reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-13. - Delivery of document of gift not required — Right to examine.

§ 23-18.6.1-13. Delivery of document of gift not required — Right to examine.
(a)
A document of gift need not be delivered during the donor’s lifetime to be effective.
(b)
Upon or after an individual’s death, a person in possession of a document of gift or a refusal to make an anatomical gift with respect to the individual shall allow examination and copying of the document of gift or refusal by a person authorized to make or object to the making of an anatomical gift with respect to the individual or by a person to which the gift could pass pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-15. - Coordination of procurement and use.

§ 23-18.6.1-15. Coordination of procurement and use.
Each hospital in this state shall enter into agreements or affiliations with procurement organizations for coordination of procurement and use of anatomical gifts.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-16. - Sale or purchase of parts prohibited.

§ 23-18.6.1-16. Sale or purchase of parts prohibited.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), a person that for valuable consideration, knowingly purchases or sells a part for transplantation or therapy if removal of a part from an individual is intended to occur after the individual’s death commits a felony and upon conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or both.
(b)
Subject to subsection (c), a person may charge a reasonable amount for the removal, processing, preservation, quality control, storage, transportation, implantation, or disposal of a part.
(c)
No physician, hospital or other healthcare provider may charge the donor’s estate or family for any cost incurred in testing or removing a donor’s part, and such charge shall be void and unenforceable.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 235, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 236, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-17. - Other prohibited acts.

§ 23-18.6.1-17. Other prohibited acts.
A person that, in order to obtain a financial gain, intentionally falsifies, forges, conceals, defaces, or obliterates a document of gift, an amendment or revocation of a document of gift, or a refusal commits a felony and upon conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or both.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-18. - Immunity.

§ 23-18.6.1-18. Immunity.
(a)
A person that acts in accordance with this chapter or with the applicable anatomical gift law of another state, or attempts in good faith to do so, is not liable for the act in a civil action, criminal prosecution, or administrative proceeding.
(b)
Neither the person making an anatomical gift nor the donor’s estate is liable for any injury or damage that results from the making or use of the gift.
(c)
In determining whether an anatomical gift has been made, amended, or revoked pursuant to this chapter, a person may rely upon representations of an individual listed in § 23-18.6.1-9 relating to the individual’s relationship to the donor or prospective donor unless the person knows that the representation is untrue.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-19. - Law governing validity — Choice of law as to execution of document of gift — Presumption of validity.

§ 23-18.6.1-19. Law governing validity — Choice of law as to execution of document of gift — Presumption of validity.
(a)
A document of gift is valid if executed in accordance with:
(1)
This chapter;
(2)
The laws of the state where it was executed; or
(3)
The laws of the state where the person making the anatomical gift was domiciled, has a place of residence, or was a national at the time the document of gift was executed.
(b)
If a document of gift is valid under this section, the law of this state governs the interpretation of the document of gift.
(c)
A person may presume that a document of gift or amendment of an anatomical gift is valid unless that person knows that it was not validly executed or was revoked.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-20. - Donor registry.

§ 23-18.6.1-20. Donor registry.
(a)
A donor registry must:
(1)
Allow a donor or other person authorized pursuant to this chapter to include an individual on the donor registry who has made an anatomical gift;
(2)
Be accessible to a procurement organization to allow it to obtain relevant information on the donor registry to determine, at or near death of the donor or a prospective donor, whether the donor or prospective donor has made an anatomical gift; and
(3)
Be accessible for purposes of subdivisions (1) and (2) seven (7) days a week on a twenty-four (24) hour basis.
(b)
Personally identifiable information on a donor registry about a donor or prospective donor may not be used or disclosed without the express consent of the donor, prospective donor, or person that made the anatomical gift for any purpose other than to determine, at or near death of the donor or prospective donor, whether the donor or prospective donor has made an anatomical gift.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-22. - Cooperation between medical examiner and procurement organization.

