  41 of this title to the contrary, an individual receiving unemployment compensation and who is injured while unemployed and who is then denied unemployment compensation as a result of those injuries, shall, if otherwise eligible, be entitled to receive temporary disability insurance benefits without serving a waiting period as required in § 28-41-12 [repealed].

(b) Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 39  41 of this title to the contrary, if an individual has been determined to have been paid unemployment compensation benefits and/or dependents allowances under chapters 42  44 of this title, for the same week or weeks with respect to which the individual was entitled to receive temporary disability insurance benefits and/or dependents allowances under chapters 39  41 of this title, that individual shall, at the discretion of the director, be liable to have that sum deducted from any benefits payable to him or her under chapters 39  41 of this title for the same week or weeks, to reimburse the director for the employment security fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-58-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-58 / Section 28-58-1
§ 28-58-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Local Ownership Opportunity Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-10-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-10 / Section 28-10-8
§ 28-10-8. Penalty for use of gas.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person violating any of the provisions of § 28-10-7 shall be liable for and required to pay a civil penalty in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) for each and every offense. The civil penalty may be assessed in an action brought on behalf of the state in any court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) Each individual on whom tear gas, brombenzylcyanide, or any other gas is used that would affect respiratory organs shall be considered a separate offense for the purpose of this section.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-27 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-27
§ 28-7-27. Proceedings in judicial hearing.
Status: in_force

No objection that has not been urged before the board, its member, agent, or agency shall be considered by the court, unless the failure or neglect to urge the objection is excused because of extraordinary circumstances. The findings of the board as to the facts, if supported by evidence, shall be conclusive. If either party applies to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shows to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for failure to adduce the evidence in the hearing before the board, its member, agent, or agency, the court may order the additional evidence to be taken before the board, its member, agent, or agency, and to be made a part of the transcript. The board may modify its finding as to the facts, or make new findings, by reason of additional evidence so taken and filed, and it shall file the modified or new findings, that, if supported by evidence, shall be conclusive, and shall file its recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of its original order.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-27 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-27
§ 28-37-27. Collection and transmission of payments.
Status: in_force

The director shall collect all payments under this chapter under the rules and regulations that may be set forth by the director, and all payments shall immediately be transmitted by the director to the general treasurer.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-2-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-2 / Section 28-2-11
§ 28-2-11. Persons deemed residents  Habitual loiterers.
Status: in_force

For the purposes of this chapter, any male person described in § 28-2-1 found in this state shall be deemed a resident, and in any prosecution under this chapter proof that the accused habitually loiters in idleness in streets, roads, depots, poolrooms, saloons, hotels, stores, or other places shall be prima facie evidence of the failure or refusal of the person to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-4
§ 28-14-4. Payment on separation by employer.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever an employee separates or is separated from the payroll of an employer, the unpaid wages or compensation of the employee shall become due on the next regular payday and payable at the usual place of payment.

(b) Whenever an employee separates or is separated from the payroll of an employer after completing at least one year of service, any vacation pay accrued or awarded by collective bargaining, written or verbal company policy, or any other written or verbal agreement between the employer and employee shall become wages and payable in full or on a prorated basis with all other due wages on the next regular payday for the employee.

(c) Whenever an employer separates an employee from the payroll as a result of the employer liquidating the business, merging the business, disposing the business, or removing the business out of state, all wages become immediately due and payable within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of separation at the usual place of payment. Additionally, if the employee has completed at least one year of service with the employer, holiday pay, vacation pay in full or on a prorated basis, and insurance benefits due the employee under a collective bargaining agreement, company policy, or other agreement between the employer and employee shall be considered as unpaid wages due and payable within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of separation at the usual place of payment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-41 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-41
§ 28-41-41. Criminal prosecution.
Status: in_force

All criminal actions for any violation of chapters 39  41 of this title, or any rule or regulation of the department shall be prosecuted by the attorney general, or by any qualified member of the Rhode Island bar, who shall be designated by the director and approved by the attorney general to institute and prosecute that action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-58.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-58.2
§ 28-44-58.2. Voluntary withholding of income taxes.
Status: in_force

(a) An individual filing a new claim for benefits on or after January 1, 1998, shall, at the time of filing that claim, be advised that:

(1) Unemployment compensation is subject to federal and state income tax and requirements exist pertaining to estimated tax payments;

(2) The individual may elect to have federal income tax deducted and withheld from unemployment compensation paid at the rate specified in the federal Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.;

(3) The individual may elect to have state income tax deducted and withheld from unemployment compensation paid at the rate established by the state tax administrator;

(4) The individual shall be permitted to change a previously elected withholding status only once during a benefit year.

(b) Amounts deducted and withheld from unemployment compensation for income taxes shall remain in the employment security fund until transferred to the federal or state taxing authority as a payment of income tax.

(c) Amounts may be deducted and withheld under this section only after amounts are deducted and withheld for any overpayments of unemployment compensation, child support obligations, or any other amounts required to be deducted and withheld under the provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title.

(d) The director shall follow all procedures specified by the United States Department of Labor and the federal Internal Revenue Service pertaining to the deducting and withholding of income tax.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-41.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-41.1
§ 28-33-41.1. Review of rehabilitative program upon request or petition by employer.
Status: in_force

An employer may petition the workers compensation court for a review, to be performed at the Chief Judge Robert F. Arrigan Rehabilitation Center, of any injured employees progress toward rehabilitation. After that review, the Chief Judge Robert F. Arrigan Rehabilitation Center shall report to the court on the effectiveness of the present rehabilitative program that the employee is undertaking and the injured employees ability to return to employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-23 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-23
§ 28-39-23. False representations to obtain benefits.
Status: in_force

Whoever knowingly makes a false statement or representation to obtain or increase any benefit or other payment under chapters 39  41 of this title, either for himself or herself or for any other person, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than fifty dollars ($50.00), or by imprisonment not longer than thirty (30) days, or by both that fine and imprisonment; and each false statement or representation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-18-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-18 / Section 28-18-6
§ 28-18-6. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The director of labor and training shall issue rules and regulations designed to control and regulate industrial homework where it is permitted, and to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-14
§ 28-14-14. Obstruction of enforcement.
Status: in_force

Any effort of any employer to obstruct the director and his or her authorized representatives in the performance of their duties shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and punishable as such.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-13
§ 28-40-13. Representation of director in civil actions.
Status: in_force

In any civil action brought to enforce chapters 39  41 of this title, the director may be represented by any qualified attorney whom the director has designated and employed for this purpose or, at the directors request, by the attorney general.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-14
§ 28-12-14. Enforcement powers.
Status: in_force

The director or the commissioner or any authorized representative of either shall have the authority to:

(1) Investigate and ascertain the wages of persons employed in any occupation in this state;

(2) Enter and inspect the places of business or employment of any employer of employees in any occupation in the state for the purpose of examining and inspecting any or all books, registers, payrolls, and other records of any employer that in any way relate to or have a bearing on the question of wages, hours, and other conditions of employment of any employees, and may question employees for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of this chapter and the orders and regulations issued under this chapter have been and are being complied with;

(3) Require from any employer of employees in any occupation in this state full and correct statements, in writing, including sworn statements with respect to wages, hours, names, addresses, and any other information pertaining to the employers employees and their employment that the director or the commissioner or their authorized representative deems necessary or appropriate;

(4) Administer rules and require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all books, records, and other evidence relative to any matter under investigation. The subpoena shall be signed and issued by the director or the commissioner and shall be served and have the same effect as if issued out of the superior court;

(5) Cause the depositions of witnesses residing within or outside of the state to be taken in the manner prescribed for like depositions in civil actions in the superior court;

(6) Carry out the provisions of this chapter; and

(7) Bring all actions, suits, complaints, and prosecutions for the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. Complaints shall be signed and issued by the director or the commissioner or any authorized representative of either.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-20-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-20 / Section 28-20-13
§ 28-20-13. Inspection of violations.
Status: in_force

(a) Any employee or representative of employees who believes that a violation of a safety or health code exists that threatens physical harm, or that an imminent danger exists, may request an inspection by giving notice to the director of the violation or danger. Any notice shall be reduced to writing, set forth with reasonable particularity the grounds for the notice, and be signed by the employee or representative of employees. Upon receipt of the notification, the director shall provide a copy to the employer or his or her agent not later than at the time of inspection, except that, upon the request of the person giving the notice, his or her name and the name of the individual employee referred to in the notice shall not appear in copy or on any record published, released, or made available. If upon receipt of the notification the director determines there are reasonable grounds to believe that the violation or danger exists, he or she shall make a special inspection in accordance with the provisions of this section as soon as practicable to determine if the violation or danger exists. If the director determines that there are not reasonable grounds to believe that a violation or danger exists, he or she shall notify the employee or representative of the employees in writing of that determination.

(b) Prior to or during any inspection of a workplace, any employee or representative of employees employed in the workplace may notify the director, in writing, of any violation of this chapter that he or she has reason to believe exists in the workplace. The director shall by regulation establish procedures for informal review of any refusal by his or her representative to issue a compliance order as to any alleged violation and shall furnish the employee or representative of employees requesting the review a written statement of the reasons for the directors final disposition of the case.

(c) A representative of the employer and a representative authorized by the employees shall be given the opportunity to accompany the compliance inspector during a physical inspection of the workplace for the purpose of aiding the inspection. Where there is no authorized employee representative, the compliance inspector shall consult with a reasonable number of employees concerning matters of health and safety in the workplace.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-9 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-9
§ 28-36-9. Insurance agreements subject to statutory provisions.
Status: in_force

Every contract subsequently made for the insurance of the compensation provided for in chapters 29  38 of this title or against liability for it shall be deemed to be made subject to the provisions of those chapters, and all provisions of policies inconsistent with those chapters shall be void.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-36-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-36 / Section 28-36-12
§ 28-36-12. Notice of issuance, cancellation, or failure to renew policies.
Status: in_force

(a) Every insurance company having written a policy insuring against liability for personal injuries to employees shall notify the director of the issuance of the policy within five (5) days of the effective date of this policy in a manner determined by the director. Upon the cancellation of the policy or failure to renew it, every insurance company having written the policy shall immediately notify the director of the cancellation or failure to renew. The director shall have discretion to assess an administrative penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per offense against any insurance company that fails to notify the director as required in this section. The director, in his or her discretion, may bring a civil action to collect all assessed civil penalties. The workers compensation court shall have jurisdiction to enforce compliance with any order of the director made pursuant to this section. Additionally, any insurance company that willfully fails to notify the director as required in this section shall be subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense. All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general at the request of the director.

(b) Cancellation of the policy or nonrenewal shall not be deemed effective until written notice of the cancellation or nonrenewal is received by the director.

(c) All penalties and fines collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general fund.

(d) Except for workers compensation insurance coverage verification, all information required to be provided to the director under this chapter shall be considered confidential under § 38-2-2(4)(B).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-18 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-18
§ 28-27-18. Registration of apprentices.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person who has agreed to work under the supervision of a licensed pipefitter, refrigeration/air conditioning, sprinkler fitter, or sheet metal master under an apprenticeship program registered with the Rhode Island department of labor and training shall be issued a certificate of apprenticeship pursuant to § 28-45-13.

(b) The minimum formal training period for a P.J.F. limited class II license shall be one hundred sixty (160) hours of classroom and/or laboratory technical training, approved by the department of labor and training. The fee schedules for the P.J.F. limited license are detailed in § 28-27-5.2. All other sections of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-2
§ 28-29-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

In chapters 29  38 of this title, unless the context otherwise requires:

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

(2) Director means the director of labor and training or the director's designee unless specifically stated otherwise.

(3)(i) Earnings capacity means the weekly straight-time earnings that an employee could receive if the employee accepted an actual offer of suitable alternative employment. Earnings capacity can also be established by the court based on evidence of ability to earn, including, but not limited to, a determination of the degree of functional impairment and/or disability, that an employee is capable of employment. The court may, in its discretion, take into consideration the performance of the employees duty to actively seek employment in scheduling the implementation of the reduction. The employer need not identify particular employment before the court can direct an earnings capacity adjustment. In the event that an employee returns to light-duty employment while partially disabled, an earnings capacity shall not be set based upon actual wages earned until the employee has successfully worked at light duty for a period of at least thirteen (13) weeks.

(ii) As used under the provisions of this title, functional impairment means an anatomical or functional abnormality existing after the date of maximum medical improvement as determined by a medically or scientifically demonstrable finding and based upon the sixth (6th) edition of the American Medical Associations Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment or comparable publications of the American Medical Association.

(iii) In the event that an employee returns to employment at an average weekly wage equal to the employees pre-injury earnings exclusive of overtime, the employee will be presumed to have regained their earning capacity.

(4)(i) Employee means any person who has entered into the employment of or works under contract of service or apprenticeship with any employer, except that in the case of a city or town other than the city of Providence it shall only mean that class or those classes of employees as may be designated by a city, town, or regional school district in a manner provided in this chapter to receive compensation under chapters 29  38 of this title.

(ii) Any person employed by the state of Rhode Island, or by the Rhode Island airport corporation, except for sworn employees of the Rhode Island state police, who is otherwise entitled to the benefits of chapter 19 of title 45 shall be subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title for case management procedures and dispute resolution by the workers compensation court for all petitions filed on or after July 1, 2025, for the following benefit and disability determinations:

(A) The nature and status of disability of the injured employee;

(B) The nature and location of injury relative to the work incident;

(C) Maximum medical improvement (MMI), as it is defined under § 28-33-2(9);

(D) All issues of legal and/or medical causation;

(E) Suitable alternative employment; and

(F) The assignment of fees and costs pursuant to the provisions of § 28-35-32. The court may in its discretion appoint an impartial medical examiner in accordance with § 28-33-35. The court shall hereby be empowered to enforce all of its orders, decrees, and consent agreements of the parties.

(iii) The term employee does not include any individual who is a shareholder or director in a corporation, general or limited partners in a general partnership, a registered limited liability partnership, a limited partnership, or partners in a registered limited liability limited partnership, or any individual who is a member in a limited liability company. These exclusions do not apply to shareholders, directors, and members who have entered into the employment of or who work under a contract of service or apprenticeship within a corporation or a limited liability company.

(iv) The term employee also does not include a sole proprietor, independent contractor, or a person whose employment is of a casual nature, and who is employed other than for the purpose of the employers trade or business, or a person whose services are voluntary or who performs charitable acts, nor shall it include the members of the regularly organized fire and police departments of any town or city except for appeals from an order of the retirement board filed pursuant to the provisions of § 45-21.2-9; provided, however, that it shall include the members of the police and aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) units of the Rhode Island airport corporation.

(v) Whenever a contractor has contracted with the state, a city, town, or regional school district, any person employed by that contractor in work under contract shall not be deemed an employee of the state, city, town, or regional school district as the case may be.

(vi) Any person who on or after January 1, 1999, was an employee and became a corporate officer shall remain an employee, for purposes of these chapters, unless and until coverage under this act is waived pursuant to § 28-29-8(b) or § 28-29-17. Any person who is appointed a corporate officer between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2001, and was not previously an employee of the corporation, will not be considered an employee, for purposes of these chapters, unless that corporate officer has filed a notice pursuant to § 28-29-19(c).

(vii) In the case of a person whose services are voluntary or who performs charitable acts, any benefit received, in the form of monetary remuneration or otherwise, shall be reportable to the appropriate taxation authority but shall not be deemed to be wages earned under contract of hire for purposes of qualifying for benefits under chapters 29  38 of this title.

