2019 -- H 5770

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LC001489

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - HOTELS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Morin, Marszalkowski, and
Jackson

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Small Business

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"

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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 14.1

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UNLICENSED RENTALS ACT

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     5-14.1-1. Short Title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Unlicensed Rentals Act."

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     5-14.1-2. Definitions.

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     As used in the chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

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     (1) "Short-term rental listing service" means a business which facilitates or arranges the

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renting of short-term rental units, whether through the listing of short-term rental units on a

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website or through other means, but does not include any business whose primary function is

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ownership, management or marketing of duly licensed broker or salesperson.

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     (2) "Short-term rental provider" means a person who receives payment for owning or

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operating a short-term rental unit.

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     (3) "Short-term rental unit'' means a residential dwelling of any type, including a single-

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family residence, apartment, condominium or cooperative unit, in which a person can obtain

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sleeping accommodations for less than thirty (30) days.

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     5-14.1-3. Right to Eject.

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     (a) A short-term rental provider may remove or cause to be removed from a short-term

 

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rental unit a guest or other person who:

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     (1) Refuses or is unable to pay for accommodations or services;

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     (2) While on the premises of the short-term rental unit, acts in an obviously intoxicated

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manner, destroys or threatens to destroy short-term rental unit property, or causes or threatens to

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cause a public disturbance;

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     (3) The short-term rental provider has direct knowledge a person is using the premises for

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the unlawful possession or use of controlled substances by the person in violation of chapter 28 of

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title 21, or using the premises for the consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of

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twenty-one (21) years of age in violation of chapter 8 of title 3;

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     (4) The short-term rental provider has direct knowledge a person has brought property

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into the short-term rental unit that may be dangerous to other persons, such as firearms or

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explosives;

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     (5) A person violates any federal, state or local laws, ordinances, or rules relating to the

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short-term rental unit; or

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     (6) Violates a rule of the short-term rental unit that is clearly and conspicuously posted in

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the unit.

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     (b) If the guest has paid in advance, the short-term rental provider shall tender to the

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guest any unused portion of the advance payment at the time of removal.

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     5-14.1-4. Right to Reject.

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     A short-term rental provider may refuse to admit or refuse service or accommodations to

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a person who:

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     (1) While on the premises of the short-term rental unit, acts in an obviously intoxicated

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manner, destroys or threatens to destroy short-term rental unit property or causes or threatens to

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cause a public disturbance.

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     (2) The short-term rental provider has direct knowledge a person is seeking

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accommodations for the unlawful possession or use of controlled substances in violation of

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chapter 28 of title 21 or the use of the premises for the consumption of intoxicating liquor by a

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person under the age of twenty-one (21).

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     (3) A person under the age of eighteen (18) years if they are not in proper condition or are

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unable to pay for their charges.

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     5-14.1-5. Local Control.

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     (a) All short-term rental units must comply with municipal laws and regulations.

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     (b) Cooperative buildings, condominium buildings and other buildings governed by a

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homeowners association or other such bodies shall retain the right to regulate short-term rentals in

 

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the bylaws of the homeowner's association.

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     5-14.1-6. Safety and health.

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     (a) A short-term rental provider shall maintain the facility in a sanitary condition.

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     (b) A short-term rental provider may not rent a unit to a person succeeding a previous

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occupant before thoroughly cleaning the unit and providing clean and sanitary sheets, towels, and

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pillowcases.

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     (c) The department of health and the fire marshal may inspect short-term rental units at

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its discretion to ensure that the property meets applicable safety, emergency and health standards.

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     (d) The short-term rental provider shall post a clearly visible list of emergency

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information, including emergency numbers, emergency exit information, and the location of fire

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extinguishers or pull fire alarms.

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     5-14.1-7. Insurance.

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     A short-term rental provider shall have at least three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000)

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in property and casualty insurance to cover damage done by, or suffered by, any person renting

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the short-term rental unit from the short-term rental provider.

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     5-14.1-8. Accessibility Requirements.

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     A short-term rental provider who offers to rent out two (2) or more bedrooms within one

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building, whether in one short-term rental unit or multiple short-term rental units, must comply

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with all accessibility requirements to which places of public accommodation are subject.

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     5-14.1-9. Civil Rights.

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     Each short-term rental unit shall be deemed to be a public accommodation. It shall be

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unlawful for any person that owns, leases, rents, operates, manages or in any manner controls

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such public accommodation to withhold, deny, curtail, limit or discriminate concerning the full

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use of such public accommodation by any individual because of the individual's race, color, sex,

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gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital

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status, parental status, military discharge status or source of income.

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     5-14.1-10. Penalties.

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     Short-term rental listing services and short-term rental providers shall be fined five

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hundred dollars ($500) for each applicable violation of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001489

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - HOTELS

***

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     This act would provide guidelines and restrictions pertaining to short-term rentals to

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address health and safety concerns.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001489

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