§ 23-18.6.1-22. Cooperation between medical examiner and procurement organization.
A medical examiner shall cooperate with procurement organizations to maximize the opportunity to recover anatomical gifts for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research, or education.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-23. - Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under jurisdiction of medical examiner.

§ 23-18.6.1-23. Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under jurisdiction of medical examiner.
(a)
The medical examiner or his or her designee shall provide the federally designated organ procurement organization and other nonprofit federally registered eye and tissue banks, in a timely manner, all information necessary to facilitate organ and tissue donation including, but not limited to, names and available contact information of individuals whose deaths have been reported to the medical examiner’s office and jurisdiction accepted.
(b)
The medical examiner may release and permit the removal of a part from a body within that official’s custody, for transplantation or therapy, if:
(1)
The official has received a request for the part from a hospital, physician, surgeon, or procurement organization;
(2)
A donation has been authorized in accordance with §§ 23-18.6.1-5 or 23-18.6.1-9;
(3)
The official does not know of a refusal or contrary indication by the decedent or objection by a person having authority to act as listed in § 23-18.6.1-9;
(4)
The removal will be by a physician, surgeon, or technician; but in the case of eyes, by one of them or by an enucleator;
(5)
The removal will not interfere with any autopsy, investigation, procedure, or other additional activity as deemed necessary by the medical examiner required to arrive at a reasonable cause and manner of death;
(6)
The removal will be in accordance with accepted medical standards; and
(7)
Cosmetic restoration will be done, if appropriate.
(c)
The medical examiner, or his or her designee, may permit the removal of the anatomical gift to occur at the medical examiner’s office.
(d)
A permanent record of the names of the decedent, the person making the request, the date and purpose of the request, the part requested, and the person to whom it was released should be made by the hospital/physician/technician (enucleator) and forwarded to the medical examiner for his or her records.
(e)
The medical examiner, or his or her designee, shall be present during the removal of the anatomical gift if in his or her judgment such attendance would, in the opinion of the medical examiner or his or her designee, facilitate a donation that would otherwise be denied.
(f)
The medical examiner, or his or her designee, may only deny removal of the anatomical gift after explaining in writing or verbally with subsequent written documentation to the federally designated organ procurement organization and other nonprofit federally registered eye and tissue banks, reasons for determining that those tissues or organs may be involved in the cause of death.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-24. - Uniformity of application and construction.

§ 23-18.6.1-24. Uniformity of application and construction.
In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.1 - Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act › Section 23-18.6.1-25. - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

§ 23-18.6.1-25. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
This act modifies, limits, and supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq., but does not modify, limit or supersede § 101(a) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in § 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7003(b).
History of Section.
P.L. 2007, ch. 476, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.6.2 - Rhode Island Public Education Advisory Council for Organ and Tissue Donation Registration › Section 23-18.6.2-1. - Advisory council.

§ 23-18.6.2-1. Advisory council.
(a)
There shall be a public education advisory council for organ and tissue donations consisting of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or his/her representative, the director of the department of revenue or his/her representative, the director of public health or his/her representative, the president of the hospital association of Rhode Island or his/her representative, a representative of the federally designated organ procurement organization serving Rhode Island, a representative from the Rhode Island organ donor awareness coalition, and four (4) persons experienced in the field of organ and tissue donations to be appointed by the governor, at least one of whom shall be a recipient of a donated organ or tissue, at least one of whom shall be a family member of a donor, and at least one of whom shall be a PhD or MD experienced in the field of organ and tissue donation.
The term of all appointive members shall be three (3) years and no such member shall be appointed to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon the expiration of the term of any appointive member, a successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of three (3) years.
(b)
The council will annually designate the chairman from among its members. The council shall meet at least four (4) times each year, and shall convene special meetings at the call of the chairman. The council shall make an annual report to the governor, that shall include an account of all actions taken to further organ and tissue donation, and shall file a copy of the report with the secretary of state, the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives. Members of the council shall serve without compensation.
(c)
The advisory council shall: (1) Assist in coordinating the efforts of all public and private agencies within the state concerned with organ and tissue donation public education; (2) Advise the state on comprehensive public education programs and efforts to increase organ and tissue donation registrations; (3) Develop strategies to increase organ and tissue donation registrations by any means which the council may find effective; and (4) Establish numerical goals for increasing organ and tissue registration rates in the state, which shall include a baseline account of current organ and tissue registration rates, as well as periodic benchmarks for success. The division of motor vehicles shall provide monthly donor designation rates for each motor vehicle branch to assist in identifying goals. The council’s sole focus will be on public education to increase organ and tissue donation registrations.
History of Section.
P.L. 2013, ch. 157, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 226, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.7 - Bone Marrow Donation › Section 23-18.7-1. - Preamble.