(viii) Any reference to an employee who had been injured shall, where the employee is dead, include a reference to the employees dependents as defined in this section, or to the employees legal representatives, or, where the employee is a minor or incompetent, to the employees conservator or guardian.

(ix) A seasonal occupation means those occupations in which work is performed on a seasonal basis of not more than sixteen (16) weeks.

(5) Employer includes any person, partnership, corporation, or voluntary association, and the legal representative of a deceased employer; it includes the state, and the city of Providence. It also includes each city, town, and regional school district in the state that votes or accepts the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title in the manner provided in this chapter or is a party to an appeal from an order of the retirement board filed pursuant to the provisions of § 45-21.2-9.

(6) General or special employer:

(i) General employer includes but is not limited to temporary help companies and employee leasing companies and means a person who for consideration and as the regular course of its business supplies an employee with or without vehicle to another person.

(ii) Special employer means a person who contracts for services with a general employer for the use of an employee, a vehicle, or both.

(iii) Whenever there is a general employer and special employer wherein the general employer supplies to the special employer an employee and the general employer pays or is obligated to pay the wages or salaries of the supplied employee, then, notwithstanding the fact that direction and control is in the special employer and not the general employer, the general employer, if it is subject to the provisions of the workers compensation act or has accepted that act, shall be deemed to be the employer as set forth in subsection (5) of this section and both the general and special employer shall be the employer for purposes of §§ 28-29-17 and 28-29-18.

(iv) Effective January 1, 2003, whenever a general employer enters into a contract or arrangement with a special employer to supply an employee or employees for work, the special employer shall require an insurer generated insurance coverage certification, on a form prescribed by the department, demonstrating Rhode Island workers compensation and employers liability coverage evidencing that the general employer carries workers compensation insurance with that insurer with no indebtedness for its employees for the term of the contract or arrangement. In the event that the special employer fails to obtain and maintain at policy renewal and thereafter this insurer generated insurance coverage certification demonstrating Rhode Island workers compensation and employers liability coverage from the general employer, the special employer is deemed to be the employer pursuant to the provisions of this section. Upon the cancellation or failure to renew, the insurer having written the workers compensation and employers liability policy shall notify the certificate holders and the department of the cancellation or failure to renew and upon notice, the certificate holders shall be deemed to be the employer for the term of the contract or arrangement unless or until a new certification is obtained.

(7) Independent contractor means a person who has filed a notice of designation as independent contractor with the director pursuant to § 28-29-17.1 or as otherwise found by the workers compensation court.

(8)(i) Injury means and refers to personal injury to an employee arising out of and in the course of the employees employment, connected and referable to the employment.

(ii) An injury to an employee while voluntarily participating in a private, group, or employer-sponsored carpool, vanpool, commuter bus service, or other rideshare program, having as its sole purpose the mass transportation of employees to and from work shall not be deemed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment. Nothing in the foregoing provision shall be held to deny benefits under chapters 29  38 and chapter 47 of this title to employees such as drivers, mechanics, and others who receive remuneration for their participation in the rideshare program. Provided, that the foregoing provision shall not bar the right of an employee to recover against an employer and/or driver for tortious misconduct.

(9) Maximum medical improvement means a point in time when any medically determinable physical or mental impairment as a result of injury has become stable and when no further treatment is reasonably expected to materially improve the condition. Neither the need for future medical maintenance nor the possibility of improvement or deterioration resulting from the passage of time and not from the ordinary course of the disabling condition, nor the continuation of a preexisting condition precludes a finding of maximum medical improvement. A finding of maximum medical improvement by the workers compensation court may be reviewed only where it is established that an employees condition has substantially deteriorated or improved.

(10) Physician means medical doctor, surgeon, dentist, licensed psychologist, chiropractor, osteopath, podiatrist, or optometrist, as the case may be.

(11) Suitable alternative employment means employment or an actual offer of employment that the employee is physically able to perform and will not exacerbate the employees health condition and that bears a reasonable relationship to the employees qualifications, background, education, and training. The employees age alone shall not be considered in determining the suitableness of the alternative employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-6.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-6.2
§ 28-29-6.2. Employers mandatory disclosure.
Status: in_force

All employers doing business in the state of Rhode Island shall disclose to all prospective employees at the time of application for employment either that the employer is subject to chapters 29  38 of this title or is exempt from chapters 29  38 of this title. The employer shall also disclose the specific type of exemption. The disclosures required under this section are included on the first page of any written employment application. If the employer does not have a written employment application, the disclosure shall be in writing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-10
§ 28-29-10. Certificate of compliance with corporation laws required.
Status: in_force

Every employer subject to or who elects to become subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title that is a corporation shall obtain and file or cause to be obtained and filed with the director a certificate from the secretary of state to the effect that the corporation has in all respects complied with the provisions of chapters 1  6 of title 7.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-28.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-28.1
§ 28-35-28.1. Reports of hearings  Transcripts.
Status: in_force

(a) Hearings reporters or electronic court reporters shall report, stenographically or electronically, the proceedings in the trial of every action or proceeding in the workers compensation court. Electronic court reporting shall be used only when hearings reporters are unavailable for any reason.

(b) Each hearings reporter or electronic court reporter shall also, upon the order of any judge in the court, transcribe his or her report to be filed with the court. He or she shall also make a transcript of the whole or any part of that report upon request, filed with the court, by either party to the action or proceeding, and when completed and within the time limited by the court for filing the transcript, shall immediately deliver it to the party ordering it, or to the attorney of record of that party. For this service, the reporter shall be paid a reasonable compensation, not less than five dollars ($5.00), and not exceeding three dollars ($3.00) per page for originals and one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per page for copies of it, to be allowed by the court. If the transcript is used in subsequent proceedings in the cause, the cost of it may be allowed as a part of the costs.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-14.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-57 / Section 28-57-14.1
§ 28-57-14.1. Allowable substitution for construction industry multi-employer collective bargaining agreements.
Status: in_force

(a) Employers in the construction industry as classified as code 23 under the North American Industry Classification System that are signatories to a multi-employer collective bargaining agreement authorized pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act shall be in compliance with the provisions of this chapter if their collective bargaining agreement provides for:

(1) Employee paid sick and safe leave benefits that are compensated at the wage hourly rate only;

(2) Accumulation of sick and safe leave benefits on an hourly or weekly basis that meets the minimum accrual standards set forth in § 28-57-5; and

(3) Employer participation in a designated federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefit trust fund to administer the paid sick and safe leave benefits required under this chapter.

(b) Administration of all other benefits shall be governed by the multi-employer collective bargaining agreements and the designated Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefit trust funds referenced therein.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-19
§ 28-44-19. Receipt of compensation.
Status: in_force

(a) An individual shall be disqualified from receiving benefits for any week of his or her unemployment occurring within any period with respect to which that individual is currently receiving, or has received, remuneration in the form of:

(1) Compensation for temporary partial disability under a workers compensation law of any state or under a similar law of the United States; or

(2) Benefits under an unemployment compensation law of any state or of the United States.

(b) If the remuneration designated in subsection (a) of this section is less than the benefits that would otherwise be due under chapters 42  44 of this title, he or she shall be entitled to receive for that week, if otherwise eligible, benefits reduced by the amount of that remuneration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-9-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-9 / Section 28-9-11
§ 28-9-11. Summons of witnesses  Attendance by arbitrators  Majority required for award.
Status: in_force

The arbitrator or arbitrators selected as prescribed in this chapter may require any person to attend before them as a witness; and he or she and they have, and each of them has, the same powers with respect to all the proceedings before them that are conferred upon a board or a member of a board authorized by law to hear testimony. All the arbitrators selected as prescribed in this chapter must meet together and hear all the allegations and proofs of the parties, but an award by a majority of them is valid unless the concurrence of all is expressly required in the submission or contract.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-10
§ 28-41-10. Benefits payable for last week of benefit year.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provision of chapters 39  41 of this title to the contrary, if the benefit year of an individual terminates prior to the end of a week throughout which he or she is unemployed due to sickness and eligible and his or her benefit credits for that benefit year have not been exhausted, then that individual shall be entitled to receive for that week the full amount of benefits that he or she would have received if his or her benefit year had not so terminated; provided, that this shall in no manner affect the establishment of a new base period and benefit year in accordance with § 28-39-2(2) and (6).
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-34-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-34 / Section 28-34-3
§ 28-34-3. Benefits available to victims of disease.
Status: in_force

If an employee is disabled or dies and his disability or death is caused by one of the diseases mentioned in the schedule contained in § 28-34-2, and the disease is due to the nature of the employment in which that employee was engaged and was contracted in, he or she or his or her dependents shall be entitled to compensation for his or her death or for his or her disablement, and he or she shall be entitled to be furnished with medical and hospital services, as provided in chapter 33 of this title, except as provided in this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-3 / Section 28-3-8
§ 28-3-8. Employment subject to provisions.
Status: in_force

Every person, firm, or corporation doing business within this state employing five (5) or more persons, or employing any child under sixteen (16) years of age, shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 28-3-1  28-3-20 whatever the business conducted by the person, firm, or corporation; provided, that the provisions of §§ 28-3-1  28-3-20 do not apply to children employed in household service or in agricultural pursuits; and provided, further, that the provisions do not apply to the employment of children in the vocation, occupation, or service of rope or wire walking, or as gymnasts, wrestlers, contortionists, equestrian performers, or acrobats, riders upon bicycles, or mechanical contrivances, or in any dancing, theatrical, or musical exhibition, but the employment of children in any vocation, occupation, or service enumerated in this proviso shall continue to be governed by the provisions of §§ 11-9-1  11-9-8.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-12
§ 28-39-12. Examination of claimants.
Status: in_force

The director may require any benefit claimant to submit to a reasonable examination or examinations for the purpose of determining his or her physical or mental condition, the examination or examinations to be conducted by a qualified healthcare provider appointed by the director, and to be made at those times and places that the qualified healthcare provider, with the approval of the director, require.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-6
§ 28-43-6. Notification of benefit payments to employers.
Status: in_force

(a) Within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter, or more frequently if deemed necessary, the director shall furnish to each employer who or that is charged for benefits paid to claimants under this title during that quarter a notice that shall contain at least the following information:

(1) The name and social security number of the payee;

(2) The amount paid;

(3) The date on which that payment was made;

(4) The calendar week for which that payment is made; and

(5) The name of the chargeable employer and the employers registered account number.

(b) That notification to an employer shall constitute the directors determination and shall be binding upon the employer unless an appeal is duly filed within fifteen (15) days of its mailing.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-38 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-38
§ 28-39-38. Construction of provisions.
Status: in_force

Chapters 39  41 of this title shall be construed liberally in aid of their declared purpose, which declared purpose is to lighten the burden which now falls on the unemployed worker and his family.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-15-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-15 / Section 28-15-2
§ 28-15-2. Maximum period of assignment  Form and contents.
Status: in_force

No assignment of future earnings or wages shall be valid:

(1) For a period exceeding one year from the date of the assignment;

(2) Unless made to secure a debt contracted prior to or simultaneously with the execution of the assignment;

(3) Unless executed in writing in the standard form set forth in § 28-15-3 and signed by the assignor in person and not by attorney; and

(4) Unless the assignment truly states the date of its execution, the money or the money value of goods actually furnished by the assignee and the rate of interest, if any, to be paid on it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-15-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-15 / Section 28-15-3
§ 28-15-3. Standard form.
Status: in_force

The standard form of assignment required by this chapter shall be as follows:
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-40-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-40 / Section 28-40-15
§ 28-40-15. Notice of transfer of business  Contributions due immediately.
Status: in_force

The sale or transfer by any employer other than receivers, assignees under a voluntary assignment for the benefit of creditors, trustees in bankruptcy, or public officers acting under judicial process, of the major part in value of the assets of that employer otherwise than in the ordinary course of trade and the regular and usual prosecution of that employers business, shall be fraudulent and void as against the state, unless that employer shall, at least five (5) days before the sale or transfer, notify the director of the proposed sale or transfer and of its price, terms, and conditions and of the character and location of those assets. Whenever that employer makes that sale or transfer, all contributions imposed by this chapter shall be paid at the time when the director is so notified or, if he or she is not so notified, at the time when he or she should have been notified.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-34-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-34 / Section 28-34-2
§ 28-34-2. Occupational diseases listed  Treatment as compensable injury.
Status: in_force

The disablement of any employee resulting from an occupational disease or condition described in the following schedule shall be treated as the happening of a personal injury, as defined in § 28-33-1, within the meaning of chapters 29  38 of this title, and the procedure and practice provided in those chapters shall apply to all proceedings under this chapter, except where specifically provided otherwise in this chapter:

(1) Anthrax.

(2) Arsenic poisoning or its sequelae.

(3) Brass or zinc poisoning or its sequelae.

(4) Lead poisoning or its sequelae.

(5) Manganese poisoning.

(6) Mercury poisoning or its sequelae.

(7) Phosphorous poisoning or its sequelae.

(8) Poisoning by wood alcohol.

(9) Poisoning by carbon bisulphide, methanol, naphtha, or volatile halogenated hydrocarbons, or any sulphide, or its sequelae.

(10) Poisoning by benzol, or nitro-, hydro-, hydroz-, amido derivatives of benzol (dinitrobenzol, anilin, and others), or its sequelae.

(11) Poisoning by carbon monoxide.

(12) Poisoning by nitrous fumes or its sequelae.

(13) Poisoning by nickel carbonyl or its sequelae.

(14) Dope poisoning (poisoning by tetrachlormethane or any substance used as or in conjunction with a solvent for acetate or cellulose or nitrocellulose or its sequelae).

(15) Poisoning by formaldehyde and its preparations.

(16) Chrome ulceration or its sequelae or chrome poisoning.

(17) Epitheliomatous cancer or ulceration of the skin, or of the corneal surface of the eye, due to tar, pitch, bitumen, mineral oil, or paraffin or any compound, product, or residue of any of these substances.

(18) Glanders.

(19) Compressed air illness or its sequelae.

(20) Miners disease, including only cellulitis, bursitis, ankylostomiasis, tenosynovitis, and nystagmus.

(21) Cataract in glassworkers.

(22) Radium poisoning or disability due to radioactive properties of substances or to Roentgen rays (X-rays).

(23) Methyl chloride poisoning.

(24) Poisoning by sulphuric, hydrochloric, or hydrofluoric acid.

(25) Respiratory, gastrointestinal, or physiological nerve and eye disorders due to contact with petroleum products and their fumes.

(26) Disability arising from blisters or abrasions.

(27) Hernia, clearly recent in origin and resulting from a strain arising out of and in the course of employment and promptly reported to the employer.

(28) Infection or inflammation of the skin or eyes or other external contact surfaces or oral or nasal cavities due to oils, cutting compounds, or lubricants, dusts, liquids, fumes, gases, or vapors.

(29) Dermatitis (venenata).

(30) Disability arising from bursitis or synovitis.

(31) Disability arising from frostbite.

(32) Disability arising from silicosis or asbestosis.

(33) Disability arising from any cause connected with or arising from the peculiar characteristics of the employment.

(34) Disability arising from any cause connected with or arising from ionizing radiation.

(35) Disability arising from pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of metallic minerals or mineral particles.

