Chapter 069
2018 -- S 2607
Enacted 06/27/2018

A N   A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS CONTRACTORS - REGISTRATION AND LICENSING BOARD

Introduced By: Senators P Fogarty, and McCaffrey
Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 5-65-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-65 entitled "Contractors'
Registration and Licensing Board" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-65-19. Penalty for operating without a registration -- Failure to comply with a
final order of the board -- Repeat offense a felony.
     (a) Any person who violates a final order of the board, or fails to register as a contractor
as stipulated adjudged in a final order issued by the board, and upon proper written notification, is
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not
exceeding one year, or fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) one thousand dollars
($1,000), or both, for a first or second offense and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
for a second and/or subsequent offense(s) each. A third or subsequent violation of this subsection
is to be deemed a felony, and, upon conviction, the violator shall be imprisoned for a term not
exceeding two (2) years, fined not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.
     (b) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than
one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
     (c) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is five thousand dollars
($5,000) or more, upon written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction,
shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000), or both.
     (b)(d) A final order shall be considered delivered when served to a defendant or
designated agent to accept service. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under
subsection subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the court may shall order a defendant to
comply with any outstanding final order of the board, including any monetary judgment, and/or
and to pay to the board any outstanding fine or fines previously imposed by the board pursuant to
this chapter.
     (c)(e) If a contractor is a repeat offender with violations of three (3) or more final orders
of the board with respect to three (3) separate contracts executed by three (3) separate
individuals/aggrieved parties and said the violations are filed within a twenty-four- (24) month
(24) period, the violation shall be prosecuted as a felony and upon conviction the violator shall be
subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed five (5) ten (10) years or fined not more than
ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
     SECTION 2. Section 5-65.1-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-65.1 entitled "Home
Inspectors" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-65.1-13. Violations -- Penalties.
     (a) Any person who operates as a home inspector without a license as adjudged in a final
order issued by the board, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than
one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, for a first or second offense. A third or subsequent
violation of this subsection is to be deemed a felony, and, upon conviction, the violator shall be
imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years, fined not more than two thousand dollars
($2,000), or both.
     (a)(b) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, may shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, or fined not
more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense, or both.
     (c) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is five thousand dollars
($5,000) or more, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony, and, upon
conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     (b)(d) A final order shall be considered delivered when served to a defendant or
designated agent to accept service. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under
subsection subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the court may shall order a defendant to
comply with any outstanding final order of the board, including any monetary judgment and to
pay to the board any outstanding fine or fines previously imposed by the board pursuant to this
chapter. A final order of the board may also be enforced in a civil contempt proceeding brought
upon complaint in the district court.
     (e) If a home inspector is a repeat offender with violations of three (3) or more final
orders of the board with respect to three (3) separate contracts executed by three (3) separate
individuals/aggrieved parties and said the violations are filed within a twenty-four- (24) month
(24) period, the violation shall be prosecuted as a felony and, upon conviction, the violator shall
be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years or fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     SECTION 3. Chapter 5-65.2 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Well-Drilling,
Pump Installers, and Water-Filtration Contractors Licensing Law" is hereby amended by adding
thereto the following section:
     5-65.2-5. Penalties for violations.
     (a) Any person who operates as a well drilling contractor without a license as adjudged in
a final order issued by the board, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, for a first or second offense. A third or
subsequent violation of this subsection is to be deemed a felony, and, upon conviction, the person
shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years, fined not more than two thousand
dollars ($2,000), or both.
     (b) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than
one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
     (c) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is five thousand dollars
($5,000) or more, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony, and, upon
conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     (d) A final order shall be considered delivered when served to a defendant or designated
agent to accept service. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under
subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the court shall order a defendant to comply with any
outstanding final order of the board, including any monetary judgment, and to pay to the board
any outstanding fine or fines previously imposed by the board pursuant to this chapter.
     (e) If a well drilling contractor is a repeat offender with violations of three (3) or more
final orders of the board with respect to three (3) separate contracts executed by three (3) separate
individuals/aggrieved parties and said the violations are filed within a twenty-four- (24) month
(24) period, the violation shall be prosecuted as a felony and, upon conviction, the violator shall
be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years or fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     SECTION 4. Section 5-65.3-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-65.3 entitled
"Underground Utility Contractors" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-65.3-17. Penalties for violations.
     (a) Violations of any provision of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties as follows:
any corporation, association, sole proprietorship, firm partnership, limited-liability corporation,
limited-liability partnership or other business organization licensed by the board shall be subject
to a fine up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the first offense and up to ten thousand dollars
($10,000) for the second and subsequent violations of this chapter.
     (b) Any person who operates as a an underground utility contractor without a license as
adjudged in a final order issued by the board, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year,
fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, for a first or second offense. A third
or subsequent violation of this subsection is to be deemed a felony, and, upon conviction, the
person shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years, fined not more than two
thousand dollars ($2,000), or both.
     (c) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than
one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
     (d) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is five thousand dollars
($5,000) or more, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony, and, upon
conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     (e) A final order shall be considered delivered when served to a defendant or designated
agent to accept service. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under
subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section, the court shall order a defendant to comply with any
outstanding final order of the board, including any monetary judgment, and to pay to the board
any outstanding fine or fines previously imposed by the board pursuant to this chapter.
     (f) If a an underground utility contractor is a repeat offender with violations of three (3)
or more final orders of the board with respect to three (3) separate contracts executed by three (3)
separate individuals/aggrieved parties and said the violations are filed within a twenty-four- (24)
month (24) period, the violation shall be prosecuted as a felony, and upon conviction, the violator
shall be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years or fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     SECTION 5. Chapter 5-73 of the General Laws entitled "Roofing Contractors" is hereby
amended by adding thereto the following section:
     5-73-5. Penalties for violations.
     (a) Any person who operates as a roofing contractor without a license as adjudged in a
final order issued by the board, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, for a first or second offense. A third or
subsequent violation of this subsection is to be deemed a felony, and, upon conviction, the person
shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding two (2) years, fined not more than two thousand
dollars ($2,000), or both.
     (b) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is not more than five
thousand dollars ($5,000), upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year, fined not more than
one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
     (c) Any person who violates a final order of the board where the monetary total of the
order including, but not limited to, the monetary judgment and/or fines, is five thousand dollars
($5,000) or more, upon proper written notification, is deemed guilty of a felony, and, upon
conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     (d) A final order shall be considered delivered when served to a defendant or designated
agent to accept service. In addition to any sentence or fine imposed by the court under
subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, the court shall order a defendant to comply with any
outstanding final order of the board, including any monetary judgment, and to pay to the board
any outstanding fine or fines previously imposed by the board pursuant to this chapter.
     (e) If a roofing contractor is a repeat offender with violations of three (3) or more final
orders of the board with respect to three (3) separate contracts executed by three (3) separate
individuals/aggrieved parties and said the violations are filed within a twenty-four- (24) month
(24) period, the violation shall be prosecuted as a felony and, upon conviction, the violator shall
be subject to imprisonment for a term not to exceed ten (10) years or fined not more than ten
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.
     SECTION 6. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2019.
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LC004391
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