§ 23-18.7-1. Preamble.
The department of health and the Roger Williams Cancer Center shall facilitate, foster and assist in the education of residents of the state regarding bone marrow donors and shall further assist and promote annual, bone marrow donor drives. The director and the Roger Williams Cancer Center shall also assist in the dissemination of information regarding the need for bone marrow donor drives including special efforts to educate and encourage minority populations to volunteer as potential bone marrow donors. Means of communication may include use of press, radio, and television, and placement of educational materials in appropriate health care facilities, blood banks, and state and local agencies. The director, and the Roger Williams Cancer Center in conjunction with the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, shall make educational materials available at all places where drivers’ licenses are issued or renewed.
History of Section.
P.L. 1994, ch. 184, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.7 - Bone Marrow Donation › Section 23-18.7-2. - Bone marrow drives — State employees.

§ 23-18.7-2. Bone marrow drives — State employees.
The director of health shall encourage state employees to volunteer to be potential bone marrow donors. The director of health shall declare and designate the last week of April as the “Rhode Island Bone Marrow Awareness Week”.
History of Section.
P.L. 1994, ch. 184, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.8 - Waste Recycling › Section 23-18.8-2.1. - Definitions.

§ 23-18.8-2.1. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1)
“Corporation” means the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation;
(2)
“Department” means the department of environmental management;
(3)
“Director” means the director of the department of environmental management;
(4)
“Post-consumer waste” has the meaning given “post-consumer content” in § 37-2-76.1(2).
(5)
“Telephone directory” means a soft cover listing of telephone numbers and addresses by telephone listing territories commonly listed alphabetically or by occupation and distributed to households and businesses on behalf of telecommunications utilities or private advertisers; and
(6)
“Telephone directory distributor” means any party which distributes telephone directories within the state, and shall include the principal of the party if the party is an agent and the principal is located or doing business in the state.
History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 518, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 404, § 30; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 73.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.8 - Waste Recycling › Section 23-18.8-4. - Ash use in construction of roads.

§ 23-18.8-4. Ash use in construction of roads.
The director of the department of transportation shall, where possible, utilize as fill in the construction of roads and highways, ash from resource recovery facilities owned and operated by the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation, so long as the ash conforms with all applicable environmental laws, rules, and regulations.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 363, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.8 - Waste Recycling › Section 23-18.8-5. - Telephone directory disposal.

§ 23-18.8-5. Telephone directory disposal.
(a)
No person shall dispose of any telephone directory within the state except through established systems of recycling.
(b)
Any telephone directory produced for distribution in the state shall be bound with a binder which will not interfere with recyclability.
History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 518, § 2; P.L. 1995, ch. 183, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 213, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-3. - Grants-in-aid.

