2016 -- H 7279 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Winfield, Ucci, and Marshall

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2016

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-28.2-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-28.2 entitled

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"Division of Fire Safety" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-28.2-11. Investigation of fires and attempted fires. -- (a) The state fire marshal,

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and/or any of the deputy state fire marshals or assistant state fire marshals, may investigate any

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fire or apparently attempted fire, and shall investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of

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every fire of suspicious origin, by which property has been damaged or destroyed, or apparently

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attempted fire, and any fire where a fatality occurs as the result of the fire and so far as it is

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possible determine the cause of the fire. The investigation shall begin immediately after the

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occurrence of the fire, and local government officials shall cooperate completely and assist the

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state fire marshal's office in all phases of the investigation.

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      (b) It shall be the responsibility of the local authority having jurisdiction to notify the

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state fire marshal's office of any fire of suspicious or incendiary origin or where death may have

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resulted from the fire. The fire marshal shall adopt notification procedures.

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     (c) The state fire marshal, and/or any of the deputy state fire marshals or assistant state

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fire marshals, and/or municipal officials including without limitation police, fire and building

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officials, shall prohibit any and all insurance adjusters, contractors and restoration companies

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from engaging in any solicitation or inspection or any physical presence on the premises under

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investigation until twenty-four (24) hours after either the municipal fire department and/or the

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state fire marshal, deputy state fire marshal or assistant state fire marshal releases control of the

 

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premises back to its legal owner(s) or occupant(s) unless the insurance adjuster, contractor or

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restoration company is accompanied by and acting with permission of the premises' legal owner.

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     (d) Any insurance adjuster, contractor or restoration company in violation of the

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provisions of subsection (c) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand

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dollars ($1,000) for each violation and may be subject to revocation of the appropriate

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professional license or registration.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY

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     This act would require state fire marshals and other public officials to prohibit insurance

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adjusters and other contractors from physical presence on the premises under investigation until

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twenty-four (24) hours after control of the premises is released to its owner or occupant unless

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accompanied by and acting with permission of the legal owner, and would provide penalties for

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violation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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