reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-3 - Prohibition of smoking in public places.

§ 23-20.10-3. Prohibition of smoking in public places.Smoking shall be prohibited in all enclosed public places within the state of Rhode Island, including, but not limited to, the following places:(1) Aquariums, galleries, libraries and museums;(2) Areas available to and customarily used by the general public in businesses and nonprofit entities patronized by the public, including, but not limited to, professional offices, banks, laundromats, hotels and motels.(3) Bars;(4) Bingo facilities when a bingo game is in progress;(5) Convention facilities;(6) Elevators;(7) Facilities primarily used for exhibiting a motion picture, stage, drama, lecture, musical, recital or other similar performance;(8) Health care facilities;(9) Licensed child care and adult day care facilities;(10) Lobbies, hallways and other common areas in apartment buildings, condominiums, trailer parks, retirement facilities, nursing homes and other multiple unit residential facilities with more than four (4) units;(11) Polling places;(12) Public transportation facilities, including buses and taxicabs, under the authority of the state of Rhode Island, and ticket, boarding and waiting areas of public transit depots;(13) Restaurants;(14) Restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common use areas;(15) Retail stores;(16) Rooms, chambers, places of meeting or public assembly, including school buildings, under the control of an agency, board, commission, committee or council of the state of Rhode Island or a political subdivision of the state when a public meeting is in progress, to the extent the place is subject to the jurisdiction of the state of Rhode Island;(17) Schools; including, primary, secondary and post-secondary education facilities;(18) Service lines;(19) Shopping malls;(20) Sports arenas, including outdoor arenas.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-4 - Prohibition of smoking in places of employment.

§ 23-20.10-4. Prohibition of smoking in places of employment.Smoking shall be prohibited in all enclosed facilities within places of employment without exception. This includes common work areas, auditoriums, classrooms, conference and meeting rooms, private offices, elevators, hallways, medical facilities, cafeterias, employee lounges, stairs, restrooms, vehicles, and all other enclosed facilities.This prohibition on smoking shall be communicated to all existing employees by the effective date of this chapter and to all prospective employees upon their application for employment.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-5 - Outdoor smoking space.

§ 23-20.10-5. Outdoor smoking space.Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit an employer from providing an outdoor smoking space for their employees. Provided, however, that any employer who provides an outdoor area for its employees to smoke must provide an area which is physically separated from the enclosed workplace so as to prevent the migration of smoke into the workplace.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-6 - Where smoking not regulated.

§ 23-20.10-6. Where smoking not regulated.(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the following areas shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:(1) Private residences, except when used as a licensed childcare, adult daycare, or healthcare facility;(2) Hotel and motel rooms that are rented to guests and are designated as smoking rooms; provided, however, that not more than fifty percent (50%) of rooms rented to guests in a hotel or motel may be so designated;(3) Retail tobacco stores; provided that smoke from these places does not infiltrate into areas where smoking is prohibited under the provisions of this chapter;(4) Private and semi-private rooms or designated areas in assisted-living residences and nursing facilities as allowed by regulation of the department of health under chapters 17.4 and 17 of this title;(5) Outdoor areas of places of employment, except those covered by the provisions of § 23-20.10-5;(6) Any smoking bar as defined in § 23-20.10-2(20);(7) [Deleted by P.L. 2005, ch. 22, § 1 and P.L. 2005, ch. 23, § 1.](8) [Deleted by P.L. 2005, ch. 22, § 1 and P.L. 2005, ch. 23, § 1.](9) Any electronic nicotine delivery system store as defined in § 23-20.10-2(5) and any electronic smoking device establishment as defined in § 23-20.10-2(6).(b) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any stage performance provided that smoking is part of a theatrical production.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 22, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 23, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 475, § 62; P.L. 2018, ch. 207, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 222, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-6.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-6.1 - Pari mutual facilities.

§ 23-20.10-6.1. Pari mutual facilities.(a) Any pari mutual facility established under chapter 3.1 or 7 of title 41 or any pari mutual licensee under chapter 61.2 of title 42 shall provide designated smoking and nonsmoking gaming areas in their facilities.(b) The designated nonsmoking gaming area shall be physically separated from any smoking area and shall be required to have separate and distinct ventilation systems so as to prohibit the migration of smoke into the nonsmoking area.(c) Except as provided for in paragraph (d), any bar or restaurant located in a pari mutual facility shall be nonsmoking and be physically separate from any smoking area and shall have a separate ventilation system so as to prohibit the migration of smoke into the restaurant.(d) The prohibitions of this chapter shall not apply to any bar which is presently in existence, located in, and not physically separated from a designated smoking area.(e) Any licensee of a pari mutual facility shall promulgate rules and regulations to allow their employees the right to work in a smoke free environment. These rules shall include, but not be limited to, provisions on the right to opt out of working in a smoking area and a provision that no adverse impact or action could take place against the employee if they request to opt out of a smoking area. The rules promulgated by the licensee shall be filed with the lottery commission with copies to the general assembly and the department of health no later than March 1, 2005.(f) Commencing January 1, 2005, any pari mutual licensee shall file an annual report with the lottery commission with copies to the general assembly and department of health detailing smoke mitigation efforts undertaken by the licensee during the previous year and plans for the upcoming year. The licensee shall be required to monitor air quality with current appropriate technology. A professional HVAC engineer (or other appropriate professional) shall certify the monitoring process and results. The results of the monitoring process shall be included in the annual report.(g) Any enactment relating to the provisions of this section on pari mutual facilities or licensees shall be by statute as enacted by the general assembly, provided however that the general assembly may by statute delegate such authority to the cities and towns.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-7 - Posting of signs.