§ 23-18.9-3. Grants-in-aid.
(a)
Funds annually appropriated by the general assembly for the purposes of this chapter shall not exceed forty cents ($.40) per capita as determined from the latest available federal census of population for the state.
(b)
Sixty-two and one-half percent (62.5%) of the total shall be apportioned to each community in the state, eighty percent (80%) on the basis of the ratio of the population of each community to the total population of the state, as determined by the latest available federal census of population, and twenty percent (20%) on the basis of the ratio of the number of employees located in each community to the total number of persons employed in the state, as reported for the month of December each year by the department of employment and training; provided, however, that Block Island is reported for the month of July. To be eligible to receive these funds, a community must first meet the requirements of § 23-18.9-1.
(c)
The remaining thirty-seven and one-half percent (37.5%) of the funds shall be apportioned by the same formula as the sixty-two and one-half percent (62.5%) of the funds described in subsection (b), and shall be distributed to each community which is a part of a duly authorized arrangement involving more than one community, which satisfies any rules and regulations which may be reasonably established by the department of environmental management concerning inter-local refuse disposal activities or which is a part of any refuse disposal district created by the general assembly.
History of Section.
P.L. 1968, ch. 192, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 23-46-3; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-18.9-3; P.L. 1980, ch. 71, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 188, art. 5, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 74.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-4. - Restricted use of state financial assistance by local communities.

§ 23-18.9-4. Restricted use of state financial assistance by local communities.
(a)
Any state financial assistance granted to a local community under the terms of this chapter shall be used solely in the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of refuse disposal facilities; provided, that the funds are used for the maintenance and operation of only those refuse disposal facilities which meet all rules and regulations promulgated by the department of environmental management.
(b)
Any state financial assistance granted to any local community under the terms of §§ 23-1-18, 23-18.9-1, 23-18.9-3 or this section must, at a minimum, be equally matched by local monies appropriated annually by the city or town for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of refuse disposal facilities.
History of Section.
P.L. 1968, ch. 192, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 23-46-4; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-18.9-4.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-5. - Disposal of refuse at other than a licensed facility.

§ 23-18.9-5. Disposal of refuse at other than a licensed facility.
(a)
No person shall dispose of solid waste at other than a solid waste management facility licensed by the director, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b)
The phrase “dispose of solid waste”, as prohibited in this section, refers to the depositing, casting, throwing, leaving or abandoning of a quantity greater than three (3) cubic yards of solid waste. Used asphalt, concrete, Portland concrete cement, and solid waste temporarily in a vehicle or proper receptacle at a licensed place of business of a licensed solid waste hauler for a period not to exceed seventy-two (72) hours shall not be considered solid waste for purposes of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 543, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 391, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 258, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 263, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 60, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 64, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-8.1. - Criteria for public and private licenses.

§ 23-18.9-8.1. Criteria for public and private licenses.
(a)
The director shall grant licenses only to those public facilities that the director determines meet all relevant criteria by regulation to protect human health and the environment and that are reasonably required to dispose of wastes generated within this state. All public projects shall meet the criteria for need established in § 23-19-4(b) and the director shall require no further demonstration of need.
(b)
The director shall grant licenses only to those private facilities that he or she determines meet all relevant criteria established by regulation to protect human health and the environment.
(c)(1)
The director shall have the authority to grant emergency temporary refuse-transfer licenses to a municipality, as long as the municipality can provide sufficient assurances as to the municipality’s ability to protect human health and the environment. Notice to the director of the municipality’s intent to establish a temporary transfer station shall be deemed sufficient to begin emergency operations; provided that the municipal letter of notice is accompanied by proof of health, human, and environmental safety assurances.
(2)
The temporary license shall have a set expiration date that may be extended upon request by the entity, and is subject to a site inspection by a representative of the department.
(3)
The entity to which the temporary license is issued shall provide means to recycle any waste collected that is considered recyclable as defined by the department.
(4)
The department shall not charge a fee for the temporary refuse-transfer license, nor shall the department assess any fines to the municipal host of the collection station for the emergency establishment of the transfer station. Should the municipality determine a need for a permanent transfer station, the municipality shall abide by all department rules and regulations governing the establishment and operation of a transfer station, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 18.9 of title 23 and chapter 19 of title 23.
History of Section.
P.L. 1980, ch. 255, § 2; P.L. 1989, ch. 508, § 4; P.L. 2016, ch. 218, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 258, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-9.2. - Further requirements for landfills.

