(a)  It is the duty of the director of the department of labor and training and the chief plumbing investigator to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Local building and plumbing inspectors, involved in the day-to-day inspection of plumbing, irrigation, or water-filtration/treatment-system installation, shall assist the chief plumbing investigator in enforcing the provisions of this chapter. These individuals have authority to demand the production of the licenses and certificates required by this chapter on any site where plumbing, irrigation, or water-filtration/treatment systems are being installed and have the authority to investigate and, where appropriate, make complaints, pursuant to § 5-20-28 or § 5-20-33, where sufficient evidence has been obtained to sustain a reasonable belief that a violation of this chapter has occurred.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-20-33.1

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Plumbing: means :

    (i)  All fittings, fixtures, appliances, and connections that are located within a building or a structure, or within five feet (5?) of the outer walls of a building or structure and that connect said building or structure, where a person or persons live, work, or assemble, with the source of public or private water supply used or intended for domestic or personal use, as well as any interconnecting piping between buildings or structures;

    (ii)  All piping, fittings, fixtures, and appliances for a sanitary drainage and related ventilation system, direct or indirect, within that building; and

    (iii)  Air piping, medical, and laboratory gas systems including, but not limited to, oxygen and nitrous oxide. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-20-2

(b)  The state board of plumbing examiners also has:

(1)  Concurrent responsibility to enforce the provisions of this chapter;

(2)  The authority to demand the production of the licenses and certificates required by this chapter on any site where plumbing or irrigation is being installed; and

(3)  The authority to investigate, and where appropriate, make complaints, pursuant to § 5-20-28 or § 5-20-33, where sufficient evidence has been obtained to sustain a reasonable belief that a violation of this chapter has occurred.

(c)  The director of the department of labor and training shall provide identification to the board members for the purposes of this section.

History of Section.
P.L. 1988, ch. 360, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 329, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 115, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 425, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 214, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 26, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 31, § 1.