2014 -- S 2228 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC003506/SUB A

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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: Senators Walaska, Paiva Weed, DiPalma, Lynch, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

assembly.

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

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

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

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

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

establishment, and any other similar factors.

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

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

safety code pursuant to § 23-28.2-4.

     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

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

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

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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