reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 23-24.4-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.4 - Hazardous Substances Community Right to Know Act|Section 23-24.4-9 - Severability.

§ 23-24.4-9. Severability.If any provisions or parts of this chapter or application of this chapter to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or 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 it.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 151, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-1 - Short title.

§ 23-24.5-1. Short title.This chapter may be cited as the "Asbestos Abatement Act".History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-3 - Purpose.

§ 23-24.5-3. Purpose.The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health and public interest by prohibiting, limiting, and regulating the use of and to require the abatement of asbestos and asbestiform materials that are a danger to the public health. The removal of asbestos and asbestiform materials that are a danger to the public health from all public buildings is declared to be the goal of the state of Rhode Island.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-4 - Legislative findings.

§ 23-24.5-4. Legislative findings.The general assembly finds, upon the reports, hearings, and records of its legislative commission to study asbestos exposure, and of its own committees, and those of other states, and of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, that asbestos materials and asbestiform materials are hazardous substances in a friable condition, and that they are a danger to the public health, a respiratory hazard, a potential carcinogenic, and a known cause of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. It further finds that asbestos materials in buildings and products within the state in a friable condition are a potential health hazard and that there is no known minimal level of exposure to friable asbestos which will guarantee the full protection of the public health.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-7 - Health department inspections.

§ 23-24.5-7. Health department inspections.(a) The director, or his or her designee, or any inspector employed by the department of health or the department of labor and training designated by the director of health is authorized to inspect at a reasonable time without prior notice as part of an overall plan of periodic inspection, or to respond to a complaint of the existence of friable asbestos material, any building, except private residences, in which a person may become exposed to friable asbestos or asbestiform material. Any person refusing entry to a designated public health inspector or obstructing an inspection ordered by the director shall be fined by the director a sum not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation.(b) State inspectors shall conduct inspections of the following types of buildings on an equal basis: public and private high priority buildings, initial inspections of public intermediate priority buildings, and inspections prompted by the complaint process.(c) The director shall not be precluded from requiring abatement of a friable asbestos hazard in the event an air monitoring test does not establish that the indoor non-occupational air exposure standard has been exceeded.(d) The director may assess fees for inspections conducted in accordance with rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred by this section, provided that the fees are assessed only after procedures in accordance with chapter 35 of title 42 have been followed.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 541, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 237, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 9.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-8 - Posting and labeling.

§ 23-24.5-8. Posting and labeling.(a) On any building accessible to the public where there is friable asbestos either in violation of the air sample exposure standard or action criteria standard as determined by the director or where there is demolition or repair of asbestos material taking place or abatement process underway a warning sign issued in conformance to standards issued by the director shall be posted at all entrances and conspicuous places.(b) The director is further authorized to issue regulations requiring the posting of warnings in public buildings where there may be a public health danger of exposure to friable asbestos and for the marking of asbestos material in public buildings.(c) The director shall file in the land evidence records of the city or town in which a nonconforming building is located a notice of violation of any structure that is not in compliance with an order of the director regarding asbestos abatement in the same manner as is provided for housing code violations in the general laws.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-9 - Building closing.

§ 23-24.5-9. Building closing.(a) The director may close public access to any building or portion of a building in which the director after notice and hearing has found to contain friable asbestos in any condition or amount that there exists a public health danger.(b) No portion of any building containing friable asbestos in quantities the director finds to be a danger to the public health shall be reoccupied until the director issues a re-occupancy permit. No re-occupancy permits for any high or intermediate priority building or portion of this building shall be issued by the director if air levels for asbestos and asbestiform materials are not below the air exposure standard.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-10 - Product sale or use.

§ 23-24.5-10. Product sale or use.(a) The director may limit or ban the use or sale of an asbestos or asbestiform product after notice and hearing when that product is found to be a likely risk of or a potential cause of injury or death from the normal and intended use of the product.(b) Any person or entity selling or manufacturing asbestos or asbestiform material shall be strictly liable for any injury, death, or damages related to the exposure to, or use of, these products.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-11 - Complaint process.

