Title 23
Health and Safety
Chapter 27.3
State Building Code
Article 1
Administration and Enforcement
R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-27.3-100.1.5.1
§ 23-27.3-100.1.5.1. Housing and maintenance code — Powers and duties of the building code standards committee.
(a) The committee shall have the authority to adopt and promulgate a housing and maintenance code that shall be reasonably consistent with recognized and accepted standards and codes promoted by national model code organizations. The code shall be submitted to the legislature for adoption and amendments as required. Once adopted by the legislature, the law shall not be amended by the cities and towns. The committee shall have the singular authority to submit further amendments to the legislature as required. These new provisions shall replace, and/or amend the existing provisions of the Minimum Housing Standards, chapter 24.2 of title 45, and the Housing, Maintenance and Occupancy Code, chapter 24.3 of title 45. Once adopted by the legislature, the laws shall not be amended by the cities and towns without prior approval of the committee and subsequently the legislature. The state housing and property maintenance code subcommittee shall carry out its responsibilities to the building code standards committee by acting as an entity of the committee in administering the code; by recommending needed code amendments; by promulgating the code; and by serving as the board of standards and appeals for the code.
(b) The subcommittee shall also have a recording secretary who shall attend all meetings and direct the conduct of any investigation that may be necessary in the preparation of any hearing. The recording secretary shall be a member of the classified service on the staff of the state building office and shall be compensated as appropriate for the expertise required. The administration and appeals procedures pertaining to these laws shall remain in the prerogatives of the local municipalities and the legislature.
(c) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the committee shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, applications considered and their disposition, rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, policies and plans developed, approved, or modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis of hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the authority of the committee; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to this chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year, and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically on the websites of the general assembly and the secretary of state pursuant to the provisions of § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this section.
(d) To conduct a training course for newly appointed and qualified members within six (6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the committee, be approved by the committee, and be conducted by the chair of the committee. The committee may approve the use of any committee and/or staff members and/or individuals to assist with training. The training course shall include instruction in the following areas: the provisions of chapters 46 of title 42; 14 of title 36; and 2 of title 38; and the committee's rules and regulations. The director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of June 16, 2006, prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 46 of title 42; 14 of title 36; and 2 of title 38.
History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 178, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 378, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 103, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 144, § 3; P.L. 2012, ch. 415, § 19; P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 4, § 4.