Title 23, Title 23 and Safety

The director of the department of health shall certify that a facility is in compliance with the safety standards established pursuant to § 23-68-4 and shall periodically inspect the facility to ensure continued compliance with safety standards enumerated in this chapter.

(a) A tanning facility shall register annually with the department of health on forms provided by the department and shall pay to the department an annual registration fee established by the director for a license. (b) The director of the department of health shall establish a re…

Any person, firm or corporation who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense and by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each subsequent offense.

The director of the department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

This chapter shall be cited as the “New England Compact on Involuntary Detention for Tuberculosis Control”.

The New England compact on involuntary detention for tuberculosis control, hereinafter called “the compact”, is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein, in the form substantially as follows: The purposes of this compact are to…

The director of health shall formulate and keep current a tuberculosis control involuntary detention plan for this state, in accordance with the duty assumed in § 23-10-6.

The compact administrator for this state as required by article VI of this compact shall be the director of health.

The legislature finds that: (1) Osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease, is a major public health problem that, in many cases remains undiagnosed, resulting in fractures, pain, disability and immobility; (2) Early detection and prevention are critical health care strategies for tho…

Using existing resources, the department shall educate the public on the causes of osteoporosis and the personal risk factors associated with the development of osteoporosis, publicize the value of early detection and prevention, and identify the most cost-effective options avail…

(a) In developing the program created by § 23-69-2, the director of the department of health may appoint a task force to make recommendations on strategies for educating the public on the health benefits of early detection and prevention of osteoporosis. (b) Members of the task f…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rodent Control Act”.

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the systematic control and eradication of rodents in the state so as to promote the public health, welfare, and safety, and to prevent injury, disease, or detriment to human life. It shall be the responsibility of the local communities t…

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as follows: (1) “Director” means the director of the department of health, or any subordinate or subordinates to whom he or she has delegated the powers and duties vested in hi…

It shall be the responsibility of the director to administer this chapter. In addition to the other powers and duties granted in this chapter, the director shall have and may exercise the following powers and duties: (1) Exercise general supervision of the administration and enfo…

The state may contribute to local communities for comprehensive rodent control programs approved by the director an amount not to exceed one-half (½) of the cost of those programs as determined by the director. If any rodent control programs receive financing from the federal gov…

Any person who shall knowingly violate any rule or regulation promulgated by the director pursuant to this chapter shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500).

Any report of rodent bites made pursuant to regulations promulgated by the director shall not be deemed a violation of the physician-patient relationship or otherwise contrary to the ethics of the medical profession.

If any provision of this chapter or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect the provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to…

(a) Cigarette smoking presents serious public health concerns to the state and to the citizens of the state. The surgeon general has determined that smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease and other serious diseases, and that there are hundreds of thousands of tobacco related d…

(a) “Adjusted for inflation” means increased in accordance with the formula for inflation adjustment set forth in exhibit C to the Master Settlement Agreement. (b) “Affiliate” means a person who directly or indirectly owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under commo…

Any tobacco product manufacturer selling cigarettes to consumers within the state (whether directly or through a distributor, retailer, or similar intermediary or intermediaries) after the date of enactment of this chapter shall do one of the following: (1) Become a participating…

The general assembly finds and declares: (1) Mercury from trash incinerators, coal fired power plants, municipal solid waste, hazardous waste sites, and other human made sources has been identified in virtually every body of water in New England, as well as the oceans. (2) Nearly…

“Department” means the department of health.

(a) The department, in consultation with the department of environmental management, shall prepare a consumer’s mercury alert notice that the department shall provide for free, to professional medical offices that provide gynecological, obstetrical or pediatric care and in the pa…

(a) The department of health shall prepare a consumer’s guide to mercury and other health advisories. The department of health shall make copies available to the department of environmental management, division of fish and wildlife, at no charge, for distribution to private and p…

Whoever violates these sections inclusive or any order, rule or regulation promulgated or adopted thereto shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000). This section shall be enforced by the department and may be enforced by the board of health. The s…

If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, for any reason, be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this ch…

(a) The legislature finds that latex allergies are increasingly becoming a problem for people who are exposed to disposable nonsterile and sterile latex gloves, such as health care workers, patients, food service workers, manufacturers, hair dressers, child care workers, and chil…

(a) The use of disposable, nonsterile and sterile natural rubber latex gloves shall be prohibited by any person, firm, or corporation, registered pursuant to §§ 21-27-10 and 21-27-11. (b) Any firm, business, or corporation, regulated by the state of Rhode Island which uses latex …

(a) Health care workers shall be provided with initial and periodic education pertaining to latex safety. (b) Health care facilities shall ensure that direct care workers are represented on latex allergy or safety committees. (c) Any state agency which has regulatory authority fo…

It shall be the duty of the director of the department of health to enforce the provisions of this chapter and to prosecute all persons who violate this chapter. In all such enforcements and prosecutions, the director shall not be required to enter into any recognizance or give s…

Any person, firm, or corporation, which is regulated by Rhode Island general laws, which violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500), and may be subject to any and all penalties provided for in Rhode Island general laws…

(a) As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Director” or “director of health” means the director of the department of health or the director’s designee; (2) “Unlicensed health care client” means an individual who receives services from an un…

(a) If the director proposes to take action against the practitioner as described in this chapter and pursuant to § 23-1-22, the director must first notify the practitioner against whom the action is proposed to be taken and provide the practitioner with an opportunity to request…

(a) Penalties in suspension. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the director may, acting through a person to whom the director has delegated this authority and without a hearing, suspend the right of an unlicensed health care practitioner to practice if the director…

If a practitioner investigated under this chapter is licensed or registered by the director of health or a health-related licensing board, is subject to the jurisdiction of the director, and the director determines that the practitioner has violated any provision of this chapter,…

(a) Cease and desist. (1) The director may issue a cease and desist order to stop a person from violating or threatening to violate a statute, rule, or order which the department has issued or is empowered to enforce. The cease and desist order must state the reason for its issua…

(a) Scope. All unlicensed health care practitioners shall provide to each unlicensed health care client prior to providing treatment a written copy of the unlicensed health care client bill of rights. A copy must also be posted in a prominent location in the office of the unlicen…

Nothing in this chapter shall restrict the ability of a local law enforcement agency or the director of the department of children, youth and families to take action regarding the maltreatment of minors. A parent who obtains unlicensed health care for the parent’s minor child is …

The department shall maintain and keep current a file containing the reports and complaints filed against unlicensed health care practitioners within the director’s jurisdiction. Each complaint filed with the department must be investigated.

The director may impose disciplinary action as described in this chapter against any unlicensed healthcare practitioner. The following conduct is prohibited and is grounds for disciplinary action: (1) Conviction of a crime, including a finding or verdict of guilt, and admission o…

The fact that a health care practice may be a less customary approach to health care shall not constitute the basis of a disciplinary action per se.

In any disciplinary action alleging a professional violation of the provisions of this chapter, a copy of the judgment or proceeding under the seal of the court administrator or clerk of the administrative agency that entered the judgment or proceeding is admissible into evidence…

The director may require an unlicensed practitioner to undergo a physical or psychiatric examination by a physician acceptable to the director from a list provided to the practitioner if probable cause exists to believe that allegations of misconduct against him or her are caused…

Forms of disciplinary action. When the director finds that an unlicensed health care practitioner has violated any provision of this chapter, the director may take one or more of the following actions, only against the individual practitioner: (1) Revoke the right to practice; (2…