§ 23-24.5-11. Complaint process.(a) An occupant of any building or the parent or guardian of any minor who is an occupant of a building or an employee working in a building or that employee's representative may request the director to undertake an inspection of that building for the purpose of detecting friable asbestos, of demanding enforcement of an abatement plan, and/or to request copies of inspections previously undertaken of any asbestos abatement plan related to the occupant's building by notifying the director in writing of the request by identifying the building location and address and by setting forth any reason for suspecting the existence of friable asbestos in the building.(b) The director shall within forty-five (45) days of receipt of that request answer the request in writing setting forth the results of any inspection undertaken, the reason for not undertaking an inspection, or for either not abating or for abating the asbestos condition of the building.(c) Any occupant not receiving an answer within forty-five (45) days or not satisfied with the response of the director may request an order for the relief requested through the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42, from the department's hearing officer and appeal as an aggrieved party.(d) The name of the complainant shall remain confidential.(e) No public employee or beneficiary of public funds making a request or complaint to the director shall, as a result of a request or complaint, be subject to any retaliatory action, discriminatory act, job dismissal, suspension, or discipline by any person. Any employee or beneficiary subjected to this action shall be entitled to all the rights and remedies set forth in the Rhode Island Whistleblowers Act, chapter 50 of title 28.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 541, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 542, § 54.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-13 - Competent persons.

§ 23-24.5-13. Competent persons.(a) The "owner" (or supervisor) of a publicly owned building or administrator of a group of public buildings or the owner of a private building, excluding a private residence, shall appoint from his or her employees sufficient persons competent in the basic aspects of asbestos inspection and abatement to fulfill the responsibilities of this section within an eighteen (18) month period.(b) The "competent person" shall have, but not be limited to, the following responsibilities:(1) To make periodic visual inspection of known asbestos containing areas;(2) To review past maintenance records;(3) To work with the department of health to ascertain and identify asbestos hazards;(4) To maintain records of inspections;(5) To join with the contractor in working up the specifications of abatement projects;(6) To make periodic inspection of abatement procedures and have the right to call in a state inspector if, in the view of the competent person, any provision of this chapter is being violated;(7) To alert building occupants and maintenance staff of ongoing abatement project; and(8) To review outside contracting work if that work shall affect enclosed or encapsulated asbestos materials.(c) Any parent of an occupant of a building or teacher representative may voluntarily become certified as a "competent person."(d) This parent or teacher representative may accompany "competent persons" in their inspection and have full access to their records regarding asbestos.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 541, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-15 - Duties of physicians regarding asbestos related disease.

§ 23-24.5-15. Duties of physicians regarding asbestos related disease.(a) Any physician or employee of a licensed medical facility making the diagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis, or any illness or death suspected as being due to asbestos exposure must be reported to the director of health within six (6) months of the diagnosis.(b) The physician or licensed medical facility involved shall also inform the patient or patient's next-of-kin in a dated letter by certified mail return receipt requested of the suspected role of asbestos as it relates to the patient's condition.(c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the statute of limitations for any personal injury or property damage relating to asbestos or asbestiform materials for any cause of action now pending or which may be pending in the future shall not begin to run until notice to the patient or the patient's next-of-kin is filed as set forth in subsection (b), or in the case of pending matters when a physician in writing had notified the patient or next-of-kin.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-16 - Delegation of authority.

§ 23-24.5-16. Delegation of authority.Except for the provisions of this chapter relating to rule making, penalties, standards, and appeals, the director may after filing notice with the secretary of state delegate to another state agency any of the chapter's administrative duties, including, but not limited to, inspection, testing, and building permit responsibilities, if the director finds that the delegation would provide for a more effective and efficient administration of the provisions of this chapter. Notwithstanding any other law, pursuant to this delegation the director may allocate money appropriated to the department of health to the delegate agency for the purpose of funding the delegation.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-17 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-17 - Compliance procedures.

§ 23-24.5-17. Compliance procedures.Except as provided in this chapter, the inspection, enforcement, and penalties for violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be in accordance with the provisions and procedures set forth in §§ 23-1-19 — 23-1-25.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-18 - Hazardous substance.

§ 23-24.5-18. Hazardous substance.Except as provided in this chapter, asbestos is declared to be a hazardous substance subject to the provisions and limitations of chapter 24 of this title.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-20 - Bonds authorized.

§ 23-24.5-20. Bonds authorized.(a) The general treasurer is authorized and empowered with the approval of the governor and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to issue from time to time bonds in the name and behalf of the state and in any amounts as may be specified by the governor in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) for the purposes of being deposited in the account of the department of administration as set forth in § 23-24.5-19, known as the asbestos and dangerous products abatement fund. The bonds shall be in denominations of one thousand dollars ($1,000) each or multiples of that amount and shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States which, at the time of payment, shall be legal tender for public or private debts. The bonds shall bear any date or dates, mature at any time or times not exceeding twenty (20) years from their date of issue, bear interest payable semiannually at any rate or different varying rates, be payable at any time or times, at any place or places, be subject to any terms of recall or redemption, with or without premium, and be in any form with or without interest coupons attached carrying any registration, conversion, re -conversion, transfer, debt requirements, acceleration, and other provisions as may be fixed by the general treasurer, with the approval of the governor, upon each issue of the bonds at the time of each issue.(b) Whenever the governor shall approve the issuance of those bonds he or she shall certify that approval to the secretary of state; the general treasurer shall countersign the bonds and affix the seal of the state. The approval of the governor shall be endorsed on each approved bond with a facsimile of his or her signature.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-21 - Advances from general fund.