(36) The disablement of an employee resulting from mental injury caused or accompanied by identifiable physical trauma or from a mental injury caused by emotional stress resulting from a situation of greater dimensions than the day-to-day emotional strain and tension that all employees encounter daily without serious mental injury shall be treated as an injury as defined in § 28-29-2.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-53-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-53 / Section 28-53-4
§ 28-53-4. Payor of last resort.
Status: in_force

The fund shall not distribute funds of any kind to any insured, insurer, or self-insured employer and shall not be deemed an insurer for any purpose noted in this act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-57 / Section 28-57-10
§ 28-57-10. Enforcement.
Status: in_force

(a) Enforcement and notice requirements pursuant to this chapter shall be in accordance with enforcement and notice requirements of chapter 12 of this title.

(b) Any employee or former employee aggrieved by a violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to the same protections and relief as under chapters 12 and 14 of this title.

(c) An employer who violates this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty in an amount not less than one hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation, and each subsequent violation shall be subject to the penalties under chapter 12 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-25 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-25
§ 28-41-25. Rule of decision  Certification of questions to board.
Status: in_force

Final decisions of the board of review and the principles of law declared in their support shall be binding in all subsequent proceedings involving similar questions, unless expressly or impliedly overruled by a later decision of the board or of a court of competent jurisdiction. Final decisions of appeal tribunals and the principles of law declared in their support shall be binding on the director and shall further be persuasive authority in subsequent appeal tribunal proceedings. If in any subsequent proceedings, the director or an appeal tribunal has serious doubt as to the correctness of any principles previously declared by an appeal tribunal or by the board, or if there is an apparent inconsistency or conflict in final decisions of comparable authority, then the findings of fact in that case may be certified, together with the question of law involved, to the board. After giving notice and reasonable opportunity for a hearing upon the law to all parties to the proceedings, the board shall certify to the director or appeal tribunal and the parties in interest, its answer to the question submitted, or the board, in its discretion, may remove to itself the entire proceeding as provided in § 28-41-23 and render its decision upon the entire case.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-25.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-25.1
§ 28-27-25.1. Judicial enforcement.
Status: in_force

The district court shall have jurisdiction to enforce compliance with the provisions of this chapter upon petition being filed by the director of labor and training, or his or her designee, and notice being given to the person or persons charged with a violation of the provisions of this chapter, and it may issue any process of injunction, mandamus, or otherwise that in the opinion of the court is necessary to enforce compliance with the provisions of this chapter, but no ex parte restraining order shall be issued unless upon showing satisfactory to the court that danger to life or property is imminent, and in that case citation to the defendant shall be returnable not more than five (5) days after the ex parte restraining order is entered.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-3-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-3 / Section 28-3-11
§ 28-3-11. Hours of work for children.
Status: in_force

(a) No children under sixteen (16) years of age shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work more than forty (40) hours in any one week in any business or mercantile establishment within this state, and in no case shall the hours of labor exceed eight (8) hours in any one day. No child under eighteen (18) years of age shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work in any factory, manufacturing, mechanical, business, or mercantile establishment within this state more than forty-eight (48) hours in any one workweek. In no case shall the hours of labor exceed nine (9) hours in any calendar day, except when forty-eight (48) hours are worked in five (5) days, in which case the hours of labor shall not exceed nine and three-fifths (9 ) hours in any calendar day. There shall be an interval (or period of cessation from work) of not less than eight (8) hours between the ending of the period of work on one calendar day and the beginning of a period of work on the subsequent consecutive calendar day.

(b) No minor between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age regularly attending a public or approved private day school or institution of higher learning shall be employed or permitted or suffered to work in any factory, manufacturing, mechanical, business, or mercantile establishment within this state before 6:00 a.m. or after 11:30 p.m. of any one day preceding a regularly scheduled school day, except that the minor may be employed or permitted or suffered to work until 1:30 a.m. of any nonregularly scheduled school day.

(c) Any minor between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) may be employed during school vacations without limitation as to the total hours to be worked in a given week or calendar day provided the provisions of all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations are complied with. This provision applies as long as it continues to be permitted by federal law and/or regulation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-21 / Section 28-21-8
§ 28-21-8. Employee rights.
Status: in_force

The following rights are guaranteed to employees:

(1) Refusing to work. If an employee has requested from his or her employer information about a designated substance or mixture, either in the form of material safety data sheets or the chemical identification list as defined in § 28-21-1, and has not received this information from the employer within three (3) working days of the date of the request, not including weekends or holidays, the employee may then refuse to work with or be exposed to the designated substance or mixture. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, if the employer has invoked and complied with the procedures set forth in § 28-21-3(c), the time period of three (3) working days, not including weekends or holidays, shall be extended to equal any time period provided to the manufacturer or employer under § 28-21-3(c), or until the information has been received by the employer, whichever is sooner.

(2) Discipline, discrimination prohibited. An employer may not discharge or otherwise discipline or discriminate against any employee because the employee has exercised his or her right under § 28-21-6 and/or this section, or has testified or is about to testify in any proceeding related to this chapter.

(3) Waivers prohibited. An employer may not request or require any employee to waive any rights under this chapter.

(4) Remedies and complaint procedure for employees. (i) Any employee who has been discharged, disciplined, or otherwise discriminated against by any employer in violation of this chapter may, within one hundred eighty (180) days after the violation occurs or ninety (90) days after the employee first obtains knowledge that a violation has occurred, commence an action in any appropriate court of law alleging wrongful dismissal in violation of this chapter. (ii) In addition to but not in lieu of the action in paragraph (i) of this subdivision, any employee may commence any action in any appropriate court of law to enforce any obligation, duty, or responsibility imposed upon him or her or the employer under the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-51-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-51 / Section 28-51-1
§ 28-51-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this chapter, Employer means any entity employing fifty (50) or more employees.

(b) As used in this chapter, Sexual harassment means any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

(1) Submission to that conduct or those advances or requests is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individuals employment; or

(2) Submission to or rejection of the conduct or advances or requests by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting the individual; or

(3) The conduct or advances or requests have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individuals work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-5
§ 28-7-5. Quorum of board  Seal.
Status: in_force

A vacancy in the board does not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the board, and two (2) members of the board, at all times, constitutes a quorum. The board may adopt an official seal and prescribe the purposes for which it is used.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-34-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-34 / Section 28-34-1
§ 28-34-1. Definitions.
Status: in_force

Whenever used in this chapter:

(1) Disability means the state of being disabled from earning full wages at the work at which the employee was last employed.

(2) Disablement means the event of becoming disabled as defined in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Occupational disease means a disease that is due to causes and conditions that are characteristic of and peculiar to a particular trade, occupation, process, or employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-22 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-22
§ 28-7-22. Testimony at hearing  Decision and orders.
Status: in_force

(a) The testimony shall be taken at the hearing and the board in its discretion may upon notice take further testimony or hear argument. The testimony so taken or heard shall not be reduced to writing unless an appeal is taken as provided in this chapter by an aggrieved party or unless a transcript is required for proceedings in the superior court.

(b)(1) If upon all the testimony taken the board determines that the respondent has engaged in or is engaging in any unfair labor practice, the board shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on the respondent an order requiring the respondent to cease and desist from the unfair labor practice, and to take any further affirmative or other action that will effectuate the policies of this chapter, including, but not limited to:

(i) Withdrawal of recognition from and refraining from bargaining collectively with any employee organization or association, agency, or plan defined in this chapter as a company union, or established, maintained, or assisted by any action defined in this chapter as an unfair labor practice;

(ii) Awarding of back pay;

(iii) Reinstatement with or without back pay of any employee discriminated against in violation of §28-7-13, or maintenance of a preferential list from which the employee shall be returned to work; and

(iv) Reinstatement with or without back pay of all employees whose work has ceased or whose return to work has been delayed or prevented as the result of the aforementioned or any other unfair labor practice in respect to any employee or employees or maintenance of a preferential list from which the employees shall be returned to work.

(2) The order may further require the person to file reports from time to time, showing the extent to which the order has been complied with.

(c) If upon all the testimony the board is of the opinion that the person or persons named in the complaint have not engaged in or are not engaging in any unfair labor practice, the board shall make its findings of fact and issue an order dismissing the complaint.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-37 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-37
§ 28-41-37. Determination of claim.
Status: in_force

(a) In accordance with § 28-41-16, upon the filing of a claim, the director shall promptly examine the claim and on the basis of facts found by the director and records maintained by the department, the claim shall be determined to be valid or invalid. If the claim is determined to be valid, the director shall promptly notify the claimant as to the week with respect to which benefits shall commence, the weekly benefit amount payable, and the maximum duration of those benefits. If the claim is determined to be invalid, the director shall likewise notify the claimant and any other interested parties of that determination and the reasons for it. If the processing of the claim is delayed for any reason, the director shall notify the claimant, in writing, within three (3) weeks of the date the application for benefits is filed of the reason for the delay. Unless the claimant or any other interested party, within fifteen (15) days, requests a hearing before the board of review, the determination with reference to the claim is final. However, for good cause shown, the fifteen-day (15) period may be extended after notification by the director has been mailed to his or her last known address, as provided in this section. At any time within one year from the date of a monetary determination, the director, upon request of the claimant or on his or her own motion, may reconsider his or her determination if he or she finds that an error in computation or identity has occurred in connection with it or that additional wages pertinent to the claimants status have become available, or if that determination has been made as a result of a nondisclosure or misrepresentation of a material fact.

(b) If an appeal is duly filed, benefits with respect to the period prior to the final decision, if it is found that those benefits are payable, shall be paid only after the decision. If an appeal tribunal affirms a decision of the director, or the board of review affirms a decision of an appeal tribunal allowing benefits, those benefits shall be paid regardless of any appeal which may subsequently be taken.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-6
§ 28-27-6. Corporations and firms engaged in business.
Status: in_force

(a) No corporation, firm, association, or partnership shall engage in business, advertise, make application for and take out permits, bid for work, or represent itself as a mechanical contractor, pipefitter, refrigeration/air conditioning, fire protection sprinkler systems master or contractor or sheet metal contractor unless:

(1) A licensed mechanical contractor, pipefitter, refrigeration/air conditioning, fire protection sprinkler systems master, or sheet metal contractor as applicable, as provided in this chapter, is continuously engaged in the supervision of that entitys installation, maintenance, and repair work and the licensed master is an officer of the corporation, a partner in the partnership, or a similarly authorized principal of any such firm, association, or other entity; or

(2) That entity possesses a valid mechanical contractor, pipefitter, refrigeration-air conditioning, fire protection sprinkler systems contractors or sheet metal contractor license, as applicable, duly issued by the department of labor and training as further described in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Upon application of any of the above entities in form and substance prescribed by the department of labor and training, and receipt of the fee for the application and license, which shall be equal to the fee for a mechanical contractor, pipefitter, refrigeration-air conditioning, sheet metal, fire protection sprinkler systems master, or sheet metal contractor license as described in § 28-27-17, as the same may be amended from time to time, the department of labor and training shall issue the applicant entity a license as a mechanical contractor, as applicable. The contractors license shall specify the name of the entity holding the license and shall state that the license holder: (1) Has a masters license in the mechanical trades, as defined in § 28-27-1.0, and who is continuously engaged in the supervision of the entitys installation, maintenance, and repair work, and who is an officer of the corporation, a partner in the partnership, or a similarly authorized principal of any such firm, association, or other entity; or (2) Continuously employs at all times while holding this license a person with a masters license in the applicable mechanical trade, as provided in this chapter, who shall be continuously engaged in the supervision of the entitys installation, maintenance, and repair work. The contractors license shall entitle the entity holding the license to engage in business, advertise, bid for work, or represent itself as a mechanical contractor, and also entitles the entity to make application for and take out permits through its duly authorized officer or similarly authorized principal as well as through the duly licensed contractor master as described in this section or the duly licensed master continuously employed by the entity as stated in this section, as the case may be. The contractors license shall not, however, in and of itself, permit a principal, officer, employee, or agent of the entity holding the license to individually engage in installation, maintenance, or repair work as described in this section unless the principal, officer, employee, or agent is individually licensed to do so.

(c) Any work engaged in, advertised for, applied for by permit, bid for, or represented to be permissible, shall be solely of the type for which the licensed master or contract master who serves as an officer or similarly authorized principal of the entity or who, in the case of a licensed master, is continuously employed by the entity holding a contractors license, is duly licensed to perform.

(d) Any licensed master or contractor master who serves as an officer or similarly authorized principal of such an entity or who, in the case of a licensed master, is continuously employed by an entity holding a contractors license, shall represent the interests of one such entity and only one such entity at any given time as described in this section.

(e) If the licensed master or contractor master described in this section ceases to be an officer or similarly authorized principal of one of the entities described in this section or, in the case of a licensed master, ceases to be continuously employed by an entity holding a contractors license for any reason whatsoever, the entity shall provide written notice of the cessation of continuous employment to the department of labor and training no more than fourteen (14) days after the effective date of occurrence of the cessation. Any entity so affected shall provide written notice to the department of labor and training specifying the licensed master or contractor master who shall replace the departed licensed master or contractor master, as applicable, referenced in this section no more than forty-five (45) days after the effective date of occurrence of the cessation.

(f) No corporation, firm, association, partnership, or other entity that engages in, offers to engage in, or represents that it engages in the mechanical trades for the purpose of maintenance, or repair work in the state of Rhode Island shall be permitted to incorporate, form, qualify to do business, or otherwise register with the Rhode Island secretary of states office until and unless that office has first received a written confirmation from the department of labor and training that all requisite licenses to be issued by the department of labor and training have been issued and remain in good standing.

(g) Any willful violation of this section shall be grounds for revocation of license as further described in § 28-27-21.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-58 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-58
§ 28-44-58. Exemption of benefits from assignment or process.
Status: in_force

Benefits that are due or may become due under chapters 42  44 of this title shall not be assigned, pledged, or encumbered before payment; and when awarded, adjudged, or paid, so long as they are not mingled with other funds of the recipient, shall be exempt from all claims of creditors, and from levy, execution, and attachment or other remedy now or subsequently provided for recovery or collection of debt, which exemption may not be waived.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-8
§ 28-44-8. Lag day benefits.
Status: in_force

For weeks beginning on or after July 1, 1983, an individual who has been totally unemployed and in receipt of benefits for two (2) or more successive weeks and returns to work prior to the end of the week following that period of two (2) or more successive weeks shall be entitled to one-fifth ( ) of his or her benefit rate for each lag day of unemployment prior to the first day of his or her initial employment during that first week of reemployment, the resulting total benefits rounded to the next lower multiple of one dollar ($1.00); provided, that benefit payments may be made only for those days of unemployment on which work is ordinarily performed in the occupation in the establishment in which the individual is reemployed. No individual shall in any case be entitled to more than four-fifths ( ) of his or her benefit rate, rounded to the next lower multiple of one dollar ($1.00), for that week.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-37-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-37 / Section 28-37-13
§ 28-37-13. Payments into fund by insurers and employers.
Status: in_force

(a) For the privilege of writing or renewing workers compensation insurance or employers liability insurance in this state, every mutual association or stock company so authorized, to be referred to as insurers, and for the privilege of being authorized to make payments of workers compensation directly to its employees, and every employer so authorized, to be referred to as certified employers, shall annually make the following payments to the workers compensation administrative fund:

(1) In the case of an insurer, an amount measured by the percentage of return as certified by the director pursuant to subsection (c) of this section of the gross premiums received for workers compensation insurance or employers liability insurance written or renewed by it during the preceding calendar year on risks within this state, but not less than one hundred dollars ($100); and

(2) In the case of a certified employer, an amount measured by the percentage of return as certified by the director pursuant to subsection (c) of this section of the premium that the employer would have had to pay to obtain workers compensation insurance or employers liability insurance for the preceding calendar year, but not less than one hundred dollars ($100), which amount shall be determined by the director.

