2017 -- S 0052

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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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:

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

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Practice" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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($5,000) as determined by the unauthorized practice of law committee in accordance with ยง11-

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27-19.

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

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- LAW PRACTICE

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

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

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2017.

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