§ 23-18.9-9.2. Further requirements for landfills.
In addition to any other requirements imposed by § 23-18.9-9, no license to operate a solid waste management facility which is a commercial landfill shall be issued and/or renewed by the director unless the applicant provides evidence of either: (1) bonding; and/or (2) a catastrophe fund, both to be in an amount and for a length of time as the director shall determine to be necessary to protect the general public’s health and welfare from any potential complication arising from the landfill. The director’s determination as to the amount and length of time for the bond and/or catastrophe fund shall be final. The applicant’s evidence of the bonding and/or catastrophe fund shall be available for public inspection at the department.
History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 310, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-10. - Penalties.

§ 23-18.9-10. Penalties.
(a) Criminal penalties.
(1)
Any person who constructs a solid waste management facility or construction and demolition (C&D) debris processing facility or installs equipment in the facility or expands the facility without first obtaining approval of the plans and specifications for the facility, or any person who operates the facility without obtaining a license to do so from the director or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or any rules, regulations, permits, licenses, and orders adopted pursuant to this chapter, in the operation of a licensed facility shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both fine and imprisonment, and every person is guilty of a separate and distinct offense for each day during which the violation is repeated or continued.
(2)
Any person who disposes of solid waste at other than a licensed solid waste facility shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each day during which the violation is repeated or continued and all costs incurred in the removal of the solid waste or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.
(3)
Any person who cocktails hazardous waste as defined by § 23-19.1-4(4) with construction and demolition debris prior to or contemporaneously with the transfer of that waste to a construction and demolition debris processing facility or a construction and demolition debris facility or who generates solid waste which is not disposed of in accordance with the general laws is absolutely liable for the cost of containment, cleanup, restoration and removal of the hazardous wastes and for all damages, losses or injuries, including environmental, which result directly or indirectly from the combination, mixing or addition of the hazardous waste with the construction and demolition debris and is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. In any case of a continuing violation, each day’s continuance is deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
(b) Civil penalty for violations.
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter, or of any rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant to this chapter, shall be subject to a civil penalty, of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). In the case of a continuing violation, each day’s continuance of the violation is deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
History of Section.
P.L. 1974, ch. 176, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 23-46-10; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-18.9-10; P.L. 1985, ch. 33, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 543, § 2; P.L. 1989, ch. 535, § 3; P.L. 1989, ch. 543, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 212, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 172, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 288, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-11. - Prosecution of violations — Relief in equity or by prerogative writ.

§ 23-18.9-11. Prosecution of violations — Relief in equity or by prerogative writ.
(a)
All prosecutions for the criminal violation of any provision of this chapter, or any rule or regulation made by the director in conformance with this chapter, shall be by indictment or information. The director, without being required to enter into any recognizance or to give surety for cost, or the attorney general of his or her own motion, may institute the proceedings in the name of the state. It shall be the duty of the attorney general to conduct the criminal prosecution of all the proceedings brought pursuant to this chapter.
(b)
The director may obtain relief in equity or by prerogative writ whenever relief shall be necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties under this chapter. The superior court for Providence County shall have concurrent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this chapter and any rule, regulation, or order issued pursuant to this chapter. Proceedings for enforcement in superior court may be instituted and prosecuted in the name of the director, by either the director or by the attorney general, and in any proceeding in which the director or the attorney general seeks injunctive relief, it shall not be necessary to show that without this relief, the injury that will result will be irreparable or that the remedy at law is inadequate. Proceedings provided for in this section shall be in addition to other administrative or judicial proceedings authorized by this chapter or pursuant to any other provision of the general laws or common law.
History of Section.
P.L. 1974, ch. 176, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 23-46-11; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-18.9-11; P.L. 1991, ch. 52, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 147, § 3, effective July 3, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 148, § 3, effective July 3, 2021.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-12. - Records required.

§ 23-18.9-12. Records required.
(a)
Every private landfill operator shall keep a written record of the vehicles which unload cargo at the landfill. The record shall contain the date, the time, and the registration of the vehicle. The landfill operator shall upon request make the written record available for inspection by the department of environmental management.
(b)
The director of the department of environmental management shall promulgate rules and regulations for the purpose of enforcing and complying with the provisions of this section.
(c)
Every person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each offense.
History of Section.
P.L. 1984, ch. 293, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-13. - Notice of solid waste disposal.

