2014 -- H 8323

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LC005857

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TENTS--GRANDSTANDS--AIR-SUPPORTED

STRUCTURES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Trillo, Ruggiero, Costa, Shekarchi, and Giarrusso

     Date Introduced: June 12, 2014

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-28.19-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-28.19 entitled

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"Tents-Grandstands-Air-Supported Structures" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-28.19-1. Tents for which license required -- Application and issuance. – (a) No

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tent exceeding one hundred twenty square feet (120 sq. ft.) three hundred fifty square feet (350

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sq. ft.) in area shall be erected, maintained, operated, or used in any city or town in this state

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except under a license from the licensing authorities of the city or town. The license shall not be

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issued for a period exceeding thirty (30) days and shall be revocable for cause. Application shall

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be made on proper form and, when deemed necessary by the licensing authorities, shall include

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plans drawn to scale, showing exits, aisles, and seating arrangements and details of the structural

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support of tent, seats, and platforms, etc. No license shall be issued until the provisions of this

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chapter have been complied with, and approval has been obtained from the building department,

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the police department, the fire department, and, when tents are to be used for two hundred (200)

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fifty (50) or more persons, from each and every department having jurisdiction over places of

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assembly.

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     (b) For the purposes of this section, the fire marshal shall have no jurisdiction over tents

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on the property of one-(1) or two-(2) family private dwellings. Nothing contained in this section

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shall prohibit the fire marshal from requiring a license for a tent smaller than three hundred fifty

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square feet (350 sq. ft.) where other sections of the fire code deem it necessary, including, but not

 

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limited to, use, occupancy, opening, exposure, an increase in occupancy of a commercial

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establishment, and any other similar factors.

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     (c) The state fire marshal shall provide training to all assistant deputy fire marshals as

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defined by § 23-28.2-9 as soon as practicable to ensure the consistent enforcement of the fire

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safety code pursuant to § 23-28.2-4.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TENTS--GRANDSTANDS--AIR-SUPPORTED

STRUCTURES

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     This act would allow tents on public/commercial property up to three hundred fifty

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square feet (350 sq. ft.) to be erected, maintained, operated or used in any city/town without

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obtaining a license unless required by state fire code and exempts tents erected on land of one or

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two (2) family dwellings from fire marshal jurisdiction. It would further provide that the state fire

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marshal provide necessary training to all assistant fire marshals to ensure consistent enforcement.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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