reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 40-9-11.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11.1 - Authorization to establish vending facilities for the blind on state property.

§ 40-9-11.1. Authorization to establish vending facilities for the blind on state property.(a) For the purposes of providing persons who are blind or visually impaired with remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities people who are blind or visually impaired, and stimulating people who are blind or visually impaired to greater efforts in striving to make themselves self-supporting, persons who are blind or visually impaired licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall be authorized to operate vending facilities on any state property.(b) In authorizing the operation of vending facilities on state property, priority shall be given to persons who are blind or visually impaired licensed by the department of human services administering state services for people who are blind or visually impaired as provided in the Randolph-Sheppard Act, Pub. L. No. 74-732, as amended by Pub. L. No. 83-565 and Pub. L. No. 93-516, 20 U.S.C. § 107 et seq. The director of human services shall, after consultation with the director of administration and other heads of departments, agencies, or instrumentalities of the state in control of the maintenance, operation, and protection of state property; prescribe regulations designed to assure that:(1) The priority under this section is given to licensed persons who are blind or visually impaired (including the assignment of vending machine income pursuant to § 40-9-11.5 to achieve and protect such priority); and(2) Wherever feasible, one or more vending facilities are established on all state property to the extent that any facility or facilities would not adversely affect the interest of the state.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-11.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11.2 - Validity of limitations on placement or operation.

§ 40-9-11.2. Validity of limitations on placement or operation.Any limitation on the placement or operation of a vending facility based on a finding that the placement or operation would adversely affect the interests of the state shall be fully justified, in writing, to the director of administration, who shall determine whether the limitation is justified. A determination made by the director of administration pursuant to this provision shall be binding on any department, agency, or instrumentality of the state so affected by the determination.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9-11.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11.3 - Provision for vending machines in buildings purchased or leased by state.

§ 40-9-11.3. Provision for vending machines in buildings purchased or leased by state.Whenever any department, agency, or instrumentality of the state shall undertake to acquire by ownership, rent, lease, or to otherwise occupy, in whole or in part, any building, the department, agency, or instrumentality shall make all reasonable attempts to ensure that the building includes a satisfactory site or sites for the location and operation of a vending facility by a person who is blind or visually impaired. Each department, agency, or instrumentality is hereby encouraged to provide timely notice to the director of human services that the acquisition, construction, or renovation of the building is planned in order to permit appropriate planning, selection, and preparation of the site or sites by the state services for people who are blind or visually impaired.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-11.4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11.4 - Compliance with chapter.

§ 40-9-11.4. Compliance with chapter.To ensure that persons who are blind or visually impaired licensed as vending facility operators are afforded the maximum opportunity by which to engage in the conduct of vending within state buildings, it is hereby intended that all agencies, departments, and institutions comply with the provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-11.5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11.5 - Vending machine income.

§ 40-9-11.5. Vending machine income.Vending machine income obtained from the operation of vending machines on state property shall accrue: (1) To the licensee who is blind or visually impaired operating a vending facility on state property, or (2) In the event there is no licensee who is blind or visually impaired operating the facility on state property, to the state services for people who are blind or visually impaired for use in the support of the administration of the business enterprises, vending facilities program.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-11.6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11.6 - Definitions.

§ 40-9-11.6. Definitions.(a) "Licensed operator" means a person who is blind or visually impaired who has received from the state services for persons who are blind or visually impaired a license that entitles the person to operate a vending facility, receive the profits therefrom, and take responsibility for the continuous maintenance of the facility to which he or she is assigned.(b) "Person who is blind or visually impaired" means a person whose visual acuity is found to be twenty/two hundred (20/200) or less in the better eye with best correction, or visual acuity of better than twenty/two hundred (20/200) if the widest diameter of the field of vision subtends an angle no greater than twenty (20) degrees. Blindness shall be determined by a physician skilled in the diseases of the eye, and certification thereof shall be made by the ophthalmological consultant at the state services for people who are blind or visually impaired.(c) "State property" means any building, land, or other real property owned, leased, or occupied by any department, agency, or instrumentality wholly owned by the state, unless, with respect to any building, land, or other real property, leased or rented by the state, the lease or rental agreement shall prohibit the establishment of the vending facilities. The state shall use its best efforts to obtain permission to establish vending facilities in buildings, land, or other real property hereafter leased or rented by the state.(d) "Vending facility" means automatic vending machines, cafeterias, snack bars, cart service, shelters, counters, and other appropriate auxiliary equipment necessary for the sale of newspapers, periodicals, confections, tobacco products, foods, beverages, and other articles or services dispensed automatically or manually and prepared on or off the premises in accordance with all applicable health laws, as determined by the state services for people who are blind or visually impaired, and including the vending or exchange of chances for any lottery authorized by state law.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 37, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-12 - Agreements as to business enterprises program.

