R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-39-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-39 / Section 23-39-5
§ 23-39-5. Board created.
Status: in_force

(a) Within the division of professional regulation of the health department shall be a board of respiratory care consisting of five (5) members as follows:

(1) One physician licensed in the state who is knowledgeable in respiratory care;

(2) Three (3) licensed respiratory care practitioners;

(3) One public member who is a resident of Rhode Island. The public member shall not have been licensed as a respiratory care practitioner nor shall they have any financial interest, direct or indirect, in the occupation regulated.

(b) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, within sixty (60) days following November 1, 1986, shall appoint one board member for a term of one year; two (2) for a term of two (2) years; and two (2) for a term of three (3) years. Appointments made thereafter shall be for three-year terms but no person shall be appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. A majority of seats filled shall constitute a quorum.

(c) The director, in his or her initial appointment, shall appoint as the respiratory care practitioner one of the members of the board or a person currently practicing as respiratory care practitioners in Rhode Island.

(d) The board shall meet during the first month of each calendar year to select a chairperson and for other purposes. At least one additional meeting shall be held before the end of each calendar year. Other meetings may be convened at the call of the chairperson, the administrator of professional regulation, or upon the written request of any two (2) board members.

(e) In the event of a vacancy in one of the positions, the director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, may appoint a person who shall fill the unexpired term.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4-11 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-4 / Section 23-4-11
§ 23-4-11. Effects and property of deceased.
Status: in_force

An agent of the office of state medical examiners, as the case may be, may take into his or her possession all articles and property of the deceased on or about the body and shall deliver them to the office of the chief medical examiner if an autopsy or postmortem examination is ordered, but shall otherwise deliver them to a member of the family taking a receipt for them. Provided, however, any letter, note, or any other written instrument, the contents of which relate to the manner or cause of the death of the deceased, shall be permanently retained in the files of the office. If an autopsy is ordered, the chief medical examiner shall upon completion of the investigation deliver all other articles or property to a member of the family of the deceased taking a receipt from that family member and, if any dispute exists among members of the family, he or she shall hold the other articles or property for the executor or administrator of the estate of the deceased when appointed. In the event that death shall have occurred in a hotel or other public place where possessions of the deceased may be lying, an agent of the office of state medical examiners shall make suitable arrangements for the protection of the property.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-75-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-75 / Section 23-75-8
§ 23-75-8. Penalty.
Status: in_force

(a) A commercial user who willfully and knowingly violates § 23-75-6 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Any person or entity that violates the provisions of § 23-75-3(a) shall be civilly fined not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first violation, and up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each subsequent violation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-12A — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-12A
§ 23-3-12A. Delayed registration of death and marriage.
Status: in_force

(a) When a death or marriage occurring in this state has not been registered, a certificate may be filed in accordance with regulations of the state director of health. This certificate shall be registered subject to evidentiary requirements that the state director of health shall by regulation prescribe to substantiate the alleged facts of death or marriage.

(b) Certificate of death and marriage registered one year or more after the date of occurrence shall be marked delayed and shall show on their face the date of delayed registration.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-98-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-98 / Section 23-98-2
§ 23-98-2. Definitions.
Status: in_force

For purposes of this chapter:

(1) Accredited laboratory means a DNA laboratory that is formally recognized and meets or exceeds a list of standards, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) directors quality assurance standards, to perform specific tests, established by a nonprofit professional association of persons actively involved in forensic science that is nationally recognized within the forensic community in accordance with the provisions of the federal DNA Identification Act, 42 U.S.C. § 14132, or other applicable law.

(2) Anonymous kit or unreported kit means a kit that is collected from a victim of sexual assault through a medical forensic examination where the victim elects, at the time of the examination, not to report the sexual assault offense to a law enforcement agency.

(3) Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) means the FBIs program of support for criminal justice DNA databases as well as the software used to run the databases.

(4) DNA analysis means the isolation of autosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to develop DNA profiles that are eligible for entry into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), DNA samples taken from evidence containing DNA from a known individual or of unknown origin, the determination of the DNA test results, and entry of resulting DNA profiles into CODIS.