(b) Every certified employer and every insurer shall also pay into the workers compensation administrative fund the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for every case of injury causing death in which there is no person entitled to compensation.

(c) The director is obligated to determine on or before July 15 of each year, after taking into account projected expenditures for the current fiscal year and for the next fiscal year, what percentage of return, referred to as the assessment, is needed to provide sufficient funds, in conjunction with appropriations from the general fund, if any, to fulfill the purposes enumerated in § 28-37-1(b) and shall certify this assessment to the governor and the general assembly. This assessment may be separately determined for insurers and for certified employers. The payments, due within sixty (60) days of notice each year pursuant to §§ 28-37-15 and 28-37-16, shall be made based upon the certified assessment.

(d)(1) In recognition of the continued utilization of the workers compensation system by insurers who have discontinued writing workers compensation policies in the state, if any insurer company, deemed by the director of the department of business regulation to have been licensed on January 1, 1991, to write workers compensation policies, discontinues the issuance of workers compensation policies, such insurer shall be and remain obligated to pay the workers compensation administrative fund assessment for a period of six (6) years subsequent to its discontinuation of the issuance of such policies.

(2) In calculating the amount due by these insurance companies on the due date, as defined in subsection (c) of this section, of the year after which it discontinues writing policies in this state (the base year) the director of labor and training will calculate an amount equal to the assessment in effect on the last date the insurer issued workers compensation policies multiplied by the gross premiums received for workers compensation insurance or employers liability insurance written or renewed by it during the base year on risks within this state, but not less than one hundred dollars ($100) each year.

(3) The basis for the calculation of the assessment in each succeeding year shall be a reduction of the base year assessment by increments of sixteen and two-thirds percent (16 2 / 3 %) per each succeeding year.

(e) All penalties collected for any violation under chapters 29  38 of this title shall be paid into this fund.

(f) Any employer, insurer, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that has not paid assessments or who or that is not current with payment of assessments into this fund shall not be permitted to place a claim against the fund. Reimbursement to any employer, insurer, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that is not current with payment of assessments into this fund shall be suspended immediately as of the first date of arrearage.

(g) To be eligible to use any of the services funded by the workers compensation administrative fund an employer, insurer, self-insurer, or group self-insurer shall pay a fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per claim, per month into the fund until the arrearage is paid in full in addition to any other interests or penalties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-57.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-57.1
§ 28-35-57.1. Bar of claims.
Status: in_force

An employees claim for compensation from an employer under chapters 29 to 38 of this title shall be barred from the date the employee commences employment for a period of two (2) years in the event the employee has willfully provided false information as to his or her ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, on an employment application requesting that information, if the information is directly related to the personal injury that is the basis of the new claim for compensation. This section shall not apply unless the employment application advises the employee of the substance of this section. Nothing in this section shall exempt any employer from or excuse full compliance with any applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., and chapter 87 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-1
§ 28-35-1. Filing of memorandum of agreement.
Status: in_force

(a) If the employer makes payments of compensation to an employee or those entitled to compensation on account of the death of an employee under chapters 29  38 of this title, a memorandum of that agreement signed by the employer or the employers insurer shall be filed with the department which shall immediately docket it in a book kept for that purpose.

(b) The memorandum shall include:

(1) The names of the employee, employer, and insurance carrier;

(2) The date, place, nature, and location of the injury on the employees body;

(3) The names of the employees other employers, if any, or a statement that there is no multiple employment, if that is the case;

(4) The rate upon which the compensation is based;

(5) Any other information required by the director; and

(6) The average weekly straight time earnings earned by the employee for the thirteen (13) weeks prior to injury and the amount of overtime pay included in calculating the employees average weekly wage.

(c) The employer shall send a copy of the memorandum and any amendments to it to the employee and his or her attorney or the representative of the decedent and its attorney either with the payment of compensation made under § 28-35-40 or by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the same time as it is filed with the department.

(d) The employer shall file a memorandum pursuant to this section within ten (10) days of the initial payment by the employer or insurer.

(e) Upon the filing of the memorandum of agreement with the department, the memorandum shall be as binding on the party filing the memorandum as a preliminary determination, order, or decree.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-8 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-50 / Section 28-50-8
§ 28-50-8. Notices posted.
Status: in_force

An employer shall post notices and use other appropriate means to keep the employers employees informed of their protections and obligations under this chapter, including posting in prominent locations in all languages known to be spoken by employees.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-20 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-20
§ 28-35-20. Informal pretrial conference.
Status: in_force

(a) Before any case shall proceed to a trial, the judge shall conduct a mandatory pretrial conference within twenty-one (21) days of the date of filing with a view to expediting the case and reducing the issues in dispute to a minimum, notice of which shall be sent by the administrator to the parties or to their attorneys of record. The conference shall be informal and no oral testimony shall be offered or taken. Any statement then made by either party shall in the absence of agreement be without prejudice, but any agreement then made shall be binding.

(b) Within a reasonable time of receipt, all medical reports and documentary evidence that the parties possess and the parties intend to present as evidence at the pretrial conference shall be provided to the opposing party.

(c) At the pretrial conference, the judge shall make every effort to resolve any controversies or to plan for any subsequent trial of the case. The judge shall render a pretrial order immediately at the close of the pretrial conference. The pretrial order shall be set forth in a simplified manner on forms prescribed by the workers compensation court. It may reflect any agreements reached between the parties, but shall grant or deny, in whole or in part, the relief sought by the petitioner. Subject to the provisions of § 45-21.2-9(k), the pretrial order shall be effective upon entry. Any payments ordered by it including, but not limited to, weekly benefits, medical expenses, costs, and attorneys fees, shall be paid within fourteen (14) days of the entry of the order.

(d) Any party aggrieved by the entry of the order by the judge may claim a trial on any issue that was not resolved by agreement at the pretrial conference by filing with the workers compensation court within five (5) days of the date of the entry of the order, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, a claim for a trial on forms prescribed by the workers compensation court. If no timely claim for a trial is filed or is filed and withdrawn, the pretrial order shall become, by operation of law and without further action by any party, a final decree of the workers compensation court.

(e) All trials shall be assigned for hearing and decision to the same judge who presided over the pretrial of the matter. Notice of the trial shall be sent by the workers compensation court to the parties and to their attorneys of record. All trials shall be de novo, except that issues resolved by agreement at the pretrial conference may not be reopened. Any other case or dispute under chapters 29  38 of this title that arises during the pendency of this trial, shall be forwarded immediately to the same judge for pretrial in accordance with this section and for any subsequent trial.

(f) If after trial and the entry of a final decree, it is determined that the employee or medical services provider was not entitled to the relief sought in the petition, the employer or insurer shall be reimbursed from the workers compensation administrative fund, described in chapter 37 of this title, to the extent of any payments made pursuant to the pretrial order to which there is no entitlement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-17-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-17 / Section 28-17-3
§ 28-17-3. Tax exemption.
Status: in_force

The intangible personal property held in any employees trust as defined in § 28-17-1 shall be exempt from all sales and use taxes and all other state and local taxation so long as it is held in trust and used for the purposes of the trust and of the plan of which the trust forms a part. The right of any employee or beneficiary under the plan to any pension, annuity, or retirement allowance or to the return of contributions, and any other benefit or right accrued or accruing to any person under the terms of the trust or plan shall be exempt from all local taxation and state taxation except for the personal income tax imposed under the provisions of chapter 30 of title 44.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-2
§ 28-41-2. Wages included for benefit purposes.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any provisions of chapters 39  41 of this title to the contrary, wages as used in the phrase wages for employment from employers means, with reference to the benefits provisions of chapters 39  41 of this title, only those wages that are paid subsequent to the date upon which the employing unit, by whom those wages were paid, has satisfied the conditions of § 28-39-2(12) with respect to becoming an employer subject to those chapters. No individual shall be denied benefits under chapters 39  41 of this title because his or her employer continued to pay to that individual his or her regular wages, or parts of them, while he or she was sick and unable to perform his or her regular or customary work or services. The amount of any payments, whether or not under a plan or system, made to or on behalf of an employee by his or her employer after the expiration of six (6) calendar months following the last calendar month in which the employee performed actual bona fide personal services for that employer, shall not be deemed to be wages for the purpose of being used as a basis for paying benefits under this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-17
§ 28-14-17. Penalty for violations.
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, any employer who or that violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction of the misdemeanor, the employer shall be punished by a fine of not less than four hundred dollars ($400) for each separate offense, or by imprisonment of up to one year, or by both fine and imprisonment. Each pay period of failure to pay wages due an employee at the time specified in this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct civil violation, separate and apart from any criminal violation provided for in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Any employer who knowingly and willfully violates § 28-14-2, § 28-14-4, or § 28-14-6 of this chapter shall be guilty of a felony if the actual value of the wages due to an employee exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), and upon a plea or conviction thereof, shall be deemed to have committed a felony and shall be imprisoned by a term not exceeding three (3) years, or by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. In calculating the value of wages due to an employee, the total amount of all wages due the employee, in U.S. dollars, shall be included in the calculation.

(c) Any employer found guilty of violations of this chapter who or that does not pay wages and fines within thirty (30) days of a final decision and after notification by the department of labor and training, may have the employers business license revoked by the state of Rhode Island until the employer pays such wages and fines in full or enters into a payment agreement with which the employer stays in compliance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-4.3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-12 / Section 28-12-4.3
§ 28-12-4.3. Exemptions.
Status: in_force

(a) The provisions of §§ 28-12-4.1 and 28-12-4.2 do not apply to the following employees:

(1) Any employee of a summer camp when it is open no more than six (6) months of the year;

(2) Police officer;

(3) Employees of the state or political subdivision of the state who may elect through a collective bargaining agreement, memorandum of understanding, or any other agreement between the employer and representatives of the employees, or if the employees are not represented by an exclusive bargaining agent, through an agreement or understanding arrived at between the employer and the employee prior to the performance of work, to receive compensatory time off for hours worked in excess of forty (40) in a week. The compensatory hours shall at least equal one and one-half (1Â½) times the hours worked over forty (40) in a week. If compensation is paid to an employee for accrued compensatory time, the compensation shall be paid at the regular rate earned by the employee at the time of payment. At the time of termination, unused accrued compensatory time shall be paid at a rate not less than:

(i) The average regular rate received by the employee during the last three (3) years of the employees employment; or

(ii) The final regular rate received by the employee, whichever is higher;

(4) Any employee employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., compensated for services on a salary basis of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) per week;

(5) Any employee as defined in subsection (a)(4) of this section unless the wages of the employee, if computed on an hourly basis, would violate the applicable minimum wage law;

(6) Any salaried employee of a nonprofit national voluntary health agency who elects to receive compensatory time off for hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours per week;

(7) Any employee, including drivers, drivers helpers, mechanics, and loaders of any motor carrier, including private carriers, with respect to whom the United States Secretary of Transportation has power to establish qualifications and maximum hours of service pursuant to the provisions of 49 U.S.C. § 31502;

(8) Any employee who is a salesperson, parts person, or mechanic primarily engaged in the sale and/or servicing of automobiles, trucks, or farm implements, and is employed by a non-manufacturing employer primarily engaged in the business of selling vehicles or farm implements to ultimate purchasers, to the extent that the employers are exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C. § 213(b)(10); provided, that the employees weekly, biweekly, or monthly actual earnings exceed an amount equal to the employees basic contractual hourly rate of pay times the number of hours actually worked plus the employees basic contractual hourly rate of pay times one-half (Â½) the number of hours actually worked in excess of forty (40) hours per week;

(9) Any employee employed in agriculture; however, this exemption applies to all agricultural enterprises that produce greenhouse crops, fruit and vegetable crops, herbaceous crops, sod crops, viticulture, viniculture, floriculture, feed for livestock, forestry, dairy farming, aquaculture, the raising of livestock, furbearing animals, poultry and eggs, bees and honey, mushrooms, and nursery stock. This exemption also applies to nursery workers; and

(10) Any employee of an air carrier subject to the provisions of 45 U.S.C. § 181 et seq., of the Railway Labor Act when the hours worked by that employee in excess of forty (40) in a workweek are not required by the air carrier, but are arranged through a voluntary agreement among employees to trade scheduled work hours.

(b) Nothing in this section exempts any employee who under applicable federal law is entitled to overtime pay or benefits related to overtime pay.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-16.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-16.1
§ 28-30-16.1. Salary for service after retirement.
Status: in_force

Any workers compensation judge who retires in accordance with the provisions of §§ 28-30-15 and 28-30-16, and who is subsequently assigned to perform services in accordance with §§ 28-30-15 and 28-30-16, and when so assigned and performing that service, shall receive in addition to his or her retirement pension the difference in pay and fringe benefits between what he or she was entitled to receive under §§ 28-30-15 and 28-30-16 prior to exercising his or her options under § 28-30-17, and what a judge with comparable state service time is receiving as a judge of the workers compensation court to which he or she is assigned.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-15
§ 28-7-15. Determination of bargaining unit.
Status: in_force

The board shall decide in each case whether, in order to ensure to employees the full benefit of their right to self organization, to collective bargaining, and otherwise to effectuate the policies of this chapter, the unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining shall be the employer unit, craft unit, plant unit, or any other unit provided, that in any case where the majority of employees of a particular craft make that decision, the board shall designate the craft as a unit appropriate for the purpose of collective bargaining.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-48-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-48 / Section 28-48-10
§ 28-48-10. Notice.
Status: in_force

(a) Each employer shall post and keep posted, in conspicuous places upon its premises where notices to employees and applicants for employment are customarily posted, a notice, to be approved by the agency, setting forth excerpts from, or summaries of, the pertinent provisions of this chapter and information pertaining to the filing of a charge.

(b) Any employer who or that willfully violates this section shall be assessed a civil money penalty not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for each separate offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-6-24 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-6 / Section 28-6-24
§ 28-6-24. Self-evaluation by employer.
Status: in_force

(a) Any employer against whom an action is brought alleging a violation of §§ 28-6-18(a) through (e) shall have an affirmative defense to all liability if the employer is able to demonstrate that the employer has conducted a good faith self-evaluation pursuant to the provisions of this subsection of the employers pay practices within the previous two (2) years and prior to commencement of the action and can demonstrate that any unlawful wage differentials revealed by its self-evaluation have been eliminated. For purposes of this subsection, an employers self-evaluation may be of the employers own design or on standard template or form to be issued by the department of labor and training, as long as the scope and detail of the self-evaluation reflects the exercise of due diligence by the employer to identify, prevent, and mitigate violations of this chapter in light of the size of the employer.

(1) In determining whether a self-evaluation reflects the exercise of due diligence by the employer, the factors the court shall consider include, but are not limited to: whether the evaluation includes all relevant jobs and employees within those relevant jobs; whether the employers analysis makes a reasonable effort to identify similar jobs and employees using a consistent, fact-based approach; whether the employer has tested explanatory factors for an unbiased and relevant relationship to pay; whether the evaluation takes into account all reasonably relevant and available information; and whether the evaluation is reasonably sophisticated in its analysis of potentially comparable work, employee compensation, and the application of the permissible reasons for wage differentials set forth in § 28-6-18(b). If an employer fails to retain the records necessary to show the manner in which it evaluated and applied these factors, it may give rise to an inference that the employer did not exercise due diligence in conducting its self-evaluation.