§ 23-18.9-13. Notice of solid waste disposal.
Whenever the director issues a notice of violation and order pursuant to this chapter that disposal of solid waste has occurred onto or into real property or in any landfill not permitted under the provisions of this chapter, the director shall cause the notice or a summary of the substance of the notice to be filed in the land evidence records of the city or town wherein the real property or landfill is located with respect to the real property or landfill, stating the substance and findings of the director’s determination. When the notice of violation and order has been complied with or vacated, the director shall, within twenty (20) days, file a notice rescinding the notice of violation and order in the land evidence records with respect to the real property or landfill.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 226, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-15. - Town of Richmond — Refuse disposal.

§ 23-18.9-15. Town of Richmond — Refuse disposal.
The town of Richmond shall be empowered to promulgate reasonable rules and regulations governing tree stump disposal in the town of Richmond.
History of Section.
P.L. 2003, ch. 242, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-16. - Beneficial reuse of solid waste.

§ 23-18.9-16. Beneficial reuse of solid waste.
(a)
The director may approve proposals for the environmentally beneficial reuse of solid waste in a municipality in order to save natural resources by providing alternative materials for projects that would otherwise use new materials and preserve landfill space by removing materials from the waste stream that would otherwise be landfilled. In determining whether a solid waste can be safely used as a beneficial reuse material, the director may consider factors such as the physical and chemical characteristics of the solid waste in question, the proposed use of the waste, and the location where the waste is proposed to be used according to criteria established by rule or policy as the director deems appropriate. All proposals to use a solid waste as a beneficial reuse material shall be made in writing to the director in the form of an application for a beneficial use determination or BUD. No person may process, store, transport, dispose or otherwise use any solid waste for beneficial reuse unless they have first obtained the written approval of the director in the form of a BUD, unless specifically provided for elsewhere in this chapter.
All beneficial reuse material proposals approved by the director shall include the following:
(1)
Public notice in a newspaper of general circulation;
(2)
A notice to the manager or mayor and council of the municipality in question;
(3)
A hearing to be held in the municipality affected.
(b)
All persons applying for a BUD that proposes the reuse of more than three (3) cubic yards of solid waste in one location shall forward a copy of their application to the municipality where the beneficial reuse material will be used.
(c)
The director may require any person involved in the storage, handling, processing or use of solid waste for beneficial reuse to provide financial assurance that:
(1)
The project approved in the BUD will be completed; and/or
(2)
Any unused solid waste/beneficial reuse material will be properly removed and disposed of either upon completion of the project or if project operations cease for any reason.
History of Section.
P.L. 2005, ch. 258, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 263, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 229, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 233, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-17. - Food waste ban.

§ 23-18.9-17. Food waste ban.
(a)
On and after January 1, 2016, each covered entity and each covered educational institution shall ensure that the organic-waste materials that are generated by the covered entity or at the covered educational facility are recycled at an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized recycling method if:
(1)
The covered entity or covered educational facility generates not less than one hundred four (104) tons per year of organic-waste material; and
(2)
The covered entity or covered educational facility is located not more than fifteen (15) miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available capacity to accept such material.
(b)
On and after January 1, 2018, each covered educational institution shall ensure that the organic-waste materials that are generated at the covered educational facility are recycled at an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized recycling method if:
(1)
The covered educational facility generates not less than fifty-two (52) tons per year of organic-waste material; and
(2)
The covered entity or covered educational facility is located not more than fifteen (15) miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available capacity to accept such material.
(c)
The director shall grant a waiver of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) upon a showing that the tipping fee charged by the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation for non-contract commercial sector waste is less than the fee charged for organic-waste material by each composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility located within fifteen (15) miles of the covered entity’s location.
(d)
On and after January 1, 2023, each educational entity (as defined in § 16-110-1) shall ensure that the organic-waste materials that are generated by the educational entity are recycled at an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility or by another authorized recycling method if:
(1)
The educational entity generates not less than thirty (30) tons per year of organic-waste material; and
(2)
The educational entity is located not more than fifteen (15) miles from an authorized composting facility or anaerobic digestion facility with available capacity to accept such material.
History of Section.
P.L. 2014, ch. 184, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 210, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 481, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 498, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 344, § 2, effective September 1, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 345, § 2, effective September 1, 2021.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.9 - Refuse Disposal › Section 23-18.9-18. - Reporting requirements.