(5) Law enforcement agency means a local police department, the Rhode Island state police, the office of the attorney general, or a federal, state, or local governmental body that enforces criminal laws and maintains employees who have a statutory power of arrest.

(6) Medical forensic examination means an examination of a sexual assault patient by a healthcare provider, ideally one who has specialized education and clinical experience in the collection of forensic evidence and treatment of these patients. Such examination may include gathering information from the patient for the medical forensic history; an examination; coordinating treatment of injuries; documentation of biological and physical findings; collection of evidence from the patient; information, treatment, and referrals for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance abuse, and other non-acute medical concerns; and follow-up as needed to provide additional healing, treatment, or collection of evidence.

(7) Newly collected kit means a kit that has been collected after time frames and requirements for testing kits were enacted.

(8) Previously untested sexual assault evidence kits means human biological specimen(s) collected by a healthcare provider during a forensic medical examination from the victim of a sexually-oriented criminal offense that has not been through DNA analysis and has been held untested by medical facilities, law enforcement agencies, or accredited laboratories.

(9) Sexual assault evidence kit or kit means a collection of human biological specimen(s) collected by a healthcare provider during a medical forensic examination from the victim of a sex offense.

(10) Status means the location, date, and time when the kit is transferred within the chain of custody.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-99-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-99 / Section 23-99-7
§ 23-99-7. Annual reports.
Status: in_force

The hub shall submit a report, beginning on or before October 1, 2024, and on October 1 annually thereafter, to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate. This report shall include:

(1) The hubs receipts and expenditures during such fiscal year;

(2) The hubs assets and liabilities at the end of its fiscal year;

(3) A list of all certified life sciences companies;

(4) A complete list of grants awarded by the hub and any other funding activities;

(5) Reports of patents or products resulting from funded activities;

(6) The status of construction of any real estate project resulting from certification, including whether construction is on-time and on-budget;

(7) Any federal initiatives that have an impact on life science companies doing business in the state; and

(8) Any concerns surrounding pending or threatened litigation, pending legislation both state and federal, or any other known material risks.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-39 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-39
§ 23-19-39. Tipping fees  Municipal rate for city or town collected condominium solid waste.
Status: in_force

The solid waste generated by a residential condominium, when collected and disposed of by a city or town of Rhode Island, shall be charged the same tipping fee per ton as the municipal rate.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-38-3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-38 / Section 23-38-3
§ 23-38-3. Penalty for violation.
Status: in_force

A person who violates this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a violation and shall be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250). Each day that the violation continues or exists shall constitute a separate offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-15-4.4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-15 / Section 23-15-4.4
§ 23-15-4.4. Exemption for voter approved capital bond issues for health care facilities.
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the requirements of any other provisions of any general law or public laws, voter approved state bond issues authorizing capital expenditures for state health care facilities shall not require a certificate of need review and approval by the state agency.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-61-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-61 / Section 23-61-4
§ 23-61-4. Authority of the director.
Status: in_force

The director is authorized to:

(1) Designate a unit within the department to administer the provisions of this chapter and provide that unit with the necessary staff, equipment, and operating funds.

(2) Receive and administer funding allocated for radon control programs by the state, agencies of the federal government and other appropriate funding sources.

(3) Require the owner of any public or high priority building to perform such tests for radon as he or she may determine to be necessary to characterize the exposure of occupants to radon/radon progeny in the air of the building and/or in the building water supply.

(4) Conduct a voluntary radon/radon progeny testing program for residents of owner occupied residential dwellings in the state.

(5) Enter any public or high priority building in the state in accordance with §§ 23-61-7(a)(1) and 23-61-7(b)(4) to perform such tests for radon as he or she may determine to be necessary to evaluate the exposure of occupants to radon/radon progeny in the air of the building and/or in the building water supply.

(6) Institute a public information program to include a telephone information service, written materials, and media advertisements with the purpose of informing the public regarding radon/radon progeny health effects, the necessity for testing of homes and other buildings, the recommended practices for reducing elevated levels of radon and related issues.

(7) Develop and forward for adoption by the state building code commission recommendations for standards of new construction designed to prevent or more easily mitigate elevated radon/radon progeny levels.