(2) In determining whether an employer has eliminated an unlawful wage differential revealed by its self-evaluation, the court shall determine whether the employer has adjusted salaries or wages in order that employees performing comparable work are paid equally and whether any salary or wage adjustments have been completed prior to commencement of the action. An employer shall have ninety (90) days from the date of completion of its self-evaluation to adjust wages beginning from the day in the pay period the self-evaluation was completed.

(b) The affirmative defense to liability set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be available to employers beginning on January 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2026. Thereafter, an employer who has conducted a self-evaluation and eliminated any unlawful differentials as provided in subsection (a) of this section shall not be liable for liquidated damages or compensatory damages under § 28-6-20 or civil penalties under § 28-6-21; provided, however, that nothing contained in this subsection (b) shall prevent an employee aggrieved by an unlawful wage differential from filing a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain unpaid wages and equitable relief; provided, further, that in lieu of an employer being relieved of liability for liquidated damages and compensatory damages under § 28-6-20 or civil penalties under § 28-6-21, an employer who or that has conducted a self-evaluation and eliminated any unlawful differentials as provided in subsection (a) of this section, and compensated the employee for any unpaid wages, shall have an affirmative defense to all liability.

(c) Evidence that a self-evaluation has been conducted or that remedial steps have been undertaken in accordance with this section is not sufficient evidence, standing alone, to find a violation of §§ 28-6-18(a) through (e) that occurred prior to the date of the completion of the self-evaluation.

(d) An employer who has not completed a self-evaluation shall not be subject to any negative or adverse inference as a result of not having completed a self-evaluation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-20 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-20
§ 28-27-20. State and municipal inspections and installation permits.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any city, town, or the state from providing for a pipefitter or refrigeration/air conditioning or fire protection sprinkler systems or air distribution systems inspection or from requiring permits for the installation, maintenance, repair, and servicing of pipefitting or refrigeration/air conditioning or fire protection sprinkler systems or air distribution systems and collecting fees thereof. Whenever a permit is required under the provisions of this section, a condition of its issuance shall be that the contractors license number and a copy of the contractors license first be affixed on the permit which must be signed by the contractor. The permit must be obtained from the state, city, or town prior to the installation. Where equipment and appliance replacements or repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next business day to the office of mechanical inspection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-89 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-89
§ 28-42-89. Employment security reemployment fund  Treasurer  Bond  Investments.
Status: in_force

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

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

(c) The general treasurer, as custodian of the fund, shall hold, invest, transfer, sell, deposit, and release those moneys, properties, or securities in a manner approved by the governor in accordance with chapters 42  44 of this title. Those moneys shall be invested in the classes of securities legal for investment of public moneys of this state, and the investment shall at all times be so made that all assets of the fund shall always be readily convertible into cash when needed for the expenditures specified in § 28-42-88.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-46-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-46 / Section 28-46-1
§ 28-46-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Private Nonvested Pension Benefits Protection Tax Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-1
§ 28-33-1. Employees entitled to compensation.
Status: in_force

If an employee who has not given notice of his or her claim of common law rights of action, or who has given the notice and has waived the common law rights, as provided in § 28-29-19, receives a personal injury arising out of and in the course of his or her employment, connected and referable to the employment, he or she shall be paid compensation, as hereinafter provided, by an employer subject to or who has elected to become subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-10
§ 28-43-10. Application of predecessors payroll record to successor employer.
Status: in_force

(a)(1)(i) Whenever any employing unit in any manner succeeds to, or has succeeded to, or acquires, or has acquired, the organization, trade, separate establishment (provided separate payroll reports have been filed with the director for the separate establishment), or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, and whenever the successor was not prior to that acquisition an employing unit as that term is defined in § 28-42-3 of another which at the time of the acquisition was an employer subject to chapters 42  44 of this title, the predecessor employing unit shall be deemed to have relinquished all rights to have its prior payroll records, or in the case of a separate establishment the prior payroll records of the establishment, used for the purpose of determining experience rates of employer contributions for that predecessor, and the director shall use those prior payroll records for the purpose of determining experience rates of employer contributions for that successor. That successor shall, if not already an employer prior to that acquisition, become an employer on the date of that acquisition, and for the purpose of determining experience rates of employer contributions the director shall hereafter consider those prior payroll records of the predecessor as the payroll records of the successor, and the successor shall assume the position of the predecessor or predecessors with respect to the payroll records of the predecessor or predecessors as if there had been no change in the ownership of the organization, trade, separate establishment, business, or assets. If the successor is an employer prior to the time of the transfer, it may continue to pay employer contributions at the rate applicable to it from the date the transfer occurred until the end of the then current tax year, or it may elect to pay at the rate applicable to its predecessor for the balance of that year. If the successor is not an employer prior to the time of the transfer, it shall pay employer contributions at the rate applicable to the predecessor or, if more than one and the same rate is applicable to both, the rate applicable to the predecessor or predecessors from the date the transfer occurred until the end of the then current tax year. If the successor is not an employer prior to the time of the transfer and simultaneously acquires the businesses of two (2) or more employers to whom different rates of employer contributions are applicable, it shall pay employer contributions at the highest rate applicable to those predecessors from the date the transfers occurred until the end of the then current tax year.

(ii) In all cases the rate of employer contributions applicable to the successor for each tax year beginning with the tax year commencing next after the transfer shall be computed on the basis of the combined payroll records of the successor and of the predecessor or predecessors. A successor shall be deemed to be an eligible employer if its experience combined with that of its predecessors meets the requirements of §28-43-1(3). As used in this section, successor means the employing unit to whom a transfer as provided in this section is made, and predecessor means the employer making the transfer and may, if the context so requires, be construed as referring only to the separate establishment transferred in case of the transfer of a separate establishment.

(2) A successor to any portion of the business of its predecessor shall have its rate determined based on its own unemployment experience combined with that portion of the predecessors unemployment experience attributable to the share of the trade or business transferred to the successor in the following manner:

(i) The total payroll of the employees on the predecessors payroll during the last completed calendar quarter prior to the date of the transfer who are also on the payroll of the successor when the transfer takes effect shall be divided by the predecessors total payroll during the last completed calendar quarter prior to the date of the transfer, and that percentage shall be applied to the experience rating balances and payroll of the predecessor as of the end of the experience year used to determine the contribution rate for the tax year in effect at the date of transfer. The resulting amounts shall be subtracted from the experience rating balances and payroll of the predecessor. The predecessors remaining experience rating balances and payroll shall be used to determine its contribution rate for the new tax year or for the remainder of the current tax year, whichever is applicable, effective on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date of the transfer; provided, that if the date of the transfer is the first day of the calendar quarter, then the new contribution rate shall take effect on the date of the transfer.

(ii) The balances subtracted from the predecessors account in subsection (a)(2)(i) of this section shall be combined with the experience rating balances and payroll of the successor as of the end of the experience year used to determine the contribution rate for the tax year in effect at the date of transfer. Those combined balances shall be used to determine the contribution rate for the successor for the new tax year or for the remainder of the current tax year, whichever is applicable, effective on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date of the transfer; provided, that if the date of the transfer is the first day of the calendar quarter then the new contribution rate shall take effect on the date of the transfer. For successors in business for less than one experience year, their contribution rate for the new tax year or for the remainder of the current tax year, whichever is applicable, shall be computed based on the transferred experience rating balances and payroll of the predecessor and shall take effect on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date of the transfer; provided, that if the date of the transfer is the first day of the calendar quarter then the new contribution rate shall take effect on the date of the transfer.

(b) Any determination of the director under this section shall be final unless an appeal from it is filed by the aggrieved party within fifteen (15) days from the date that notice is mailed to the last known address of that party. All appeals shall follow the provision of §28-43-13.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-9-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-9 / Section 28-9-3
§ 28-9-3. Enforceability of agreement to arbitrate new contract.
Status: in_force

A provision in a written contract between an employer and an association of employees, a labor union, trade union, or craft union, or between an association of employers and an association of employees, labor unions, trade unions, or craft unions, to submit to arbitration any and all controversies relative to the execution of a new contract upon the termination of an existing contract, as provided for in writing in the existing contract, shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, except upon any grounds that exist in law or in equity for the revocation of the contract; and it is not a defense to the enforceability of the provision to submit to arbitration that the issue or issues that the arbitrator or arbitrators must decide is not one that could have formed the basis of an action at law or suit in equity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-21 / Section 28-21-19
§ 28-21-19. Information requirements.
Status: in_force

Any requirements contained in this chapter to obtain or modify any information is subject to § 28-21-1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-15
§ 28-30-15. Retirement of judges engaged on or before July 2, 1997, on reduced pay.
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever any person engaged as a judge on or before July 2, 1997, has served as a workers compensation judge for twenty (20) years, or has so served for ten (10) years and has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, he or she may retire from active service and subsequently he or she shall receive annually during life a sum equal to three-fourths (Â¾) of the annual salary that he or she was receiving at the time of retirement. In determining eligibility under this section, any judge who has served as a general officer may include that service as if that service had been on the workers compensation court. Whenever a judge or magistrate shall be granted a leave of absence without pay, the absence shall not be credited towards active service time for the purposes of retirement.

(b) Any judge who retires in accordance with the provisions of this section may at his or her own request and at the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court, subject to the retirees physical and mental competence, be assigned to perform such services as a judge on the workers compensation court as the chief judge prescribes. When so assigned and performing those services, he or she shall have all the powers and authority of a judge. A retired judge shall not be counted in the number of judges provided by law for the workers compensation court. Whenever a judge shall be granted a leave of absence without pay, the absence shall not be credited towards active service time for the purposes of retirement.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-17
§ 28-7-17. Eligibility to participate in elections  Place and supervision of elections.
Status: in_force

The board shall have the power to determine who may participate in the election and to establish the rules governing the election; provided, that no election shall be directed by the board solely because of the request of an employer or of employees prompted to do so by their employer, nor shall any individuals employed only for the duration of a strike or lockout be eligible to vote in the election; and provided, further, that no election shall be conducted under the employers supervision, or, except as may be required by the board, on the employers property, during working hours, or with his or her participation or assistance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-34_28-41-34 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-34_28-41-34
§ 28-41-34. Temporary caregiver insurance. [Effective until January 1, 2026.]28-41-34. Temporary caregiver insurance. [Effective January 1, 2026.]
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to establish, within the state temporary disability insurance program, a temporary caregiver insurance program to provide wage replacement benefits in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, to workers who take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, domestic partner, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, or to bond with a new child.

Definitions as used in this chapter:

(1) Adopted child means a child adopted by, or placed for adoption with, the employee.

(2) Bonding or bond means to develop a psychological and emotional attachment between a child and his or her parent(s) or persons who stand in loco parentis. This shall involve being in one anothers physical presence.

(3) Child means a biological, adopted, or foster son or daughter, a stepson or stepdaughter, a legal ward, a son or daughter of a domestic partner, or a son or daughter of an employee who stands in loco parentis to that child.

(4) Department means the department of labor and training.

(5) Domestic partner means a party to a civil union as defined by chapter 3.1 of title 15.

(6) Employee means any person who is or has been employed by an employer subject to chapters 39  41 of this title and in employment subject to those chapters.

(7) Grandparent means a parent of the employees parent.

(8) Newborn child means a child under one year of age.

(9) Parent means a biological, foster, or adoptive parent, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or other person who stands in loco parentis to the employee or the employees spouse or domestic partner when he/she was a child.

(10) Parent-in-law means the parent of the employees spouse or domestic partner.

(11) Persons who stand in loco parentis means those with day-to-day responsibilities to care for and financially support a child or, in the case of an employee, who had such responsibility for the employee when the employee was a child. A biological or legal relationship shall not be required.

(12) Serious health condition means any illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, residential healthcare facility, or continued treatment or continuing supervision by a licensed healthcare provider.

(13) Spouse means a party in a common law marriage, a party in a marriage conducted and recognized by another state or country, or in a marriage as defined by chapter 3 of title 15.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-3
§ 28-27-3. Disposition of fees  Annual report.
Status: in_force

(a) Annually, after June 30 of each year, the divisions state licensed chief administrator will compile a detailed statement of all income and expenses of the division. Any proceeds from the licensing fees and any other income guaranteed pursuant to this section shall be deposited as general revenues.

(b) Members of the board shall not be compensated for their service on the board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-43 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-43
§ 28-7-43. Appropriations and disbursements.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of it as may be required from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of proper vouchers approved by the director of labor and training and the chairperson of the state labor relations board.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-2
§ 28-30-2. Appointment and terms of judges.
Status: in_force

(a) Any workers compensation commissioner who was appointed and confirmed and who took the oath of that office and is holding that office on July 11, 1990, shall continue to remain in the office of workers compensation judge in accordance with the general laws. The appointment and confirmation as workers compensation judges and chief judge of those judges who took their oath of office and are holding the office on July 11, 1990, is ratified and confirmed.

(b) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of chief judge of the workers compensation court, or whenever the chief judge is unable by reason of illness to perform the duties of chief judge, then the chief justice of the Rhode Island supreme court shall designate one of the judges of the workers compensation court who is present and qualifies to act to perform the duties of the chief judge until the vacancy is filled or the disability removed. In the event that the chief judge determines that his or her absence for reasons other than illness will prevent him or her from performing the duties of that office, then the chief judge shall designate a workers compensation judge to perform those duties during the period of his or her absence. The workers compensation judges holding office on July 11, 1990, or subsequently appointed shall have precedence according to the dates of their commissions, or where the commissions of two (2) or more of them bear the same date, according to their ages.

(c) With the approval of the chief judge, the judges of the court may appoint attorneys who are qualified as arbitrators under the court annexed arbitration procedures to act as masters and make findings under the supervision of the appointing judge. With the approval of the chief judge, unless specifically prohibited by chapter 27 of title 11, the judges may authorize the appearance of claims adjusters or lay representatives before the masters.

(d) Whenever any person appointed to the office of the chief judge or associate judge fails to accept and qualify for the office or there is a vacancy in the office caused by death, resignation, retirement, removal, or any other cause whatsoever while the senate is in session, the governor shall appoint some person to fill the vacancy, and submit his or her appointment to the senate for confirmation in accordance with the general laws governing judicial selection, including the provisions of chapter 16.1 of title 8.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-29 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-29
§ 28-29-29. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any section of chapters 29  38 of this title is declared unconstitutional or invalid, that unconstitutionality or invalidity shall in no way affect the validity of any other portion of it which can be given reasonable effect without the part declared unconstitutional or invalid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-14 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-14
§ 28-35-14. Copies of petition to respondents.
Status: in_force

Upon filing with the workers compensation court of any petition, stating the general nature of any claim as to which any dispute or controversy may have arisen, the petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition and its attachments on the respondent or respondents in accordance with the workers compensation court rules of practice.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-35_28-41-35 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-35_28-41-35
§ 28-41-35. Benefits. [Effective until January 1, 2026.]28-41-35. Benefits. [Effective January 1, 2026.]
Status: repealed

(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in this chapter, an employee shall be eligible for temporary caregiver benefits for any week in which the employee is unable to perform their regular and customary work because the employee is:

(1) Bonding with a newborn child or a child newly placed for adoption or foster care with the employee or domestic partner in accordance with the provisions of § 28-41-36(c); or

(2) Caring for a child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, spouse, or domestic partner, who has a serious health condition, subject to a waiting period in accordance with the provisions of § 28-41-12 [repealed]. Employees may use accrued sick time during the eligibility waiting period in accordance with the policy of the individuals employer.