§ 23-18.9-18. Reporting requirements.
Each covered entity or covered educational institution shall keep a written record of the amount of solid waste it generates and the amount of organic waste material it recycles at composting or anaerobic digestion facilities. The covered entity or covered educational institution, upon request, shall make the written records available for inspection to the department.
History of Section.
P.L. 2014, ch. 184, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 210, § 2.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-1. - Findings.

§ 23-18.10-1. Findings.
The general assembly has found and declares that:
(1)
Available scientific evidence indicates a strong probability that the family of substances known as chlorofluorocarbons, when discharged into the atmosphere, degrade the earth’s protective layer of ozone, allowing increased amounts of ultraviolet radiation to penetrate the atmosphere, posing an acute and immediate danger to human health, life, and the environment. Available scientific evidence indicates the strong possibility that the resulting increase in human exposure to ultraviolet radiation may already have caused an increase in the incidence of skin cancers and other serious illnesses.
(2)
There are substitutes for products containing chlorofluorocarbons currently available which do not use chlorofluorocarbons in their manufacture.
(3)
The people of the state support international, federal, and state bans on all uses of chlorofluorocarbons not deemed absolutely essential.
(4)
It is the intent of the general assembly to reduce the amount of CFC-processed products purchased and used by the people of Rhode Island, and thereby to reduce the health hazards created by the manufacture of these products.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-2. - Definitions.

§ 23-18.10-2. Definitions.
(a)
“CFC 11 and CFC 12” are two (2) members of fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, which are substances containing carbon, fluorine, and chlorine, having no hydrogen atoms and no double bonds.
(b)
“Director” means the director of the department of environmental management.
(c)
“Person” or “anyone” means any natural person, firm, corporation, partnership, or other organization or group however organized.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-3. - Prohibited use.

§ 23-18.10-3. Prohibited use.
No person shall purchase, obtain, or manufacture any CFC-11 and/or CFC-12 processed product, except as provided in §§ 23-18.10-4 and 23-18.10-5.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 81, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-4. - Exemptions.

§ 23-18.10-4. Exemptions.
The director shall exempt an item or product from the requirements of this chapter, upon a showing that the item or product has no acceptable non-CFC-processed equivalent and that imposing the requirements on that time or product would cause undue hardship.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-5. - Existing contracts exempted.

§ 23-18.10-5. Existing contracts exempted.
Any product required to be purchased under a contract entered into prior to April 30, 1988 shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-6. - Penalties and enforcement.

§ 23-18.10-6. Penalties and enforcement.
(a)
Anyone violating or failing to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(b)
The director may seek legal, injunctive, or other equitable relief to enforce this chapter.
(c)
The remedies and penalties provided in this section are cumulative and not exclusive.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.10 - Prohibition of Products Containing Chlorofluorocarbons Products › Section 23-18.10-8. - Severability.

§ 23-18.10-8. Severability.
If any part or provision of this chapter or the application of any part or provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, including the application of that part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, provisions of this chapter are severable.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 365, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.11 - Promotion of Paper Bag Usage › Section 23-18.11-1. - Paper bag incentive.

