2017 -- S 0052

========

LC000633

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- LAW PRACTICE

     Introduced By: Senators Lombardi, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, Jabour, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: January 18, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 11-27-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-27 entitled "Law

Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-27-5. Practice restricted to members of bar.

     (a) No person, except a duly admitted member of the bar of this state, whose authority as

a member to practice law is in full force and effect, shall practice law in this state.

     (b) Any duly admitted member of the bar of this state pursuant to subsection (a) of this

section shall be required to acquire and maintain a policy of malpractice insurance in an amount

of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000).

     (c) Any member of the bar violating the requirement to acquire and maintain a

malpractice insurance policy of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be subject to a

civil penalty amounting to a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) to five thousand dollars

($5,000) as determined by the unauthorized practice of law committee in accordance with §11-

27-19.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

========

LC000633

========

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- LAW PRACTICE

***

     This act would require duly admitted members of the bar of this state to acquire and

maintain malpractice insurance in the minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000).

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2017.

========

LC000633

========

LC000633 - Page 2 of 2