2023 -- S 0434 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Felag, and Ruggerio

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-38-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection

of Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-38-6. Appointment of official inspection stations.

     (a) For the purpose of making inspections and issuing official certificates of inspection and

approval as provided in this chapter, the director of the department of revenue, or the director’s

designee, shall issue permits for and furnish instructions and all necessary forms to official

inspection stations for the inspection of vehicles as required in this chapter and the issuance of

official certificates of inspection and approval. There shall be a separate permit required to inspect

all trailers or semi-trailers used to transport horses or other livestock, irrespective of the registered

gross weight of the trailers and semi-trailers.

     (b) Application for the permit set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall be made upon

an official form and shall be granted only when the director of the department of revenue or the

director’s designee, is satisfied that the station is properly equipped and has competent personnel

to make the inspections and adjustments, and will be properly conducted. Only facilities located

within the State of Rhode Island shall receive renewal permits or new permits. The director of the

department of revenue, or the director’s designee, before issuing a permit may require the applicant

to file a bond conditioned that it will make compensation for any damage to a vehicle during an

inspection or adjustment due to negligence on the part of the applicant or its employees.

     (c) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, shall properly

supervise and cause inspections to be made of the stations and shall suspend or revoke and require

the surrender of the permit issued to a station which he or she finds is not properly equipped or has

violated any of the conditions of his or her permit of inspection. The director of the department of

revenue, or the director’s designee, shall maintain and post at the department of revenue lists of all

stations holding permits and of those whose permits have been suspended or revoked.

     (d) The permits shall be issued for a period of one year and upon payment to the director

of the department of revenue of a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) annually, and the monies

received shall be turned over to the general treasurer to be deposited in the general funds of the

state.

     (e) The director of the department of revenue, or the director’s designee, shall issue a

duplicate permit upon the payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00) if one is requested by the owner

of the official station who states in writing that the original was lost, destroyed, or stolen.

     (f) Any person who has been issued a permit under this section and conducts inspections

of vehicles subject to an emission inspection pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title must also have

been authorized to conduct motor vehicle emissions inspections and must conduct both inspections

simultaneously.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage on January 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would provide that only facilities located within the State of Rhode Island be

eligible for renewal permits or new permits to operate as official inspection stations for the

inspection of vehicles, and the issuance of official certificates of inspection and approval.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2024.

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