§ 23-18.11-1. Paper bag incentive.
(a)
The general assembly finds that discarded packaging constitutes a significant category of waste within the state’s waste system and is, therefore, a necessary focus of any effort to preserve the capacity of the central landfill, as well as to reduce economic and environmental costs of waste management for the citizens of this state.
(b)
In furtherance of state source reduction and recycling policies, it is the intent of this legislation to promote the use of paper bags as a preferred alternative to plastic bags. Paper bags are frequently made from recycled paper fiber, are recyclable and degradable, and minimize the use of non-renewable resources, including natural gas and petroleum.
(c)
The general assembly has determined that certain retail establishments within the state are points of origin for a substantial volume of plastic bags and, therefore, are particularly susceptible to actions which have significant potential for simplifying the chemical composition of this portion of the state’s waste stream, thereby improving solid waste management within this state.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 424, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.11 - Promotion of Paper Bag Usage › Section 23-18.11-2. - Definitions.

§ 23-18.11-2. Definitions.
(a)
“Goods” means all personal chattels, other than things in action or money, sold by a retail establishment for other than a commercial or business use or for purposes of resale, including clothes that have been cleaned or pressed or otherwise serviced at a retailing laundry and cleaning establishment.
(b)
“Paper bags” means bags made from recycled paper fiber or from renewable resources, which bags are recyclable and biodegradable.
(c)
“Plastic bags” means bags or coverings made from plastic resins or derived from non-renewable, petroleum-based feedstocks, including coverings for clothes that have been cleaned or pressed or otherwise serviced at laundry and cleaning establishments.
(d)
“Retail establishments” means all sales outlets, stores, shops, or other places of business located within the state, which operate primarily to sell or convey goods, foods, or goods which have been the subject matter of the rendering of personal services thereon, directly to the ultimate consumer which are predominantly contained, wrapped, or held in or on packaging.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 424, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.11 - Promotion of Paper Bag Usage › Section 23-18.11-3. - Prohibited practices.

§ 23-18.11-3. Prohibited practices.
No retail establishment located and doing business within the state shall sell or convey goods, food, or goods which have been the subject matter of the rendering of personal services thereon, directly to the ultimate consumers within the state in plastic bags, unless the retailer makes available to each consumer a paper bag as an option at no greater charge than the plastic bag. The retailer must advertise clearly the availability of this option. Any retailer who chooses to transfer purchases in paper bags only, need not make other optional bags available.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 424, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.11 - Promotion of Paper Bag Usage › Section 23-18.11-3.1. - Recycling containers for plastic bags.

§ 23-18.11-3.1. Recycling containers for plastic bags.
Every retail establishment that sells or conveys goods or food directly to the ultimate consumer within the state, shall provide within the retail establishment, at a location convenient for its customers, receptacles in which customers may place any used clean and dry plastic film bags for recycling as defined in § 23-18.11-2, which includes, but shall not be limited to plastic film grocery sacks, plastic film shopping bags, dry cleaner film, fresh produce bags, and newspaper sleeves; provided that this provision shall apply only to those retail establishments where the aggregate conveyance of goods or food is in excess of eight million dollars ($8,000,000) annually at locations within Rhode Island, or where the retail establishment has over ten thousand (10,000 sq. ft.) square feet of retail or wholesale space at one location within Rhode Island. The retail establishment, at its own expense, shall be responsible for the cost, maintenance, and emptying of these receptacles and the delivery of the bags collected to a suitable recycling facility, or to an intermediary company or vendor whose business includes the recycling of plastics. Every retail establishment shall maintain records indicating where the plastic bags that are collected by such retail establishments are transported for recycling and report such information to the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation no later than January 31, 2009 and no later than every January 31 thereafter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1993, ch. 223, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 314, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 444, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 239, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.11 - Promotion of Paper Bag Usage › Section 23-18.11-4. - Regulations.

§ 23-18.11-4. Regulations.
The Rhode Island resource recovery corporation shall promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement and carry out the provisions of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 424, § 1.
2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 23 - Health and Safety › Chapter 23-18.11 - Promotion of Paper Bag Usage › Section 23-18.11-5. - Penalties.

§ 23-18.11-5. Penalties.
Willful failure to comply with § 23-18.11-3 shall constitute a violation punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for each occurrence.
History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 424, § 1.