(a)  The provisions of the administrative procedures act, chapter 35 of Title 42, and all amendments and modifications to that act and the rules adopted pursuant to the act, apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of the department of business regulation. Any party aggrieved by a final administrative decision of the department may seek review of that decision in the superior court of the county of his or her residence.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-20.5-16

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.

(b)  Any person aggrieved has the right of appeal from any adverse ruling, order, or decision of the department of business regulation to a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the hearing was held within thirty (30) days from the service of notice of the action of the department upon the parties to the hearing.

(c)  Notice of appeal shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court, which shall issue a writ of certiorari directed to the department of business regulation, commanding it, within fifteen (15) days after service of the writ, to certify to the court its entire record in the matter in which the appeal has been taken. The appeal shall be heard, in due course, by the court, which shall review the record and, after a hearing on the matter, make its determination of the cause.

(d)  A final administrative decision of the department of business regulation shall not become effective until time for appeal has expired. If an appeal is taken, it shall not act as a supersedeas unless the court so directs.

(e)  Any person taking an appeal shall post a bond in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the payment of any costs that may be assessed against him or her.

History of Section.
P.L. 1973, ch. 215, § 2; P.L. 1985, ch. 181, art. 59, § 1.