(b) Temporary caregiver benefits shall be available only to the employee exercising his or her right to leave while covered by the temporary caregiver insurance program. An employee shall file a written intent with their employer, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department, with a minimum of thirty (30) days notice prior to commencement of the family leave. Failure by the employee to provide the written intent may result in delay or reduction in the claimants benefits, except in the event the time of the leave is unforeseeable or the time of the leave changes for unforeseeable circumstances.

(c) Employees cannot file for both temporary caregiver benefits and temporary disability benefits for the same purpose, concurrently, in accordance with all provisions of this act and chapters 39  41 of this title.

(d) Temporary caregiver benefits may be available to any individual exercising their right to leave while covered by the temporary caregiver insurance program, commencing on or after January 1, 2014, which shall not exceed the individuals maximum benefits in accordance with chapters 39  41 of this title. The benefits for the temporary caregiver program shall be payable with respect to the first day of leave taken after the waiting period and each subsequent day of leave during that period of family temporary disability leave. Benefits shall be in accordance with the following:

(1) Beginning January 1, 2014, temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum of four (4) weeks in a benefit year;

(2) Beginning January 1, 2022, temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) weeks in a benefit year;

(3) Beginning January 1, 2023, temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum of six (6) weeks in a benefit year;

(4) Beginning January 1, 2025, temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum of seven (7) weeks in a benefit year; and

(5) Beginning January 1, 2026, temporary caregiver benefits shall be limited to a maximum of eight (8) weeks in a benefit year.

(e) In addition, no individual shall be paid temporary caregiver benefits and temporary disability benefits that together exceed thirty (30) times the individuals weekly benefit rate in any benefit year.

(f) Any employee who exercises their right to leave covered by temporary caregiver insurance under this chapter shall, upon the expiration of that leave, be entitled to be restored by the employer to the position held by the employee when the leave commenced, or to a position with equivalent seniority, status, employment benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment including fringe benefits and service credits that the employee had been entitled to at the commencement of leave.

(g) During any caregiver leave taken pursuant to this chapter, the employer shall maintain any existing health benefits of the employee in force for the duration of the leave as if the employee had continued in employment continuously from the date the employee commenced the leave until the date the caregiver benefits terminate; provided, however, that the employee shall continue to pay any employee shares of the cost of health benefits as required prior to the commencement of the caregiver benefits.

(h) No individual shall be entitled to waiting period credit or temporary caregiver benefits under this section for any week beginning prior to January 1, 2014. An employer may require an employee who is entitled to leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Pub. L. No. 103-3 and/or the Rhode Island parental and family medical leave act, § 28-48-1 et seq., who exercises their right to benefits under the temporary caregiver insurance program under this chapter, to take any temporary caregiver benefits received, concurrently, with any leave taken pursuant to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and/or the Rhode Island parental and family medical leave act.

(i) Temporary caregiver benefits shall be in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Pub. L. No. 103-3 and the Rhode Island parental and family medical leave act in accordance with § 28-48-1 et seq. An employer may require an employee who is entitled to leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Pub. L. No. 103-3 and/or the Rhode Island parental and family medical leave act, § 28-48-1 et seq., who exercises their right to benefits under the temporary caregiver insurance program under this chapter, to take any temporary caregiver benefits received, concurrently, with any leave taken pursuant to the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and/or the Rhode Island parental and family medical leave act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-9-17 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-9 / Section 28-9-17
§ 28-9-17. Order confirming award.
Status: in_force

At any time within one year after the award is made as prescribed in § 28-9-16, any party to the controversy that was arbitrated may apply to the court having jurisdiction as provided in § 28-9-14 for an order confirming the award. Upon that application, the court must grant the order unless the award is vacated, modified, or corrected as prescribed in §§ 28-9-18 and 28-9-19, or unless the award is unenforceable under the provisions of § 28-9-13. Notice of the motion must be served upon the adverse party or his or her attorneys, as prescribed by law for service of notice of a motion upon an attorney in an action in the same court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-55-2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-55 / Section 28-55-2
§ 28-55-2. Legislative findings.
Status: in_force

The general assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Rhode Islands statewide career pathways systems must be driven by local business and industry needs;

(2) Despite high unemployment, businesses report difficulties and frustration in locating employment candidates with the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities they need;

(3) Locating, training, and preparing candidates to fill job openings is an expense that few companies can afford;

(4) The state needs a focused interagency collaboration to provide easy access for businesses to find competent employees and job seekers to obtain necessary resources, training, and skills development; and

(5) The state needs to build upon the efforts of the department of labor and training to facilitate employers access to high quality, skilled job seekers and reduce the number of unemployed individuals in Rhode Island.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-3
§ 28-30-3. Qualifications of judges  Sessions to hear cases.
Status: in_force

(a) A workers compensation judge shall be an attorney at law and admitted to the bar. During his or her term of office a judge shall not engage in the practice of law or any other employment and shall not act as counsel or attorney at law.

(b) The workers compensation court shall be in session five (5) days a week with all of its members available to hear compensation cases, except during July and August, when at least four (4) judges shall be available to hear workers compensation cases. All cases coming before the court shall be heard and decided by any of its members.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-56 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-56
§ 28-44-56. Waiver of rights void  Agreements to pay employers contributions.
Status: in_force

No agreement by any individual to waive his or her right to benefits or any other right under chapters 42  44 of this title shall be valid. No agreement by any individual in the employ of any person or concern to pay all or any portion of the contributions required under those chapters from employers shall be valid. No employer shall make or require or accept any deduction from wages to finance the contributions required of him or her, or require or accept any waiver by any individual of any right under these chapters. The director shall have the power to take any steps necessary or suitable under those chapters to correct or prosecute any violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-9-26 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-9 / Section 28-9-26
§ 28-9-26. Death or disability of party to proceedings.
Status: in_force

Where a party dies after making a submission or contract as prescribed in this chapter or otherwise, the proceedings may be begun or continued upon the application of, or upon notice to, his or her executor or administrator, or a temporary administrator of his or her estate, or, where it relates to real property, his or her distributee or devisee who has succeeded to his or her interest in the real property. Where a committee of the property or of the person of a party to a submission or contract is appointed, the proceedings may be continued upon the application of, or notice to, a committee of the property, but not otherwise. In cases specified in this section, a judge of the court may make an order extending the time within which notice of a motion to confirm, vacate, modify, or correct the award must be served. Upon confirming an award, where a party has died since it was filed or delivered, the court must enter judgment in the name of the original party, and the proceedings are the same as where a party dies after a verdict.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-16 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-33 / Section 28-33-16
§ 28-33-16. Burial expenses.
Status: in_force

If the employee dies as a result of the injury, the employer shall pay in addition to any compensation provided for in this chapter, the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). This sum shall be paid under the provisions of § 28-33-23.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-36 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-36
§ 28-7-36. Privilege against self-incrimination.
Status: in_force

No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, records, correspondence, documents, or other evidence in obedience to the subpoena of the board on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of him or her may tend to incriminate him or her or subject him or her to a penalty or forfeiture under the laws of the state. No individual shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he or she is, after having claimed his or her privilege against self-incrimination, compelled to testify or produce evidence, except that the individual testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in testifying.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-39 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-39
§ 28-42-39. Reports of contracts for services to be rendered within state.
Status: in_force

Whenever any employing unit, subject to the provisions of § 28-42-38, contracts with any employing unit having its principal office or place of business outside this state, for the performance of any work that would require the services of individuals in employment within this state, the employing unit for whom that work is to be performed, pursuant to that contract, shall render a report to the director, in any manner that the director may prescribe, of the existence of that contract.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-48-12 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-48 / Section 28-48-12
§ 28-48-12. School involvement leave.
Status: in_force

(a) An employee who has been employed by the same employer for twelve (12) consecutive months shall be entitled to a total of ten (10) hours of leave during any twelve-month (12) period to attend school conferences or other school-related activities for a child of whom the employee is the parent, foster parent, or guardian.

(b) The employee must provide twenty-four (24) hours prior notice of the leave and make a reasonable effort to schedule the leave so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the leave be paid; except that under this section, an employee may substitute any accrued paid vacation leave or other appropriate paid leave for any part of the leave.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-59 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-59
§ 28-44-59. Severance or dismissal pay allocation.
Status: in_force

For benefit years beginning prior to July 1, 2012, for the purpose of determining an individuals benefit eligibility for any week of unemployment, any remuneration received by an employee from his or her employer in the nature of severance or dismissal pay, whether or not the employer is legally required to pay that remuneration, shall be deemed to be wages paid on the last day of employment for services performed prior to that date. For benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2012, for the purpose of determining an individuals benefit eligibility for any week of unemployment, any remuneration received by an employee from his or her employer in the nature of severance or dismissal pay, whether or not the employer is legally required to pay that remuneration, shall be allocated on a weekly basis from the individuals last day of work for a period not to exceed twenty-six (26) weeks, and the individual will not be entitled to receive benefits for any such week for which it has been determined that the individual received severance or dismissal pay. Such severance or dismissal pay, if the employer does not specify a set number of weeks, shall be allocated using the individuals weekly benefit rate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-29 / Section 28-29-5
§ 28-29-5. Employers exempt.
Status: in_force

The provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title shall not apply to employers of employees engaged in domestic service; or subject to the provisions of § 28-29-7.2, to employees engaged in agriculture; except for employers engaged in occupations that the director declares hazardous, but employers not engaged in hazardous occupations may, by complying with the provisions of § 28-29-8, become subject to the provisions of those chapters.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-48-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-48 / Section 28-48-3
§ 28-48-3. Employment and health benefits protection.
Status: in_force

(a) Every employee who exercises his or her right to parental leave or family leave under this chapter shall, upon the expiration of that leave, be entitled to be restored by the employer to the position held by the employee when the leave commenced, or to a position with equivalent seniority, status, employment benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment, including fringe benefits and service credits that the employee had been entitled to at the commencement of leave.

(b) During any parental leave or family leave taken pursuant to this chapter, the employer shall maintain any existing health benefits of the employee in force for the duration of the leave as if the employee had continued in employment continuously from the date he or she commenced the leave until the date he or she returns to employment pursuant to subsection (a).

(c) Prior to commencement of parental leave or family leave, the employee shall pay to the employer a sum equal to the premium required to maintain the employees health benefits in force during the period of parental leave. The employer shall return the payment to the employee within ten (10) days following the employees return to employment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-5
§ 28-35-5. Appeals from memorandum of agreement.
Status: in_force

Any employer or insurer who or that has made payment to an injured employee or those entitled to compensation on account of the death of an employee which payment has been procured by fraud, coercion, or mutual mistake of fact; or any injured employee or those entitled to compensation on account of the death of an employee who has been aggrieved by a memorandum of agreement in that it: (1) Fails to correctly diagnose the injury; (2) Fails to set out correctly all the injuries received by the injured employee; (3) Fails to set out all parts of the body affected by injuries; (4) Fails to correctly set the rate of compensation; or (5) In any other way is affected by error; upon petition to the court setting forth all the additional facts, filed by the aggrieved party and served in the same manner as is provided for in chapters 29  38 of this title, the workers compensation court shall hear any and all those matters and make their decision in accordance with those chapters.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-18-5.4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-18 / Section 28-18-5.4
§ 28-18-5.4. Contractors permit fees.
Status: in_force

An annual fee of one hundred twenty dollars ($120) shall be paid to the director of labor and training for a contractors permit. The proceeds derived under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited as general revenues.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-10-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-10 / Section 28-10-1
§ 28-10-1. Mediation and conciliation by director.
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the director of labor and training to do all in his or her power to promote the voluntary mediation and conciliation of controversies and disputes between employers and employees, and to avoid resort to strikes, lockouts, boycotts, blacklists, discriminations, and legal proceedings in or arising out of controversies and disputes and matters of employment. In pursuance of this duty, the director may, whenever he or she deems advisable, but subject to the approval of the governor, appoint a board of mediation and conciliation for the consideration and settlement of controversies and disputes. The director shall prescribe rules of procedure for the mediation and conciliation, and the mediation and conciliation boards shall have the power to conduct investigations, to hold hearings, and to summon witnesses.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-18-15 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-18 / Section 28-18-15
§ 28-18-15. Labeling of homework articles.
Status: in_force

No employer shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, any materials or articles to be manufactured by any homeworker unless there has been conspicuously affixed to each article or its container a label or other mark of identification bearing the employers name and address, printed or written legibly in English; provided, that if the goods are of a nature that they cannot be individually labeled or identified, then the employer shall conspicuously label the goods or their container in any manner that the director of labor and training may prescribe by rule or regulations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-5-30 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-5 / Section 28-5-30
§ 28-5-30. Objections not urged before commission.
Status: in_force

An objection that has not been urged before the commission, its member, or agent shall not be considered by the court, unless the failure or neglect to urge the objection is excused because of extraordinary circumstances.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-39-32 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-39 / Section 28-39-32
§ 28-39-32. Limitation of prosecutions.
Status: in_force

No person shall be convicted of any offense for any violation of chapters 39  41 of this title or any rule or regulation of the department unless the complaint or warrant for that violation has been issued within five (5) years from the time of the commission of the offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-1.1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-1.1
§ 28-27-1.1. Inspection and right of entry.
Status: in_force

(a) The division of professional regulation, department of labor and training, has the authority, by its chief administrator or designates, upon proper identification and in the performance of his or her duties, to enter at any reasonable hour any building, structure, or premises where mechanical work is being performed, which work is governed by this chapter, to ascertain compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations of the division.

(b) If any owner, occupant, or other person refuses, impedes, inhibits, interferes with, restricts, or otherwise obstructs entry and free access to any part of the building, structure, or premises by an authorized investigating official of the division/ mechanical board, the chief administrator may:

(1) Seek from any judge of the district court a search warrant in accordance with chapter 5 of title 12;

(2) Revoke or suspend any license, permit, or other permission regulated by local and state codes, and applicable to this chapter; notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter; and

(3) Seek any other remedy as provided by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-23 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-23
§ 28-7-23. Modification of findings and orders.
Status: in_force

Until a transcript of the record in a case has been filed in a court, as provided in this chapter, the board may at any time, upon reasonable notice and in any manner that it deems proper, modify or set aside, in whole or in part, any finding or order made or issued by it.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-32-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-32 / Section 28-32-1
§ 28-32-1. Reports required from employers.
Status: in_force

(a) Every employer who or that is or becomes subject to the provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title shall report to the director, in writing or in any other manner specified by the director, every personal injury sustained by an employee arising out of and in the course of his or her employment connected and referable to the employment, if that injury proves fatal or incapacitates the employee from earning full wages for a period of at least three (3) days, or requires medical treatment regardless of the period of incapacity.

(b) If the injury is immediately fatal, the report shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours after it occurs; if it proves fatal later, the report shall be made within forty-eight (48) hours after death occurs and comes to the knowledge of the employer; if the injury is not fatal, the report shall be made within ten (10) days after the injury, or if the incapacity is due to an occupational disease then within ten (10) days after the incapacity shall come to the knowledge of the employer.

(c)(1) The director may by rule, regulation, or order provide for additional interim reports, and at the termination of the period of incapacity, regardless of its duration, a supplementary report, in writing, or as otherwise specified by the director.