(8) Issue regulations for the following purposes:

(i) To establish indoor environmental air exposure standards and guidelines for radon and radon progeny;

(ii) To establish a drinking water standard for radon;

(iii) To establish criteria for air and water sampling, and testing for radon and radon progeny;

(iv) To establish criteria for notification of the department of mitigation activities to reduce radon/radon progeny exposures in high priority buildings and public water supplies;

(v) To establish criteria for licensure and certification of persons involved in radon/radon progeny testing and mitigation services;

(vi) To require radon/radon progeny testing by appropriate school officials of each area within public and private schools occupied by children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade;

(vii) To establish work practices and procedures for mitigation of radon/radon progeny in buildings;

(viii) To establish procedures for notifications required by § 23-61-6;

(ix) To assess fees for activities authorized by this chapter.

(9) In promulgating standards, guidelines and regulations and in setting fees authorized by this chapter, the director shall:

(i) Give due consideration to recommendations, standards, guidelines and definitions of other states and the United States;

(ii) Shall follow the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-24-14 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-24 / Section 23-24-14
§ 23-24-14. Repurchase of banned hazardous substances.
Status: in_force

(a) In the case of any article or substance sold by its manufacturer, distributor, or dealer which is a banned hazardous substance (whether or not it was a banned hazardous substance at the time of its sale), the article or substance shall, in accordance with regulations of the consumer protection unit, be repurchased as follows:

(1) The manufacturer of the article or substance shall repurchase it from the person to whom he or she sold it, and shall:

(i) Refund to that person the purchase price paid for the article or substance;

(ii) If that person has repurchased the article or substance pursuant to subdivision (2) or (3), reimburse him or her for any amounts paid in accordance with that subdivision for the return of the article or substance in connection with its repurchase; and

(iii) If the manufacturer requires the return of the article or substance in connection with his or her purchase of it in accordance with this subdivision, reimburse that person for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in returning it to the manufacturer.

(2) The distributor of the article or substance shall repurchase it from the person to whom he or she sold it and shall:

(i) Refund to that person the purchase price paid for the article or substance;

(ii) If that person has repurchased the article or substance pursuant to subdivision (3), reimburse him or her for any amount paid in accordance with that subdivision for the return of the article or substance in connection with its repurchase; and

(iii) If the distributor requires the return of the article or substance in connection with his or her repurchase of it in accordance with this subdivision, reimburse that person for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in returning it to the distributor.

(3) In the case of any article or substance sold at retail by a dealer, if the person who purchased it from the dealer returns it to him or her, the dealer shall refund the purchaser the purchase price paid for it and reimburse him or her for any reasonable and necessary transportation charges incurred in its return.

(b) For the purposes of this section:

(1) Manufacturer includes an importer for resale; and

(2) A dealer who sells at wholesale an article or substance shall with respect to that sale be considered the distributor of that article or substance.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-21 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-21
§ 23-19-21. Credit of state not pledged.
Status: in_force

Obligations issued under the provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to constitute a debt or liability or obligation of the state or of any political subdivision of the state or a pledge of the faith and credit of the state or of any political subdivision, but shall be payable solely from the revenues or assets of the corporation. Each obligation issued under this chapter shall contain on its face a statement to the effect that the corporation shall not be obligated to pay the principal of the obligation nor the interest on it except from the revenues or assets pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the obligation, and that neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or of any political subdivision is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the interest on the obligation.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-12.4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-12.4
§ 23-17-12.4. Enforcement of §§ 23-17-12  23-17-12.2.
Status: in_force

The director of health shall refer all violations of §§ 23-17-12  23-17-12.2 to the chief counsel within the department of health for appropriate action.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-15-10 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-15 / Section 23-15-10
§ 23-15-10. Application fees.
Status: in_force