§ 23-20.10-7. Posting of signs.(a) "No smoking" signs or the international "No smoking" symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it) shall be clearly and conspicuously posted in every public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited by this chapter, by the owner, operator, manager or other person in control of that place. Signs required by this chapter may be provided by the state department of health at cost.(b) Every public place and place of employment where smoking is prohibited by this chapter shall have posted at every entrance a conspicuous sign clearly stating that smoking is prohibited.(c) All signs necessary to comply with this section shall be attached at eye level and shall contain the following words "IT IS ILLEGAL TO SMOKE IN THIS ESTABLISHMENT". To report a violation call " ."History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-8 - Nonretaliation.

§ 23-20.10-8. Nonretaliation.No person or employer shall discharge, refuse to hire or in any manner retaliate against an employee, applicant for employment or customer because that employee, applicant or customer exercises any rights afforded by this chapter or reports or attempts to prosecute a violation of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-9 - Enforcement.

§ 23-20.10-9. Enforcement.(a) The director of health shall promulgate such rules and regulations including the complaint forms, as are necessary to carry out the mandates of this chapter within one hundred eighty (180) days of passage [June 29, 2004].(b) Notice of the provisions of this chapter shall be given to all applicants for a business license in the state of Rhode Island, to all law enforcement agencies, and to any business required to be registered with the secretary of state's office.(c) Any citizen who desires to register a complaint under this chapter may initiate such a complaint with the department of health.(d) The department of health, having received a written and signed letter of complaint citing a violation of this chapter, shall enforce this entire chapter against violations by either of the following actions:(1) Serving written notice to comply to an employer, with a copy of the notice to the complaining individual, requiring the employer to correct immediately any violation or section of this chapter.(2) Upon receiving a second complaint at the department of health for the same or continued violation by the same employer, the complaint shall be resolved by notifying the city or town solicitor, having jurisdiction over the licensed holder, to initiate, without delay, an action for injunction to enforce the provisions of this chapter, to cause the correction of such violation or section, and for assessment and recovery of a civil penalty for such violation.(e) The department of health, local fire department, or their designees shall, while an establishment is undergoing otherwise mandated inspections, inspect for compliance with this chapter.(f) An owner, manager, operator, or employee of an establishment regulated by this chapter shall inform persons violating this chapter of the appropriate provisions thereof.(g) In addition to the remedies provided by the provisions of this section, the department of health, aggrieved by the failure of the owner, operator, manager or other person in control of a public place or place of employment to comply with the provisions of this chapter, may apply for injunctive relief to enforce those provisions in any court of competent jurisdiction.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2; P.L. 2008, ch. 475, § 62.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-10 - Violations and penalties.

§ 23-20.10-10. Violations and penalties.(a) An employer who violates this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty as follows:(1) A penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first violation;(2) A penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for the second violation;(3) A penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the third and subsequent violations;which shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the city or town solicitor, having jurisdiction over the licensed holder, in the city or town municipal court or any court of competent jurisdiction. Each day the violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as a separate offense. One-half (½) of any penalty assessed and recovered in an action brought pursuant to this subsection shall be transferred to the municipality in which the civil action originated and the other one-half (½) of any penalty assessed and recovered shall be transferred to the general fund.(b) Any fines owed under this chapter shall be paid within thirty (30) days of judgment entered. Failure to pay within thirty (30) days will result in the doubling of the penalty.(c) In undertaking the enforcement of this chapter, the state is assuming an undertaking only to promote the general welfare. It is not assuming, nor is it imposing on its officers and employees, an obligation for breach of which it is liable in money damages to any person who claims that this breach proximately caused injury.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-11 - Public education.

§ 23-20.10-11. Public education.The department of health shall engage in a continuing program to explain and clarify the purposes and requirements of this chapter to citizens affected by it, and to guide owners, operators and managers in their compliance with it. The program may include publication of a brochure for affected businesses and individuals explaining the provisions of this ordinance.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-12 - Governmental agency cooperation.

§ 23-20.10-12. Governmental agency cooperation.The state of Rhode Island and its designees shall annually request other governmental and educational agencies having facilities within the state to establish local operating procedures in cooperation and compliance of this chapter. This includes urging all federal, state, municipal and school district agencies to update their existing smoking control regulations to be consistent with the current health findings regarding secondhand smoke.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-13 - Other applicable laws.

§ 23-20.10-13. Other applicable laws.This chapter shall not be interpreted or construed to permit smoking where it is otherwise restricted by other applicable laws.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-14 - Prohibited condition of employment - Smoking by employees outside course of employment.

