2022 -- H 7910 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Carson, McEntee, and Baginski

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2022

     Referred To: House Small Business

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 5-14-4 and 5-14-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-14 entitled

"Hotels" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-14-4. Innkeeper's right to eject.

     (a) An innkeeper may remove or cause to be removed from a hotel a guest or other person

who:

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

     (2) While on the premises of the hotel, acts in an obviously intoxicated manner, destroys

or threatens to destroy hotel property, verbally or physically threatens employees or guests, or

causes or threatens to cause a public disturbance;

     (3) The innkeeper has direct knowledge a person is using the premises for the unlawful

possession or use of controlled substances by the person in violation of chapter 28 of title 21, or

using the premises for the consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of twenty-one (21)

years of age in violation of chapter 8 of title 3;

     (4) The innkeeper has direct knowledge a person has brought property into the hotel that

may be dangerous to other persons, such as firearms or explosives;

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

hotel; or

     (6) Violates a rule of the hotel that is clearly and conspicuously posted at or near the front

desk and on the inside of the entrance door of every guest room. and posted online where the guest

can view it before making a reservation at the hotel; or

     (7) Uses verbally abusive language towards the hotel's employees or guests. For the

purposes of this chapter verbally abusive language shall mean any language which would

reasonably be found to be offensive, threatening, or demeaning.

     (b) If the guest has paid in advance, the innkeeper shall tender to the guest any unused

portion of the advance payment at the time of removal.

     (c) Nothing in this section shall be used as a pretext to discriminate against a guest on the

basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age,

or country of ancestral origin.

     5-14-5. Refusal of admission.

     An innkeeper may refuse to admit or refuse service or accommodations to a person who:

     (1) While on the premises of the hotel, acts in an obviously intoxicated manner, destroys

or threatens to destroy hotel property, or causes or threatens to cause a public disturbance.

     (2) The innkeeper has direct knowledge a person is seeking accommodations for the

unlawful possession or use of controlled substances in violation of chapter 28 of title 21 or the use

of the premises for the consumption of intoxicating liquor by a person.

     (3) A person under the age of eighteen (18) years who is not accompanied by an adult if

they are not in proper condition or are unable to pay for their charges.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall expire and sunset on July 1,

2024, and the provisions of §§ 5-14-4 and 5-14-5 shall revert back to the language in effect on

January 1, 2022.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS

***

     This act would provide that a hotel guest could be removed from the hotel premises for

verbally or physically threatening an employee or guest, or for violating a rule of the hotel that is

posted online where the guest can view it before making a reservation at the hotel. The act would

also permit an innkeeper to refuse admission to a person under eighteen (18) years of age.

     This act would take effect upon passage and would expire and sunset on July 1, 2024, and

the provisions of §§ 5-14-4 and 5-14-5 would revert back to the language in effect on January 1,

2022.

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