The state agency shall require that any applicant for certificate of need submit an application fee prior to requesting any review of matters pursuant to the requirements of this chapter; except that health care facilities owned and operated by the state of Rhode Island shall be exempt from this application fee requirement. The application fee shall be paid by check made payable to the general treasurer. Except for applications that propose new or expanded tertiary or specialty care services as defined in subdivision 23-15-2(10)(vi), submission of any application filed in accordance with § 23-15-4(d) shall include an application fee of five hundred dollars ($500) per application plus an amount equal to one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the total capital expenditure costs associated with the application. For an application filed in accordance with the requirements of § 23-15-5 (Expeditious review), the application shall include an application processing fee of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750) per application plus an amount equal to one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the total capital expenditure costs associated with the application. Applications that propose new or expanded tertiary or specialty care services as defined in subdivision 23-15-2(10)(vi), shall include an application fee of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) plus an amount equal to one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the total capital expenditure costs associated with the application. Application fees shall be non-refundable. All fees received pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the general fund.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-25 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-25
§ 23-1-25. Penalties.
Status: in_force

Unless another penalty is provided by the laws of this state, any person who violates any law administered by the director or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to authority granted to the director shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both, and for violation of a compliance order of the director by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300) or by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both, for each offense or violation, and each days failure to comply with any such law, rule, regulation, or order shall constitute a separate offense.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-1-44 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-1 / Section 23-1-44
§ 23-1-44. Routine childhood and adult immunization vaccines.
Status: in_force

(a) The department of health shall include in the departments immunization program those vaccines for routine childhood immunization as recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and for routine adult immunization as recommended by the ACIP, to the extent permitted by available funds. The immunization program includes administrative and quality assurance services and the Rhode Island Child and Adult Immunization Registry (RICAIR), a confidential, computerized information system that is used to manage statewide immunizations, for all persons in Rhode Island.

(b) The director of the department of health shall appoint an advisory committee that will be convened after the ACIP makes a recommendation regarding immunization. The committee will review the ACIP recommendations for the state; assess the vaccine cost and feasibility; and advise the director of health and the office of the health insurance commissioner regarding insurers and providers acting on the ACIP immunization recommendation. All recommendations will be posted on the department of health website. The advisory committee membership shall include, but not be limited to, a primary care provider, pharmacist, representatives of the nursing home industry, the home healthcare industry and major insurers.

(c) For the purpose of protecting patients information, all personally-identifiable information obtained pursuant to this section shall be subject to the privacy protections of chapter 37.3 of title 5 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191 (HIPAA), as amended.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-74-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-74 / Section 23-74-1
§ 23-74-1. Definitions and applicability.
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) Director or director of health means the director of the department of health or the directors designee;

(2) Unlicensed health care client means an individual who receives services from an unlicensed health care practitioner;

(3) Unlicensed health care practices means the broad domain of unlicensed healing methods and treatments, including, but not limited to: (i) acupressure; (ii) Alexander technique; (iii) aroma therapy; (iv) ayurveda; (v) cranial sacral therapy; (vi) crystal therapy; (vii) detoxification practices and therapies; (viii) energetic healing; (ix) rolfing; (x) Gerson therapy and colostrum therapy; (xi) therapeutic touch; (xii) herbology or herbalism; (xiii) polarity therapy; (xiv) homeopathy; (xv) nondiagnostic iridology; (xvi) body work; (xvii) reiki; (xviii) mind-body healing practices; (ixx) naturopathy; and (xx) Qi Gong energy healing. Unlicensed health care practices do not include surgery, x-ray radiation, prescribing, administering, or dispensing legend drugs and controlled substances, practices that invade the human body by puncture of the skin, setting fractures, any practice included in the practice of dentistry, the manipulation or adjustment of articulations of joints, or the spine, also known as chiropractic medicine as defined in chapter 30 of title 5, the healing art of acupuncture as defined in chapter 37.2 of title 5, or practices that are permitted under § 5-37-15 or § 5-34-31(6).

(4) Unlicensed health care practitioner means a person who:

(i) Is not licensed by a health-related licensing board or the director of health; or holds a license issued by a health-related licensing board or the department of health in this state, but does not hold oneself out to the public as being licensed or registered by the director or a health-related licensing board when engaging in unlicensed health care;

(ii) Has not had a license issued by a health-related licensing board or the director of health revoked or suspended without reinstatement unless the right to engage in unlicensed health care practices has been established by order of the director of health;

(iii) Is engaging in unlicensed health care practices; and

(iv) Is providing unlicensed health care services for remuneration or is holding oneself out to the public as a practitioner of unlicensed health care practices.

