2016 -- H 7459 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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- PUBLIC UTILITIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, Costa, Fogarty, Maldonado, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: February 04, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-35 of the General Laws entitled "Public Utilities" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     11-35-20.1. Wrongful termination or disruption of service. -- (a) Any person who has

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been served an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 who

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causes the interruption of any utility service by false presentation or other means at the residence

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of the person(s) protected by a protective order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or

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chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 shall constitute harassment.

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     (b) Any person subject to an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5

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or 15 of title 15 who wishes to remove their name from a utility bill and terminate their future

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financial responsibility for making payments on that bill must first seek approval from the court

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which issued the protective order.

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     (1) The court shall not allow any person, upon their own motion, to remove their name

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from a utility bill and terminate their financial responsibility with respect to the utility bill without

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first ensuring that the preexisting balance owed to the utility has been satisfied and that the

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person(s) covered by the protective order is able to establish an account under their own name

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without the need to make a deposit that causes hardship, and are capable of fulfilling their

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financial obligations towards the utility in the future.

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     (c) Nothing in this section shall prevent a person protected by an order issued pursuant to

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chapter 8.1 of title 8, or chapters 5 or 15 of title 15 from transferring a utility bill into their name

 

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and assuming any and all obligations to the utility.

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     (d) Any person who shall wrongfully terminate or disrupt any utility service in violation

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of this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred

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dollars ($500).

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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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- PUBLIC UTILITIES

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     This act would prohibit individuals served with protective orders in domestic

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abuse/domestic assault matters from terminating or disrupting utility service without prior court

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approval.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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