§ 23-20.10-14. Prohibited condition of employment — Smoking by employees outside course of employment.(a) No employer or agent of any employer shall require, as a condition of employment, that any employee or prospective employee refrain from smoking or using tobacco products outside the course of his or her employment, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his or her compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment for smoking or using tobacco products outside the course of his or her employment. Provided, however, that the following employers shall be exempt from the provisions of this section: Any employer that is a nonprofit organization which as one of its primary purposes or objectives discourages the use of tobacco products by the general public.(b) In any civil action alleging a violation of this section, the court may:(1) Award up to three (3) times the actual damages to a prevailing employee or prospective employee;(2) Award court costs to a prevailing employee or prospective employee;(3) Afford injunctive relief against any employer who commits or proposes to commit a violation of this chapter.(c) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to affect any other provisions of this title.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-15 - Repealed.

§ 23-20.10-15. Repealed.
RI Gen L § 23-20.10-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.10 - Public Health and Workplace Safety Act|Section 23-20.10-16 - Severability.

§ 23-20.10-16. Severability.If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, that portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and this holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 198, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 209, § 2.
RI Gen L § 23-20.11-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.11 - Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection|Section 23-20.11-1 - Short title.

§ 23-20.11-1. Short title.This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act."History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 245, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 333, § 1.
RI Gen L § 23-20.11-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.11 - Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection|Section 23-20.11-2 - Legislative findings.

§ 23-20.11-2. Legislative findings.It is hereby found and declared as follows:(1) The general assembly finds that cigarettes are one of the leading causes of fire deaths in this state and in the nation. Each year 700-900 people are killed in the United States due to cigarette fires; 3,000 are injured in fires ignited by cigarettes. A high proportion of the victims of cigarette fires are nonsmokers, including senior citizens and young children. Cigarette-caused fires result in billions of dollars of property losses and damage in the United States and millions of dollars in this state. Cigarette fires unnecessarily jeopardize firefighters and result in avoidable emergency response costs for municipalities.(2) The general assembly further finds that the state of New York has enacted a cigarette fire safety regulation effective June 28, 2004 that requires that cigarettes sold in that state meet the fire safety performance standards. In 2005, the states of Vermont and California signed into law cigarette fire safety acts that directly incorporate New York's regulation into statute; and in 2006, the states of Illinois, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts did the same. Canada implemented the New York State fire safety standard as of October 2005, becoming the first nation to have a cigarette fire safety standard.(3) The general assembly finds that New York State's cigarette fire safety standard is based upon decades of research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Congressional research groups and private industry.(4) It is the general assembly's intent that the state of Rhode Island adopt the cigarette fire safety standard that is in effect in New York State, and the other states listed above, to reduce the likelihood that cigarettes will cause fires and result in deaths, injuries and property damage. It is further the legislature's intent to adopt such a cigarette fire safety standard with a minimum of cost to the state and with minimum burden to cigarette manufacturers, distributors and retail sellers as set forth herein.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 245, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 333, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 475, § 64.
RI Gen L § 23-20.11-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 23 - Health and Safety|Chapter 23-20.11 - Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection|Section 23-20.11-6 - Package markings.

§ 23-20.11-6. Package markings.(a) Cigarettes that are certified by a manufacturer in accordance with § 23-20.11-5 shall be marked to indicate compliance with the requirements of § 23-20.11-4. Such marking shall be in eight (8) point font type or larger and consist of:(1) Modification of the product UPC Code to indicate a visible mark printed at or around the area of the UPC Code. Such mark may consist of alphanumeric or symbolic character(s) permanently stamped, engraved, embossed or printed in conjunction with the UPC; or(2) Any visible combination of alphanumeric or symbolic character(s) permanently stamped, engraved, or embossed upon the cigarette package or cellophane wrap; or(3) Printed, stamped, engraved or embossed text that indicates that the cigarettes meet the standards of this section.(b) A manufacturer must use only one marking, and must apply this marking uniformly for all packages (including, but not limited to, packs, cartons, and cases) and brands marketed by that manufacturer.(c) The director must be notified as to the marking that is selected.(d) Prior to the certification of any cigarette, a manufacturer shall present its proposed marking to the director for approval. Upon receipt of the request, the director shall approve or disapprove the marking offered, except that the director shall approve any marking in use and approved for sale in this state pursuant to the New York Fire Safety Standards for Cigarettes. Proposed markings shall be deemed approved if the director fails to act with ten (10) business days of receiving a request for approval.(e) No manufacturer shall modify its approved marking unless the modification has been approved by the director in accordance with this section.(f) Manufacturers certifying cigarettes in accordance with § 23-20.11-5 shall provide a copy of such certifications to all wholesale dealers and agents to which they sell cigarettes, and shall also provide sufficient copies of an illustration of the package marking utilized by the manufacturer pursuant to section for each retail dealer to which the wholesale dealers or agents sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers and agents shall provide a copy of these package markings received from manufacturers to all retail dealers to which they sell cigarettes. Wholesale dealers, agents, and retail dealers shall permit the director, the department of taxation, the attorney general, their employees, or other law enforcement personnel, to inspect markings of cigarette packaging marked in accordance with this section.History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 245, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 333, § 1.