(b) This chapter does not apply to, control, prevent, or restrict the practice, service, or activity of lawfully marketing or distributing food products, including dietary supplements as defined in the federal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act [see 21 U.S.C. § 321(ff)], educating customers about those products, or explaining the uses of those products. Under Rhode Island law, an unlicensed health care practitioner may not provide a medical diagnosis.

(c) A health care practitioner, licensed or registered by the director or a health-related licensing board, who engages in unlicensed health care while practicing under the practitioners license or registration, shall be regulated by and be under the jurisdiction of the applicable health-related licensing board with regard to the unlicensed health care practices.

(d) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, persons in Rhode Island are authorized to practice as unlicensed health care practitioners and receive remuneration for their services.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-13 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-13
§ 23-33-13. Reports of authorized inspectors  Issuance of certificate  Fee.
Status: in_force

When any authorized inspector shall inspect an elevator, or any other device subject to the provisions of this chapter, the inspector shall immediately make a report of the inspection to the administrator, and if the elevator or device is adjudged to conform in all respects with the code of rules, the administrator, upon payment of a fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00), shall issue to the owner of the elevator or device a certificate stating the date of the issue of the certificate, which shall be renewable annually, but shall be valid until revoked.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-16-8 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-16 / Section 23-16-8
§ 23-16-8. Severability.
Status: in_force

If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision of this chapter to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of the chapter are declared to be severable.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-40 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-40
§ 23-25-40. Neonicotinoids restricted.
Status: in_force

(a) All pesticides registered in the state that contain one or more neonicotinoids and are labeled as approved for outdoor use are hereby immediately classified as state limited use pesticide. Such pesticides shall not be:

(1) Sold or distributed to any person other than a certified applicator;

(2) Used or applied by any person other than a certified applicator or any person working under the direct supervision of a certified applicator;

(3) Applied, except in the course of academic research, to any linden or basswood tree; or

(4) Applied, except in the course of academic research, to any plant when such plant bears blossoms.

(b) This section does not apply to:

(1) Pet or veterinary care products used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating fleas, mites, ticks, heartworms, or other insects or organisms when applied to or administered to companion animals, livestock, or captive wild animals, regardless of whether the application or administration occurs indoors or outdoors;

(2) Personal care products used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating lice or bedbugs;

(3) Indoor pest control products used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating insects indoors and registered in this state only for indoor use;

(4) Products used for controlling wood-destroying pests in and around homes and other human-made structures, in accordance with the label; or

(5) An article or substance treated with, or containing, a neonicotinoid to protect the article or substance itself (for example, seeds treated with a neonicotinoid to protect the seeds or wood products treated to protect the wood against insect infestation), if the neonicotinoid is registered for such use.

(c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the director from further restricting or regulating neonicotinoids pursuant to § 23-25-9.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-33-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-33 / Section 23-33-2
§ 23-33-2. Formulation and adoption of codes.
Status: in_force

The code commission for occupational safety and health created by chapter 20 of title 28 shall, under and pursuant to the provisions of that chapter, formulate and/or adopt a code of rules for the construction, inspection, maintenance, and operation of new elevators, escalators and other devices subject to the provisions of this chapter. The commission shall, likewise, also formulate and/or adopt its own standard code of rules, under and pursuant to the provisions of chapter 20 of title 28, for the construction, inspection, maintenance, and operation of all existing elevators and other devices within this state. These codes shall, in general, conform to nationally accepted safety codes of such engineering bodies as the American standards association, the American society of mechanical engineers, and American society of safety engineers, and other accepted codes. The codes adopted under this section, with any and all other later revisions or editions upon their effective date shall have the force and effect of law.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-75-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-75 / Section 23-75-1
§ 23-75-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter may be cited as the Childrens Product Safety Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17-12.3 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-17 / Section 23-17-12.3
§ 23-17-12.3. Penalty for violation of §§ 23-17-12  23-17-12.2.
Status: in_force

Every person including a controlling person, or corporation who shall willfully and continually violate the provisions of §§23-17-12  23-17-12.2 will be subject to a fine up to three hundred dollars ($300) for each violation of these sections.

