2025 -- H 5591 | |
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LC002056 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VEHICLE BARRIERS -- THE CHARLOTTE A. | |
VACCA ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, J. Brien, Santucci, Casey, Voas, Bennett, Lima, | |
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 | |
Referred To: House Corporations | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 104 |
4 | VEHICLE BARRIERS |
5 | 23-104-1. Short title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Charlotte A. Vacca Act." |
7 | 23-104-2. Definitions. |
8 | As used in this chapter: |
9 | (1) "Owner" means the proprietor, operator, lessor, or sublessor of commercial real estate |
10 | defined in ยง 34-49-2, which is utilized, in whole or in part, by a retail establishment. |
11 | (2) "Retail establishments" means all sales outlets, stores, shops, or other places of business |
12 | located within the state, which operate primarily to sell or convey food or goods. |
13 | (3) "Vehicle barrier" means a safety device that meets, at a minimum, the vehicle impact |
14 | protection standards as adopted and amended by the Rhode Island building code commission, and |
15 | that is installed to protect persons located within or on the property or to protect pedestrians, from |
16 | collisions into buildings by motor vehicles. |
17 | 23-104-3. Installation of vehicle barriers. |
18 | Owners, as a part of any new construction of commercial real estate or buildings thereon, |
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1 | shall install vehicle barriers. Owners shall also be encouraged to install vehicle barriers at the |
2 | locations of all of the owner's other retail establishments to protect persons and pedestrians on the |
3 | property or within the establishment. |
4 | 23-104-4. Insurance discount. |
5 | (a) An insurer shall consider the installation of vehicle barriers as a safety measure and |
6 | shall provide or offer a discount on the owner's insurance covering damage or loss to the covered |
7 | commercial real estate or liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the |
8 | commercial real estate relative to the reduced risk to the property as a result of installation of the |
9 | vehicle barrier(s). |
10 | (b) Any discounts on insurance provided in accordance with this section shall be |
11 | determined to be actuarially sound and approved by the insurance commissioner prior to their |
12 | utilization by insurers. |
13 | 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 -- VEHICLE BARRIERS -- THE CHARLOTTE A. | |
VACCA ACT | |
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1 | This act would require commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail |
2 | establishment locations as part of any new construction. This act would also require insurers to |
3 | consider the installation of such vehicle barriers as a safety measure and eligible for a discount on |
4 | the owner's insurance policy premium as approved by the insurance commissioner. |
5 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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