§ 23-24.5-21. Advances from general fund.The general treasurer is authorized from time to time with the approval of the governor in the anticipation of the issue of notes or bonds under the authority of this chapter to advance to the fund money to be used for the purposes specified in this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 351, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-22 - Interpretation and severability.

§ 23-24.5-22. Interpretation and severability.The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed and shall be held to be in addition to, and not in substitution for a limitation of, the provisions of any other law. If any provision of this chapter or the application of this chapter to any person or circumstances is held invalid the remainder of the chapter and the application of these provisions to any other person or circumstances shall not be affected by this invalidity.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-23 - Asbestos advisory board.

§ 23-24.5-23. Asbestos advisory board.(a) There is established an asbestos advisory board consisting of eleven (11) members within the department of health.(b) The purpose of the board shall be as follows:(1) To monitor the implementation of this chapter, to ensure that the records of all departments and agencies of state government relating to the asbestos abatement program shall be made accessible to the chairperson of the asbestos advisory board upon request, providing that the board has directed the chairperson by a vote of the board as a whole;(2) To report on or before March 1 of each year to the speaker of the house and the president of the senate of any legislative changes required in this chapter;(3) To advise the director on the desirability of proposed regulations.(c) The members of the board shall be electors and shall be appointed as follows:(1) There shall be three (3) ex officio members: the director of health, the director of administration, and the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or their designees;(2) There shall be three (3) public representatives, two (2) to be appointed by the speaker and one by the president of the senate, and there shall be five (5) members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a physician familiar with asbestos problems, one of whom shall be a qualified environmental health expert, and one of whom shall be an architect or engineer familiar with asbestos problems, one of whom shall be an asbestos contractor, and one of whom shall be a lawyer.(d) The term of office of each member shall be for a period of three (3) years except that in the case of the initial appointments of public and professional members, one by the speaker and one by the governor shall be for two (2) years and one by the speaker and three (3) by the governor shall be for one year. Each member shall serve until a successor is appointed or designated. In the month of August of each year, the members shall elect from among their members, a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary. Any member absent for three (3) or more consecutive meetings shall be considered as having vacated the office. Six (6) members shall be considered a quorum, and the board may fulfill any of its duties by a subcommittee of four (4) members present.(e) The board may engage any experts and secretarial staff as necessary at a rate of pay approved by the unclassified pay board.(f) The director shall provide any meeting and hearing rooms as the board may require.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 541, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 9; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 50.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-24 - Exemptions.

§ 23-24.5-24. Exemptions.Notwithstanding any other law, any and all certification fees charged and costs incurred pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall not be subject to reimbursement to any municipality by operation of any mandate of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 366, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-25 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-25 - Misrepresentation of asbestos licensure or certification.

§ 23-24.5-25. Misrepresentation of asbestos licensure or certification.(a) No person or entity shall make oral or written representations of licensure as an asbestos contractor or asbestos abatement site supervisor or asbestos abatement worker unless they possess a currently valid license for the activity which has been issued by the director pursuant to either § 23-24.5-12 or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred by this chapter.(b) No person or entity shall make oral or written representation of certification as an asbestos analytical laboratory, asbestos consultant or asbestos abatement project monitor unless they possess a currently valid certificate for the activity which has been issued by the director pursuant to either §§ 23-24.5-6(j) or 23-24.5-14(a) or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred by this chapter.(c) No person or entity certified pursuant to either §§ 23-24.5-6(j) or 23-24.5-14(a) or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred by this chapter shall make oral or written representations of certification to perform any service which is not specifically identified on their currently valid certificate.History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 237, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-24.5-26 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.5 - Asbestos Abatement|Section 23-24.5-26 - Penalties.

§ 23-24.5-26. Penalties.(a) Except as specified in this chapter, any person or entity acting in violation of either this chapter or any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority conferred by this chapter shall be fined by the director in an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation provided that fines are not imposed until the director has afforded that person or entity an opportunity for a hearing on the matter. Each day during which any portion of a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 237, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-24.6-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-24.6 - Lead Poisoning Prevention Act|Section 23-24.6-1 - Short title.

§ 23-24.6-1. Short title.This chapter may be cited as the "Lead Poisoning Prevention Act".History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 355, § 1.