For purposes of this section, controlling person is any person or entity in control of a nursing facility directly or indirectly, including: (1) in the case of a corporation or of a limited liability company, a person having a beneficial ownership interest of five percent (5%) or more in the nursing facility; (2) in the case of a general partnership or limited partnership, any general partner; (3) a legal entity that operates or contracts with another person for the operation of a nursing facility or an owner thereof; (4) in the case of a limited liability company, any member; (5) each president, vice president, secretary, treasurer of a business corporation that is not exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of such code; and (6) such other ownership interest or relationship as may be determined by the director.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-93-4 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-93 / Section 23-93-4
§ 23-93-4. Penalties for noncompliance.
Status: in_force

(a) The department, after notice and opportunity for hearing to the applicant, is authorized to take corrective action in any case in which it finds that there has been failure by an applicant to comply with the requirements established under any approval granted pursuant to this chapter, including, without limitation, the imposition of monetary fines that may be statutorily permitted by virtue of individual healthcare facility licensing statutes.

(b) The notice shall be effected by registered or certified mail or by personal service, setting forth the particular reasons for the proposed action and fixing a date not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing or service, at which the applicant shall be given an opportunity for a prompt and fair hearing. On the basis of the hearing, or upon default of the applicant, the department shall make a determination specifying its findings of fact and conclusions. A copy of the determination shall be sent by registered or certified mail or served personally upon the applicant. The decision shall become final thirty (30) days after it is so mailed or served, unless the applicant, within such thirty-day (30) period, appeals the decision pursuant to § 42-35-15. The procedure governing hearings authorized by this section shall be in accordance with §§ 42-35-9  42-35-13 as stipulated in § 42-35-14(a). A full and complete record shall be kept of all proceedings and all testimony shall be reported but need not be transcribed unless the decision is appealed pursuant to § 42-35-15. A copy or copies of the transcript may be obtained by any interested party on payment of the cost of preparing the copy or copies.

(c) Nothing in this section shall limit the directors general or emergency powers under §§ 23-1-1, 23-17-8 or any other authority granted to the department under the general laws.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-2-16 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-2 / Section 23-2-16
§ 23-2-16. Use of words referring to local health officers or local health boards  Meaning in general laws.
Status: in_force

Whenever in the general laws the words local health officers, health officer or board of health or any other word or phrase connoting a local health board or local health officer is used, appropriate wording shall be substituted so as to vest the power and authority in the state department of health or the director of health; provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed or interpreted to mean that a city or town shall not appoint a health officer or some other official to carry out the provisions of chapter 9 of this title.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-100-5 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-100 / Section 23-100-5
§ 23-100-5. Rules and regulations.
Status: in_force

The department shall promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-11 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-11
§ 23-18-11. Regulation of excavation around cemeteries.
Status: in_force

(a) The city or town council of any municipality may by ordinance prescribe standards regulating any construction or excavation in the city or town, when those standards are reasonably necessary to prevent deterioration of or damage to any cemetery or burial ground, or to any structures or gravesites located in any cemetery or burial ground. The rules and regulations shall not apply to the ordinary installation of gravesites or of monuments, markers, or mausoleums.

(b) No city or town shall permit construction, excavation or other ground disturbing activity within twenty-five feet (25²) of a recorded historic cemetery except in compliance with the following provisions:

(1) The boundaries of the cemetery are adequately documented and there is no reason to believe additional graves exist outside the recorded cemetery and the proposed construction or excavation activity will not damage or destructively alter the historic cemetery through erosion, flooding, filling, or encroachment; or

(2) The proposed construction or excavation activity has been reviewed and approved by the city or town in accordance with § 23-18-11.1.