(2) Blanks to be supplied by the director shall be expanded to include an explanation, at least to the extent possible, of the cause of the injury, and the duplicate copy shall be made available to the department for data collection.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-26-10 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-26 / Section 28-26-10
§ 28-26-10. License fees.
Status: in_force

Each applicant for an examination for a license as an engineer shall pay to the division at the time of application a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00), and for each license or renewal of a license a fee at the biennial rate of ninety-six dollars ($96.00) for a full license, eighty-four dollars ($84.00) for a hoisting license, seventy-two dollars ($72.00) for an excavating license, and sixty dollars ($60.00) for a limited license, these fees to be deposited as general revenues.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-50 / Section 28-50-4
§ 28-50-4. Relief and damages.
Status: in_force

(a) A person who alleges a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief, or treble damages, or both within three (3) years after the occurrence of the alleged violation of this chapter.

(b) An action commenced pursuant to subsection (a) may be brought in the superior court for the county where the alleged violation occurred, the county where the complainant resides, or the county where the person against whom the civil complaint is filed resides or has their principal place of business.

(c) As used in subsection (a) of this section, damages means damages for injury or loss caused by each violation of this chapter.

(d) [Deleted by P.L. 2012, ch. 306, § 5 and P.L. 2012, ch. 344, § 5.]
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-43 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-43
§ 28-35-43. Time payments due under order or decree  Penalty for delinquency.
Status: in_force

Payment of compensation under a decision of the court becomes due upon the effective date of the order and weekly thereafter on the same day. If any payment payable under the terms of an order or decree is not paid within fourteen (14) days after it becomes due there shall be added to that unpaid payment an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) thereof, which shall be paid at the same time as, but in addition to, that compensation unless the nonpayment is excused by the workers compensation court after a showing by the employer or insurer that, owing to conditions over which they had no control, the payment could not be paid within the period prescribed for payment. However, if within one year next preceding the due date of any payment not paid within fourteen (14) days after it becomes due, two (2) or more payments payable under the terms of the order or decree have not been paid within fourteen (14) days after the payments have become due, it shall be conclusively presumed that the failure of the employer to make the instant payment was owing to conditions over which the employer had control. Any order or decree of the workers compensation court shall be enforceable by suitable action or proceeding brought by either of the parties to it before the court, including executions against goods, chattels, and real estate, and including proceedings for contempt for willful failure or neglect to obey the provisions of the order or decree.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-13 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-13
§ 28-30-13. Controversies submitted to court.
Status: in_force

(a) Any controversy over which the workers compensation court has jurisdiction in accordance with chapters 29  38 and chapter 53 of this title, including compensation; reasonableness of medical and hospital bills; degree of functional impairment and/or disability; a dispute between an insurance carrier and an employer under a workers compensation insurance contract, except disputes under the jurisdiction of the workers compensation appeals board established pursuant to § 27-9-29; failure of an employer to secure the payment of compensation under chapters 29  38 and chapter 53 of this title and any controversy in which the state or any of its political subdivisions is a party; and appeals from an order of the retirement board pursuant to § 45-21.2-9 shall be submitted to the court in the manner provided in chapters 33 and 35 of this title.

(b) Disputes between an insurance carrier and an employer under a workers compensation insurance contract shall not be subject to a pretrial conference in accordance with § 28-35-20, but shall be assigned consistent with the rules of practice of the workers compensation court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-1
§ 28-30-1. Court established  General powers.
Status: in_force

(a) There is established in the state of Rhode Island a workers compensation court consisting of a chief judge and nine (9) associate judges having the jurisdiction that may be necessary to carry out its duties under the provisions of the workers compensation act, chapters 29  38 of this title and the provisions of § 45-21.2-9, except those provisions of the act that establish violations of the act as crimes, offenses, or misdemeanors. The jurisdiction of those crimes, offenses, or misdemeanors shall remain in the district and superior courts as otherwise provided by law.

(b) The court shall be a court of record with the same authority and power to subpoena and also the same authority and power to cite and punish for civil contempt as exist in the superior court. The court shall have a seal, and the members, administrator, deputy administrator, and assistant clerks of the court shall have the authority and power to administer oaths and affirmations.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-6 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-44 / Section 28-44-6
§ 28-44-6. Weekly benefits for total unemployment  Year established  Dependents allowance.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after October 1, 1989, and prior to July 1, 2012, four and sixty-two hundredths percent (4.62%) of the wages paid to the individual in that calendar quarter of the base period in which the individuals wages were highest;

(2) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2012, and prior to July 1, 2013, four and thirty-eight hundredths percent (4.38%) of the average quarterly wage paid to the individual in the two (2) calendar quarters of the base period in which the individuals wages were highest;

(3) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2013, and prior to July 1, 2014, four and fifteen hundredths percent (4.15%) of the average quarterly wage paid to the individual in the two calendar quarters of the base period in which the individuals wages were highest;

(4) The benefit rate payable under this chapter to any eligible individual with respect to any week of his or her total unemployment, when that week occurs within a benefit year, shall be, for benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2014, three and eighty-five hundredths percent (3.85%) of the average quarterly wage paid to the individual in the two calendar quarters of the base period in which the individuals wages were highest;

(5) Provided, that the benefit rate prior to July 1, 2012, shall not be more than sixty-seven percent (67%) of the average weekly wage paid to individuals in employment covered by the Employment Security Act for the preceding calendar year ending December 31. Provided, further, that the benefit rate on or after July 1, 2012, shall not be more than fifty-seven and one-half percent (57.5%) of the average weekly wage paid to individuals in employment covered by the Employment Security Act for the preceding calendar year ending December 31 or the maximum weekly benefit rate that was in effect as of July 1, 2011, whichever is the highest. If the maximum weekly benefit rate is not an exact multiple of one dollar ($1.00), then the rate shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of one dollar ($1.00).

(6) The average weekly wage of individuals in covered employment shall be computed as follows: On or before May 31 of each year, the total annual wages paid to individuals in covered employment for the preceding calendar year by all employers shall be divided by the monthly average number of individuals in covered employment during that preceding calendar year, and the quotient shall be divided by fifty-two (52). Such weekly benefit rates shall be effective throughout benefit years beginning on or after July 1 of that year and prior to July 1, of the succeeding calendar year.

(7) The benefit rate of any individual, if not an exact multiple of one dollar ($1.00), shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of one dollar ($1.00).

(b)(1) An individual to whom benefits for total or partial unemployment are payable under this chapter with respect to any week shall, in addition to those benefits, be paid with respect to each week a dependents allowance of fifteen dollars ($15.00) or five percent (5%) of the individuals benefit rate, whichever is greater, for each of that individuals children, including adopted children and stepchildren, or that individuals court appointed wards who, at the beginning of the individuals benefit year, is under eighteen (18) years of age, and who is at that time in fact dependent on that individual, including individuals who have been appointed the legal guardian of that child by the appropriate court. The total dependents allowance paid to any individual shall not exceed the greater of fifty dollars ($50) or twenty-five percent (25%) of the individuals benefit rate. Notwithstanding the above, the total amount of the dependents allowance paid to individuals receiving partial unemployment benefits for any week shall be based on the percentage that their partial weekly benefit rate is compared to their full weekly benefit rate.

(2) The dependents allowance shall also be paid to the individual for any child, including an adopted child or a stepchild, eighteen (18) years of age or over, incapable of earning any wages because of mental or physical incapacity, and who is dependent on that individual in fact at the beginning of the individuals benefit year.

(3) In no instance shall the number of dependents for which an individual may receive dependents allowances exceed five (5) in total.

(4) The weekly total of dependents allowances payable to any individual, if not an exact multiple of one dollar ($1.00), shall be rounded to the next lower multiple of one dollar ($1.00).

(5) The number of an individuals dependents, and the fact of their dependency, shall be determined as of the beginning of that individuals benefit year. Only one individual shall be entitled to a dependents allowance for the same dependent with respect to any week. As to two (2) or more parties making claim for an allowance for the same dependent for the same week, the benefit shall be provided to the party who has actual custody of the dependent or in the case of joint custody, to the party who has physical possession of the dependent.

(6) Each individual who claims a dependents allowance shall establish his or her claim to it to the satisfaction of the director under procedures established by the director.

(7) This subsection shall be effective for all benefit years beginning on or after January 1, 2011.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-57 / Section 28-57-5
§ 28-57-5. Accrual of paid sick and safe leave time.
Status: in_force

(a) All employees employed by an employer of eighteen (18) or more employees in Rhode Island shall accrue a minimum of one hour of paid sick and safe leave time for every thirty five (35) hours worked up to a maximum of twenty-four (24) hours during calendar year 2018, thirty-two (32) hours during calendar year 2019, and up to a maximum of forty (40) hours per year thereafter, unless the employer chooses to provide a higher annual limit in both accrual and use. In determining the number of employees who are employed by an employer for compensation, all employees defined in § 28-57-3(7) shall be counted.

(b) Employees who are exempt from the overtime requirements under 29 U.S.C. § 213(a)(1) of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., will be assumed to work forty (40) hours in each workweek for purposes of paid sick and safe leave time accrual unless their normal workweek is less than forty (40) hours, in which case paid sick and safe leave time accrues based upon that normal workweek.

(c) Paid sick and safe leave time as provided in this chapter shall begin to accrue at the commencement of employment or pursuant to the laws effective date [July 1, 2018], whichever is later. An employer may provide all paid sick and safe leave time that an employee is expected to accrue in a year at the beginning of the year.

(d) An employer may require a waiting period for newly hired employees of up to ninety (90) days. During this waiting period, an employee shall accrue earned sick time pursuant to this section or the employers policy, if exempt under § 28-57-4(b), but shall not be permitted to use the earned sick time until after he or she has completed the waiting period.

(e) Paid sick and safe leave time shall be carried over to the following calendar year; however, an employees use of paid sick and safe leave time provided under this chapter in each calendar year shall not exceed twenty-four (24) hours during calendar year 2018, and thirty-two (32) hours during calendar year 2019, and forty (40) hours per year thereafter. Alternatively, in lieu of carryover of unused earned paid sick and safe leave time from one year to the next, an employer may pay an employee for unused earned paid sick and safe leave time at the end of a year and provide the employee with an amount of paid sick and safe leave that meets or exceeds the requirements of this chapter that is available for the employees immediate use at the beginning of the subsequent year.

(f) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring financial or other reimbursement to an employee from an employer upon the employees termination, resignation, retirement, or other separation from employment for accrued paid sick and safe leave time that has not been used.

(g) If an employee is transferred to a separate division, entity, or location within the state, but remains employed by the same employer as defined in 29 C.F.R. § 791.2 of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., the employee is entitled to all paid sick and safe leave time accrued at the prior division, entity, or location and is entitled to use all paid sick and safe leave time as provided in this act. When there is a separation from employment and the employee is rehired within one hundred thirty-five (135) days of separation by the same employer, previously accrued paid sick and safe leave time that had not been used shall be reinstated. Further, the employee shall be entitled to use accrued paid sick and safe leave time and accrue additional sick and safe leave time at the re-commencement of employment.

(h) When a different employer succeeds or takes the place of an existing employer, all employees of the original employer who remain employed by the successor employer within the state are entitled to all earned paid sick and safe leave time they accrued when employed by the original employer, and are entitled to use earned paid sick and safe leave time previously accrued.

(i) At its discretion, an employer may loan sick and safe leave time to an employee in advance of accrual by such employee.

(j) Temporary employees shall be entitled to use accrued paid sick and safe leave time beginning on the one hundred eightieth (180) calendar day following commencement of their employment, unless otherwise permitted by the employer. On and after the one hundred eightieth (180) calendar day of employment, employees may use paid sick and safe leave time as it is accrued. During this waiting period, an employee shall accrue earned sick time pursuant to this chapter, but shall not be permitted to use the earned sick time until after he or she has completed the waiting period.

(k) Seasonal employees shall be entitled to use accrued paid sick and safe leave time beginning on the one hundred fiftieth (150) calendar day following commencement of their employment, unless otherwise permitted by the employer. On and after the one hundred fiftieth (150) calendar day of employment, employees may use paid sick and safe leave time as it is accrued. During this waiting period, an employee shall accrue earned sick time pursuant to this chapter, but shall not be permitted to use the earned sick time until after he or she has completed the waiting period.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-5
§ 28-43-5. Employers account  Statement of balance, credits, and charges.
Status: in_force

(a) The director shall furnish to each employer not later than April 1 an annual statement showing the employers account balance together with the total credits and charges made during the experience year ending on the computation date.

(b) That statement is the directors determination and is binding on the employer unless an appeal is duly filed within fifteen (15) days of its mailing. All appeals shall follow the provisions of § 28-43-13.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-45-9.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-45 / Section 28-45-9.2
§ 28-45-9.2. Military service apprenticeship qualifications.
Status: in_force

(a) Any person, after having been honorably discharged from military service or having been transferred to reserve status or the national guard after active military service, and whose military occupational specialty provided them with the requisite classroom and workplace training as required by the Rhode Island general laws, or a rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the Rhode Island general laws, shall be eligible to use that classroom and workplace training to fulfill the requirements for apprentices and/or journeypersons for the following skilled trades:

(1) Electricians, as defined in § 5-6-1 et seq.;

(2) Blasters, as defined in § 23-28.28-31 et seq.;

(3) Plumbers and irrigators, as defined in § 5-20-1 et seq.;

(4) Hoisting engineers, as defined in § 28-26-1 et seq.; and

(5) Mechanical trades, as defined in § 28-27-1 et seq.

(b) Persons meeting any requirements through military service as described in subsection (a) remain subject to licensing fees and examinations for the desired trade license.

(c) To the extent that any provisions contained in this section conflict with the requirements for federal-aid contracts, federal law and regulations shall control.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-35-18 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-35 / Section 28-35-18
§ 28-35-18. Hearings by compensation agencies of other states or territories.
Status: in_force

The workers compensation court may also arrange to have hearings held by the workers compensation court officer or tribunal having authority to hear cases arising under the workers compensation law of any other state, of the District of Columbia, or of any territory of the United States, the testimony and proceedings at any this hearing to be reported to the workers compensation court and to be part of the record in the case. Any evidence so taken shall be subject to rebuttal upon final hearing before the workers compensation court.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-5 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-14 / Section 28-14-5
§ 28-14-5. Payment in event of industrial dispute.
Status: in_force

In the event of the suspension of work as the result of an industrial dispute, the wages and compensation earned and unpaid at the time of the suspension, without abatement or reduction, shall become due and payable at the next regular payday.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-19 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-19
§ 28-41-19. Hearing by appeal tribunal  Regulations  Record of proceedings.
Status: in_force

A reasonable opportunity for a fair hearing shall promptly be afforded all interested parties. An appeal tribunal shall inquire into and develop all facts bearing on the issues and shall receive and consider evidence without regard to statutory and common-law rules. The board of review shall adopt regulations governing the manner of filing appeals and the conduct of hearings and appeals, consistent with chapters 39  41 of this title. A record shall be kept of all testimony and proceedings in an appeal, but testimony need not be transcribed unless further review is initiated.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-6.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-6.2
§ 28-27-6.2. Issuance of contractor master license.
Status: in_force

(a) There is created a class of license that shall be known, respectively, as a pipefitter, refrigeration-air conditioning, sheet metal, fire protection sprinkler systems contractor master. This license shall not, in and of itself, permit any holder of it to individually engage in installation, maintenance, or repair as described in this chapter, but may instead only be used in conjunction with a contractors license as described in § 28-27-6.