§ 40-9-12. Agreements as to business enterprises program.The state department of human services is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with the department of elementary and secondary education, and/or its office of vocational rehabilitation for cooperation in the business enterprises program, and, from time to time, to amend the agreements; provided, any agreement or amendment shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the governor.History of Section.P.L. 1948, ch. 2007, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-12; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1990, ch. 492, § 15.
RI Gen L § 40-9-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-13 - Federal business enterprises funds.

§ 40-9-13. Federal business enterprises funds.The general treasurer shall receive and provide for the proper custody of all funds paid to the state from the federal treasury under the provisions of Public Law 80-165, 29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., and shall disburse the funds upon orders drawn by the state controller upon receipt by him or her of properly authenticated vouchers.History of Section.P.L. 1948, ch. 2007, § 3; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-13; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-9-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-14 - Application of receipts from business enterprises program.

§ 40-9-14. Application of receipts from business enterprises program.All receipts collected by the state department of human services as a result of the operation of the program shall be deposited with the general treasurer and are hereby appropriated to carry out the purposes of §§ 40-9-11 — 40-9-13. Any unexpended balance of the receipts, remaining at the end of the fiscal year, shall be carried forward and made available for expenditure in the succeeding fiscal year.History of Section.P.L. 1948, ch. 2007, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-14; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-9-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-15 - Reports of blindness of persons.

§ 40-9-15. Reports of blindness of persons.(a) Whenever, upon examination at a clinic, hospital, or other institution, or elsewhere, by a physician, optometrist or other person, the visual acuity of any person is found to be twenty/two hundred (20/200) or less in the better eye with the best correction, or the visual acuity is better than twenty/two hundred (20/200) if the widest diameter of the field of vision subtends an angle no greater than twenty (20) degrees, the superintendent or other person in charge of the clinic, hospital, or other institution, or the physician, optometrist, or other person who conducted or was in charge of the examination if it took place elsewhere than in the clinic, hospital, or other institution, shall, within thirty (30) days, report to the director of the department of human services the result of the examination, and that the blindness of the person examined has been established.(b) Any state, city, and town agencies administering benefits to the blind or visually impaired by way of tax exemptions, welfare payments, or otherwise, shall report the names of the persons to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles for the purpose of evaluation by the medical advisory board within the division of motor vehicles as to the fitness of the persons to safely operate motor vehicles upon the highways of this state.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 223, § 1; P.L. 1968, ch. 105, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-15; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-16 - Immunity from liability.

§ 40-9-16. Immunity from liability.No person, who shall render any report required by § 40-9-15, shall be subject to a suit in a civil action, or liable for civil damages, in any action or proceedings arising out of the information contained in the reports submitted.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 223, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-16; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-9-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-17 - Confidentiality of reports - Authorized uses - Penalty for disclosure.

§ 40-9-17. Confidentiality of reports — Authorized uses — Penalty for disclosure.(a) All reports mentioned in § 40-9-15 are hereby declared to constitute confidential matter. It shall be unlawful for any person to make use of, or cause to be used, any information contained in the reports for purposes not directly connected with the administration of services for people who are blind or visually impaired or the division of motor vehicles, except with the consent of the individual concerned.(b) The director of human services shall have the power to establish rules and regulations governing the custody, use, and preservation of the reports, which shall have the same force and effect as law. The reports shall be produced in response to a subpoena duces tecum properly issued by any federal or state court; provided, however, that the purpose for which the subpoena is sought is directly connected with the administration of services for people who are blind or visually impaired. No subpoena shall be issued by a court asking either for the reports, or for persons having custody or access to the reports, unless the litigation involved in the matter is directly connected with the administration of services for people who are blind or visually impaired.(c) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, or the lawful rules and regulations made hereunder, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200) or shall be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both.(d) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the director of the department of human services, or his or her agents duly authorized for that purpose, from issuing any statistical material or data, or publishing or causing the data to be published whenever he or she shall deem it to be in the public interest.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 223, § 1; P.L. 1968, ch. 105, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-17; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 21.
RI Gen L § 40-9-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-18 - Blindness prevention.

§ 40-9-18. Blindness prevention.(a) The department of human services shall, in consultation with the governor's advisory council for the blind and Saving Sight Rhode Island, establish a blindness-prevention program for children of the state of Rhode Island to promote the screening, testing, diagnosis, and treatment of blindness diseases of the eye and other sight disorders.(b) The department of human services shall promulgate rules and regulations in order to effectuate the purposes of this section.History of Section.P.L. 2000, ch. 213, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9.1-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9.1 - Equal Rights to Public Facilities|Section 40-9.1-1 - Declaration of policy.

§ 40-9.1-1. Declaration of policy.It is the policy of this state that:(1) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing or otherwise have a disability have the same rights as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places.(2) Persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing or otherwise have a disability are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges on any public conveyance operated on land or water or in the air, or any stations and terminals thereof, not limited to taxis, airplanes, motor vehicles, railroad trains, motor buses, street cars, boats; and in any educational institution, not limited to any kindergarten, primary and secondary school, trade or business school, high school, academy, college and university; and in places of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement, not limited to hotels, lodging places, restaurants, theater; and in all other places to which the general public is invited, subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all persons.(3) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 1.]History of Section.P.L. 1975, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 6; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9.1-1.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9.1 - Equal Rights to Public Facilities|Section 40-9.1-1.1 - Definitions.