(c) Whenever an unmarked cemetery or human skeletal material is inadvertently located during any construction, excavation, or other ground disturbing activity, including archaeological excavation, the building official of the city or town where the unmarked cemetery or human skeletal material is located shall be immediately notified. The building official shall, in turn, notify the state medical examiner and the Rhode Island historical preservation and heritage commission if the grave, cemetery, or skeletal material appears to be historic. Prior to the continuation of any further construction, excavation, or other ground disturbing activity, and unless the provisions of § 23-18-7 shall apply, the property owner shall undertake an archaeological investigation to determine the boundaries of the unmarked cemetery and shall so inform the building official. In the event that the cemetery meets the criteria for a historic cemetery, the building official shall so advise the recorder of deeds of the city or town who shall record and register the cemetery in accordance with the provisions of § 23-18-10.1.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-29.1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-29.1
§ 23-23-29.1. Findings of fact.
Status: in_force

The general assembly hereby finds as follows:

(1) Motor vehicle exhaust is the largest source of air pollution in Rhode Island, and idling vehicles emit higher concentrations of harmful pollutants than moving vehicles;

(2) Vehicle exhaust is hazardous to human health. Studies have linked pollution from vehicles to increased rates of cancer, lung and heart disease, asthma and allergies, urban smog and climate change;

(3) Fine particulate matter in diesel exhaust is particularly harmful to children and seniors. Tiny particles can lodge deep within human lungs, where they can trigger asthma attacks and stunt lung growth in children, and contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and heart attacks in seniors;

(4) Asthma is reaching epidemic proportions in Rhode Island. More than one hundred thousand (100,000) people in Rhode Island have been diagnosed with asthma, including one out of every ten (10) children. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and responsible for the most school absences in Rhode Island;

(5) Vehicle idling waste money. On average, an idling truck burns one gallon of fuel per hour. A locomotive or other heavy duty engine may burn anywhere from three (3) to eleven (11) gallons per hour;

(6) Excessive idling creates the need for more frequent oil and oil filter changes, and speeds engine wear, reducing the amount of time before an engine needs to be rebuilt;

(7) Even on the coldest winter days, modern engines need no more than five (5) minutes to warm up; and

(8) To date, other states including Connecticut and Massachusetts have passed laws that limit the amount of time vehicles are permitted to idle.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-3-7 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-3 / Section 23-3-7
§ 23-3-7. Duties of local registrars.
Status: in_force

The local registrar, with respect to his or her respective city or town, shall:

(1) Administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and instructions, rules, and regulations issued under this chapter.

(2) Require that certificates be completed and filed in accordance with provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations issued under this chapter.

(3) Transmit on or before the tenth (10th) day of each month the certificates, reports, or other returns filed with him or her for the preceding month to the state registrar of vital records or more frequently when directed to do so by the state registrar of vital records.

(4) Maintain records, make reports, and perform all other duties that may be required by the state registrar of vital records.

(5) Flag birth certificates of missing children and perform all other acts and duties required to be performed pursuant to chapter 28.8 of title 42.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-23-2 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-23 / Section 23-23-2
§ 23-23-2. Declaration of policy.
Status: in_force

It is declared to be the public policy in the state of Rhode Island to preserve, protect, and improve the air resources of the state to promote the public health, welfare, and safety, to prevent injury or detriment to human, plant, and animal life, physical property and other resources, and to foster the comfort and convenience of the states inhabitants. The director is authorized to exercise all powers, direct or incidental, necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter to assure that the state of Rhode Island complies with the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., and retains maximum control under this chapter, and receives all desired federal grants, aid, and other benefits.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-39-9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-39 / Section 23-39-9
§ 23-39-9. Other licensing provisions.
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Graduate Practice. Every graduate of a board approved respiratory care school who has filed a respiratory care practitioner application may, upon receiving a receipt from the division of professional regulation, perform as a respiratory care practitioner under the supervision of a respiratory care practitioner licensed in this state.

(2) During this period the applicant shall identify himself or herself only as a graduate respiratory care practitioner.

(3) If the applicant shall fail to take the examination within ninety (90) days from effective date of graduate status, without due cause or fail to pass the examination and receive a license, all privileges described in subsection (a)(1) shall automatically cease.

(b) Unless licensed as a respiratory care practitioner under the respiratory care act, no person shall use any title or abbreviation to indicate that the person is a licensed respiratory care practitioner.

(c) Verification of a valid license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be available at the respiratory care practitioners place of employment.

(d) Licenses, including initial licenses, shall be issued for a period of two (2) years.

(e) License renewal dates will be set by the division.