(b) No application for a license of pipefitter, refrigeration-air conditioning, sheet metal, fire protection sprinkler contractor master shall be filed with the department of labor and training, nor shall any applicant be permitted to take the examination for such a license, unless:

(1) The applicant possesses the requisite skill, expertise, education, experience, training, and other qualities or qualifications to take the examination that the department of labor and training, by the promulgation of regulations, may require;

(2) The application is accompanied by a test fee which shall equal the fee for a Pipefitter Master I as outlined in § 28-27-17.

(c) Upon passage of the contractor master examination as prepared and administered by the department of labor and training upon recommendation and advice of the board, payment of a license fee which shall equal the fee for a Pipefitter Master I as outlined in § 28-27-17 shall be required and the contractor master license shall be issued as provided in § 28-27-15.

(d) Applications must be filed with the department of labor and training at least fifteen (15) days prior to the examination date.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-35 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-35
§ 28-43-35. Special rules regarding transfers of experience and assignment of rates.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title, the following shall apply regarding assignment of rates and transfers of experience:

(1) If an employer transfers the employers trade or business, or a portion thereof, to another employer and, at the time of the transfer, there is any common ownership, management, or control of the two (2) employers, then the unemployment experience attributable to the transferred trade or business shall be transferred to the employer to whom such business is so transferred. Furthermore, partial transfers may be made in the absence of common ownership at the discretion of the director. In determining whether there is any common ownership, management, or control, the department may consider the following factors, which include, but are not limited to: any familial relationships, principals or corporate officers, organizational structure, day-to-day operations, assets and liabilities, and stated business purposes. The rates of both employers shall be recalculated in the following manner:

(i) The total payroll of the employees on the predecessors payroll during the last, completed calendar quarter prior to the date of the transfer, who are also on the payroll of the successor when the transfer takes effect shall be divided by the predecessors total payroll during the last, completed calendar quarter prior to the date of the transfer, and that percentage shall be applied to the experience rating balances and payroll of the predecessor as of the end of the experience year used to determine the contribution rate for the tax year in effect at the date of transfer. The resulting amounts shall be subtracted from the experience rating balances and payroll of the predecessor. The predecessors remaining experience rating balances and payroll shall be used to determine its contribution rate for the new tax year or for the remainder of the current tax year, whichever is applicable, effective on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date of the transfer; provided, that if the date of the transfer is the first day of the calendar quarter, then the new contribution rate shall take effect on the date of the transfer.

(ii) The balances, subtracted from the predecessors account in subsection (1)(i) of this section, shall be combined with the experience rating balances and payroll of the successors as of the end of the experience year used to determine the contribution rate for the tax year in effect at the date of transfer. Those combined balances shall be used to determine the contribution rate for the successor for the new tax year, or for the remainder of the current tax year, whichever is applicable, effective on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date of the transfer; provided, that if the date of the transfer is the first day of the calendar quarter, then the new contribution rate shall take effect on the date of the transfer. For successors in business for less than one experience year, their contribution rate for the new tax year, or for the remainder of the current tax year, whichever is applicable, shall be computed based on the transferred experience rating balances and payroll of the predecessor and shall take effect on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date of the transfer; provided, that if the date of the transfer is the first day of the calendar quarter, then the new contribution rate shall take effect on the date of the transfer.

(iii) A successor shall be deemed to be an eligible employer if its experience combined with that of its predecessors meets the requirements of §28-43-1(3). As used in this section, successor means the employing unit to whom a transfer as provided in this section is made, and predecessor means the employer making the transfer and may, if the context so requires, be construed as referring only to the separate establishment transferred in case of the transfer of a separate establishment.

(2) If, following a transfer of experience under subsection (1) of this section, the director determines that a substantial purpose of the transfer of the trade or business was to obtain a reduced liability for contributions, then the experience rating accounts of the employers involved shall be combined and the combined rate assigned to each employer account.

(3) Whenever a person is not an employer under this chapter at the time that person acquires the trade or business of an employer, the unemployment experience of the acquired business shall not be transferred to such person if the director finds that such person acquired the business solely, or primarily, for the purposes of obtaining a lower rate of contributions. Instead, such person shall be assigned the new employer rate under §28-43-8.3. In determining whether the business was acquired solely or primarily for the purpose of obtaining a lower rate of contributions, the director shall use objective factors that may include the cost of acquiring the business, whether the person continued the business enterprise of the acquired business, how long such business enterprise was continued, or whether a substantial number of new employees were hired for performance of duties unrelated to the business activity conducted prior to the acquisition.

(4) Subject to the provisions herein, whenever a person is not an employer under this chapter at the time that person acquires the trade or business, or a portion thereof, of an employer in insolvency proceedings, including federal bankruptcy courts, state receiverships, masterships, or other insolvency proceedings, the unemployment experience of the acquired business shall not be transferred to such person. Instead, such person shall be assigned the new employer rate under §28-43-8.3 unless the director finds that, at the time of the acquisition, there is common ownership, management, or control of the two (2) employers, and in such case all of the experience will be transferred.

(5) Subject to the provisions herein, whenever a person is an eligible employer prior to the time that person acquires the trade or business, or a portion thereof, of an employer in solvency proceeding(s) including federal bankruptcy courts, state receiverships, mastership, or other insolvency proceedings, the unemployment experience of the acquired business shall not be transferred to such person. Instead, such person shall continue to pay employer contributions at the rate applicable to it prior to the date it made such acquisition unless the director finds that, at the time of the acquisition, there is common ownership, management, or control of the two (2) employers, and in such case, all of the experience will be transferred and a new rate computed.

(6)(i) If a person knowingly violates or attempts to violate subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section, or any other provision of this chapter related to determining the assignment of a contribution rate, or if a person knowingly advises another person in a way that results in a violation of such provision, the person shall be subject to the following penalties:

(A) If the person is an employer, then such employer shall be assigned the highest rate assignable under this chapter for the rate year during which such violation, or attempted violation, occurred and the three (3) rate years immediately following this rate year. However, if the persons business is already at such highest rate for any year, or if the amount of increase in the persons rate would be less than two percent (2%) for such year, then a penalty rate of contributions of two percent (2%) of taxable wages shall be imposed for such year.

(B) If the person is not an employer, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a civil money penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). Any such fine shall be deposited in the Rhode Island general fund.

(ii) For purposes of this section, the term knowingly means having actual knowledge of, or acting with deliberate ignorance, or reckless disregard for, the prohibition involved.

(iii) For purposes of this section, the term violates or attempts to violate includes, but is not limited to, intent to evade, misrepresentation, or willful nondisclosure.

(iv) In addition to the penalty imposed by subsection (6)(i) of this section, any violation of this section may also be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, and for each offense, the person may be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.

(7) The director shall establish procedures to identify the transfer or acquisition of a business for purposes of this section.

(8) For purposes of this chapter:

(i) Person shall include an individual, a trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation; and

(ii) Trade or business shall include the employers workforce.

(9) This section shall be interpreted and applied in such a manner as to meet the minimum requirements contained in any guidance or regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor.

(10) Any determination of the director under this section shall be final unless an appeal from it is filed by the aggrieved party within fifteen (15) days from the date that notice is mailed to the last known address of that party. All appeals shall follow the provisions of §28-43-13.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-20 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-20
§ 28-7-20. Power of board to prevent unfair practices.
Status: in_force

The board is empowered and directed, as provided in this chapter, to prevent any employer, or public sector employee organization as provided in § 28-7-13.1, from engaging in any unfair labor practice. This power shall not be affected or impaired by any means of adjustment, mediation, or conciliation in labor disputes that have been or may be established by law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-29 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-29
§ 28-42-29. Expenditure of administrative funds authorized by Secretary of Labor.
Status: in_force

All moneys received by the director from the Secretary of Labor of the United States under Title III of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 501 et seq., or any unencumbered balance of the employment security administration account except money received for the payment of expenses incurred pursuant to an appropriation duly made by the legislature in accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 1103, shall be expended by the director solely for the purposes and in the amounts found by the Secretary of Labor to be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of chapters 42  44 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-49 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-49
§ 28-42-49. Appropriations for employment offices.
Status: in_force

The general assembly shall from time to time appropriate any sums of money that may be necessary, out of moneys in the general treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of maintaining the public employment offices created under this chapter, and for the purpose of cooperating with the United States employment service.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-15-1 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-15 / Section 28-15-1
§ 28-15-1. Assignment defined.
Status: in_force

Assignment, as used in this chapter, includes every instrument purporting to transfer an interest in or an authority to collect the future earnings of any person.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-30-15.2 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-30 / Section 28-30-15.2
§ 28-30-15.2. No incremental retirement benefit for temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice, or chief judge retired pursuant to § 28-30-15 or § 28-30-15.1.
Status: in_force

No increment in salary resulting from the temporary service as chief justice, presiding justice, or chief judge shall be construed to add to the annual salary of a judicial officer for purposes of retirement under § 28-30-15 or § 28-30-15.1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-34-11 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-34 / Section 28-34-11
§ 28-34-11. Rights as to diseases not covered by chapter.
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall affect the rights of an employee, or his or her dependents, to recover compensation in respect to a disease to which this chapter does not apply, if the disease, apart from this chapter, is one for which compensation is payable under the other provisions of chapters 29  38 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-21-20 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-21 / Section 28-21-20
§ 28-21-20. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provisions or part thereof of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstances, is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions of this chapter and the application of those provisions to other persons or circumstances, other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected by that invalidity.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-41-42 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-41 / Section 28-41-42
§ 28-41-42. Receipt of federal funds.
Status: in_force

To the extent that funds are made available by the federal government, under Title III of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 501 et seq.), or otherwise for such purpose, the expenses of administering chapters 39  41 of this title shall be paid from those funds, provided that this section shall not be considered to permit any expenditure of funds from the employment security administration account contrary to § 28-42-29. In the event that the Social Security Act is amended to permit funds granted under Title III to be used to pay expenses of administering a sickness compensation law, such as chapters 39  41 of this title, then from and after the effective date of that amendment, the expenses of administering those chapters shall be paid out of the employment security administration account or any other account or fund in which funds granted under Title III are deposited.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-37 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-7 / Section 28-7-37
§ 28-7-37. Service of process of board  Witness fees.
Status: in_force

Complaints, orders, and other process and papers of the board, its member, agent, or agency may be served either personally or by registered or certified mail or by telegraph or by leaving a copy thereof at the principal office or place of business of the person required to be served. The verified return by the individual serving the process setting forth the manner of the service shall be proof of the service, and the return post office receipt or telegraph receipt when registered or certified and mailed or telegraphed shall be proof of service of the process. Witnesses summoned before the board, its member, agent, or agency shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of this state, and witnesses whose depositions are taken and the person taking the depositions shall severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of this state.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-48-4 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-48 / Section 28-48-4
§ 28-48-4. Effect on existing employment benefits.
Status: in_force

(a) The taking of parental leave or family leave pursuant to this chapter shall not result in the loss of any benefit accrued before the date on which the leave commenced.

(b) Except as provided in § 28-48-3(b), nothing in this chapter shall be construed to entitle any employee who takes parental leave or family leave pursuant to this chapter to any benefit other than benefits to which the employee would have been entitled had he or she not taken the leave.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect an employers obligation to comply with any collective bargaining agreement or employment benefit plan that provides greater parental leave or family leave rights to employees than the rights provided under this chapter.

(d) The parental leave and family leave rights mandated by this chapter shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement or by any employment benefit plan.

(e) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect or diminish the contract rights or seniority status of any other employee of any employer covered by this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-42-64 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-42 / Section 28-42-64
§ 28-42-64. Failure to make contributions or reports.
Status: in_force

Any individual, or employing unit, or its agent, who or that knowingly fails or refuses to make any contribution or other payment required of an employing unit under chapters 42  44 of this title, or who knowingly fails or refuses to make any contribution or report at the time and in the manner required by the regulations adopted as prescribed in these chapters, shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200), or by imprisonment not longer than sixty (60) days, or by both the fine and imprisonment, and each day of that failure or refusal shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. If the employer in question is a corporation, every officer of the corporation who knowingly participates in any violation specified in this section shall be subject to these penalties.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-43-3 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-43 / Section 28-43-3
§ 28-43-3. Employers accounts  Credits and charges.
Status: in_force

Subsequent to the establishment of a separate employers account for each employer subject to chapters 42  44 of this title as set forth in § 28-43-1(4), the credits and charges to each employers account, exclusive of the state of Rhode Island, its political subdivisions, and their instrumentalities, shall be determined as follows:

(1) Credits to each employers account:

(i) After the September 30, 1958, computation date all contributions required under § 28-43-8 and paid by each employer.

(ii) All surcharges required and paid under § 28-43-4.

(iii) All voluntary contributions made by the employer made in accordance with § 28-43-5.1.

(2) Charges to each employers account:

(i) Refunds of overpayments under § 28-43-13, as of the date refunded;

(ii) For benefit years beginning subsequent to September 30, 1993, an amount equal to the benefits provided in §§ 28-44-6(a) and (b), 28-44-7, and 28-44-8, and paid to each individual with respect to a benefit year, as of the date paid. Those benefits shall be charged to the account of the most recent base-period employer, as defined in § 28-43-1(7); provided, that if a claimant works for two (2) or more employers concurrently, either full-time or part-time, and becomes unemployed on the same day from more than one employer, any benefits paid as a result of the unemployment shall be charged to the employers accounts proportionately based upon the ratio of base-period wages paid by each employer to the total base-period wages paid by the concurrent employers from whom the claimant became separated from employment. No charge for benefits paid under § 28-44-7 shall be made against the account of any employer who shows to the satisfaction of the director that the employer has continued to employ the individual during the weeks of his or her claim to the same extent that the employer had employed him or her during that individuals base period, and those benefits, if not chargeable to the most recent base-period employer, shall be charged to the balancing account;

(iii) If any base-period employer, whether or not the employer was the most recent, shows to the satisfaction of the director that the individual who is in receipt of benefits became separated from his or her last employment with that employer for reasons that did result or would have resulted in a disqualification under § 28-44-17 or § 28-44-18 had that base-period employer been his or her most recent, those benefits shall be charged to the balancing account;

(iv) The entire amount charged to the employers account under § 28-43-9 relating to the balancing rate;

(v) Whenever the provisions in this section specify that an employers account shall not be charged, that non-charging shall be limited to benefits paid based on service with an employer required to pay contributions under the provisions of chapters 42  44 of this title;

(vi) An amount equal to the benefits provided in § 28-44-62 and paid to each individual with respect to a benefit year as of the date paid minus the proportionate share of those benefits for which the state has been or will be reimbursed by the federal government. The federal share of any payments shall be charged to the balancing account and federal reimbursements shall be credited to the balancing account;

(vii) Whenever any benefits are paid for benefit years beginning subsequent to July 7, 1996, to an individual unemployed as a result of physical damage to the real property at the employers usual place of business caused by severe weather conditions, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, snowstorms, ice storms or flooding, or fire except where caused by the employer, those benefits shall be charged to the balancing account; and

(viii) An employers account shall not be relieved of charges relating to any benefit payments made if the director establishes on or after October 1, 2013, that the payment was made because the employer, or an agent of the employer, was at fault for failing to respond timely or adequately to the request of the department for information relating to the claim for unemployment benefits that was subsequently overpaid.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-27-23 — RI Code / Title 28 / Chapter 28-27 / Section 28-27-23
§ 28-27-23. Administration of oaths.
Status: in_force

The director and his or her designees shall have the power to administer oaths to witnesses at a hearing that the department has authorized by law to conduct and any other oaths authorized or administered by the department.