§ 40-9.1-1.1. Definitions.(1) "Disability" means a disability as defined in § 42-87-1.(2) "Guide dog" means a dog that has been, or is being, specially trained to aid a particular blind or visually impaired person.(3) "Hearing dog" means a dog that has been, or is being, specially trained to aid a particular deaf or hard-of-hearing person.(4) "Public area" means a part of a place listed in § 40-9.1-1 that is open to the general public.(5) "Regular hours" means the hours of any day in which a public place listed in § 40-9.1-1 is open to members of the general public.(6) "Service animal" means a dog that has been, or is being, specifically trained to assist an individual with a disability, and includes a guide dog or hearing dog.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 22; P.L. 2009, ch. 96, § 5; P.L. 2009, ch. 97, § 5; P.L. 2012, ch. 90, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 100, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9.1-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9.1 - Equal Rights to Public Facilities|Section 40-9.1-2 - Service animals in public places.

§ 40-9.1-2. Service animals in public places.Every person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal, specially trained for that person, in any place listed in § 40-9.1-1 without being required to pay an extra charge for the personal assistance animal. Each person with a disability using a service animal is solely liable for any damage done to persons, premises, or facilities by the service animal.History of Section.P.L. 1975, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1979, ch. 159, § 7; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9.1-2.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9.1 - Equal Rights to Public Facilities|Section 40-9.1-2.1 - Trainers of service animals.

§ 40-9.1-2.1. Trainers of service animals.Every trainer or puppy raiser of a service animal shall have the same rights and privileges as stated in § 40-9.1-2 for every person with a disability. Each trainer or puppy raiser during the training of a service animal is liable for any damage done to persons, premises, or facilities by that service animal.History of Section.P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 2; P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9.1-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9.1 - Equal Rights to Public Facilities|Section 40-9.1-3 - Penalty for injuring or interfering with a service animal - Civil actions - Damages - Costs and attorney's fees.

§ 40-9.1-3. Penalty for injuring or interfering with a service animal — Civil actions — Damages — Costs and attorney's fees.(a) It is unlawful for any person, corporation, or the agent of any corporation to:(1) Withhold, deny, deprive, or attempt to withhold, deny, or deprive, any other person of any right or privilege secured by §§ 40-9.1-2 and 40-9.1-2.1;(2) Intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to threaten, intimidate, or coerce, any other person to interfere with any right or privilege secured by §§ 40-9.1-2 and 40-9.1-2.1;(3) Punish, or attempt to punish, any person for exercising, or attempting to exercise, any right or privilege secured by §§ 40-9.1-2 and 40-9.1-2.1.(b) It is unlawful for any person to injure a service animal and the person shall be liable for the injuries to the service animal, and if necessary the replacement and compensation for the loss of the service animal.(c) It is unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow their animal to injure a service animal because the owner failed to control or leash the animal. The owner shall also be liable for the injuries to the service animal, and if necessary the replacement and compensation for the loss of the service animal.(d) Any person who violates subsection (a)(1) is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who purposely or negligently violates subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3) is guilty of a misdemeanor. Violations shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), or by both fine and imprisonment. Any person or corporation who or that violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) is also liable to the person whose rights under §§ 40-9.1-2 and 40-9.1-2.1 were violated for actual damages for any economic loss and/or punitive damages, to be recovered by a civil action in a court in, and for the county in, which the infringement of civil rights occurred or in which the defendant lives.(e) In an action brought under this section, the court shall award costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party.History of Section.P.L. 1975, ch. 55, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 179, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 85, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 1; P.L. 2020, ch. 79, art. 1, § 33.
RI Gen L § 40-9.1-3.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9.1 - Equal Rights to Public Facilities|Section 40-9.1-3.1 - Misrepresentation of service animal.

§ 40-9.1-3.1. Misrepresentation of service animal.(a) It is a violation of this chapter for an individual to take an animal into a public area where pets are not permitted, and state that the animal is a service animal entitled to be present, if the animal is not a service animal.(b) Businesses may post a decal suitable in a front window or door, stating that service animals are welcome and that misrepresentation of a service animal is a violation of Rhode Island law.(c) It shall be a violation for any individual to misrepresent a pet or any other animal as a service animal when attempting to gain access to or remain in a public area. A violation of this section occurs when:(1) An individual expressly represents that an animal in his or her possession is a service animal for the purpose of obtaining any rights or privileges afforded to persons with disabilities accompanied by service animals, but unavailable to people and their pets or other animals; and(2) The individual knew or should have known that the animal in question did not meet the definition of a service animal.(d) A violation of this section shall be deemed a civil violation, punishable by up to thirty (30) hours of community service for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities at the discretion of the court.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 96, § 2; P.L. 2019, ch. 131, § 2.