(f) Applicants and biennial licensure shall meet the continuing education requirements as prescribed by the director of health.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-19-9 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-19 / Section 23-19-9
§ 23-19-9. Purposes of the corporation.
Status: in_force

(a) The purposes of the corporation shall be:

(1) The planning, design, construction, financing, management, ownership, operation, and maintenance of transfer stations, waste processing facilities, resource recovery facilities, and all other solid waste management facilities deemed necessary by the corporation as being desirable, convenient, or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter;

(2) The provision of solid waste management services to municipalities and persons within the state by receiving solid wastes at the corporation facilities, pursuant to contracts between the corporation and the municipalities, and persons, the recovery of resources and resource values from the solid wastes, and the production from the services and resource recovery operations, of revenues sufficient to provide for the support of the corporation and its operations on a self-sustaining basis with due regard to the provision of the services at a reasonable cost to the clients it has contracted with;

(3) The fullest feasible utilization, through contractual arrangements, of private industry for implementation of the corporations plans and programs, and for any other activities that may be considered necessary, desirable, or convenient by the corporation;

(4) Assistance with and coordination of efforts directed towards source separation of solid wastes for recycling purposes;

(5) Assistance in the development of industries and commercial enterprises within the state based upon resource recovery, recycling, and reuse;

(6) Provided, either by contract with a private concern or directly by the corporation, or a recycling facility at, or within a convenient distance of, all solid waste management facilities under the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation; and

(7) Develop an industrial/business park in the town of Johnston for points south of Central Pike, west of Old Pocasset Road, to the intersection of Old Pocasset Road and Scituate Avenue, then west of route 295, bounded to the south by the northern shore (mean high water line) of the Upper Simmons Reservoir and the Lower Simmons Reservoir, through the exercise of the eminent domain power and through contractual arrangements.

(b) These purposes shall be considered to be operating responsibilities of the corporation, in accordance with the statewide solid waste management plan, and are to be considered public purposes. It is the intention of this chapter that the corporation shall be granted all powers necessary to fulfill these purposes and to carry out its assigned responsibilities, and that the provisions of this chapter are to be construed liberally in furtherance of this intention.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-18-15 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-18 / Section 23-18-15
§ 23-18-15. Installation of veterans plaque.
Status: in_force

Any cemetery which accepts the remains of a military veteran for burial shall install, for a maximum charge of seventy-five dollars ($75.00), the plaque issued by the Veterans Administration to the deceased veteran, on the veterans gravesite.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-25-1 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-25 / Section 23-25-1
§ 23-25-1. Short title.
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known as the Pesticide Control Act.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-99-6 — RI Code / Title 23 / Chapter 23-99 / Section 23-99-6
§ 23-99-6. Hub investment fund.
Status: in_force

(a) There shall be established and placed within the hub, a fund or funds to be known as the Rhode Island life science investment fund, to be held by the hub to finance the operations and initiatives of the hub. The investment fund shall be credited any appropriations, bond proceeds, federal grants, or loans, or other such additional funds as are subject to the direction and control of the hub, which may properly be applied in furtherance of the objectives of the hub.

(b) The investment fund shall be held and applied by the hub to make investments, grants, research and other funding, or loans designed to advance the field of life science in the state.

(c) The state shall not be liable for the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any bonds or notes of the hub, or for the performance of any pledge, mortgage, obligation, or agreement of any kind whatsoever that may be undertaken by the hub, and none of the bonds or notes of the hub nor any of its agreements or obligations shall be construed to constitute an indebtedness of the state. Payments related to any transaction involving, or investment by, the hub shall be payable solely from the assets, property, or revenues of the hub.

(d) All monies received by the hub pursuant to the authority of this chapter, whether as proceeds from the sale of bonds or as revenues, are deemed to be trust funds to be held and applied solely as provided in this chapter. Any officer with whom, or any bank or trust company with which, the monies are deposited, shall act as trustee of the monies and shall hold and apply the monies for the purposes of this chapter, subject to regulations as this chapter and the resolution authorizing the bonds of any issue or the trust agreement securing the bonds may provide.

(e) The board shall promulgate rules, regulations, or guidelines necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.