§ 5-31.1-1 Definitions
§ 5-31.1-2 Board of examiners in dentistry – Members – Compensation – Funds
§ 5-31.1-3 Examining committees
§ 5-31.1-4 Powers and duties of the board of examiners in dentistry
§ 5-31.1-5 Power of the director
§ 5-31.1-6 License to practice – Qualifications of applicants – Fee – Reexamination
§ 5-31.1-6.1 Dental hygienists and dental assistants
§ 5-31.1-7 Recertification – Continuing dental education
§ 5-31.1-8 Refusal of licensure
§ 5-31.1-9 Immunity from suit
§ 5-31.1-10 Unprofessional conduct
§ 5-31.1-11 Complaints
§ 5-31.1-12 Specification of charges
§ 5-31.1-13 Time and notice of hearing
§ 5-31.1-14 Subpoenas – Contempt
§ 5-31.1-15 Report of hearing
§ 5-31.1-16 Decision of the board
§ 5-31.1-17 Sanctions
§ 5-31.1-18 Appeal from the decision of the director of the department of health
§ 5-31.1-19 Grounds for discipline without hearing
§ 5-31.1-20 Reports relating to professional conduct and capacity – Regulations – Confidentiality – Immunity
§ 5-31.1-21 Biennial registration
§ 5-31.1-22 Limited registrations
§ 5-31.1-23 Limited registration – Academic faculty – Fees
§ 5-31.1-24 Violations – Penalties
§ 5-31.1-25 Injunction of violations
§ 5-31.1-26 Severability
§ 5-31.1-27 Dental peer review
§ 5-31.1-28 Hospital disciplinary powers
§ 5-31.1-29 Privileges and immunities for peer review activities
§ 5-31.1-30 Licensure required – Dental assistants excepted
§ 5-31.1-31 Dental assistant – Definition – Practices allowed
§ 5-31.1-32 Disclosure of nonparticipation in dental insurance plans
§ 5-31.1-33 Employment of hygienists – Practices allowed
§ 5-31.1-34 Immunity from liability
§ 5-31.1-35 Penalty for violations generally – Evidence of unauthorized practice
§ 5-31.1-36 Liability of employers and accomplices
§ 5-31.1-37 Persons and practices exempt
§ 5-31.1-38 Advertising
§ 5-31.1-39 Public health hygienists
§ 5-31.1-40 Telemedicine in the practice of dentistry

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 5-31.1 - Dentists and Dental Hygienists

  • Accounts: means accounts receivable, representing amounts due or owing to the university from contracts with the federal government or other independent entities for research activities undertaken by the university, the obligation for the payment of which accounts has arisen. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-12-3
  • Active business operations: means all business operations that are not inactive business operations. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • advisory board: shall mean the board created and established in § 35-15-3. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-15-2
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Alternative work schedules: means a plan of employment which varies the workday, workweek, and work schedules as an alternative to the conventional workweek, while still working the total basic number of hours required of their job. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3.1-3
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • 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.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appointing authority: means the person or group of persons having the power by virtue of the constitution, a state statute, or lawfully delegated authority to make appointments. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Authorized officer: means any official of this state or any of its departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities or any of its political subdivisions whose signature on a public security or instrument of payment is required or permitted. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-11-1
  • Authorized officer: means any individual required or permitted, alone or with others, by any provision of law, or by the issuing public entity, to execute on behalf of the public entity a certificated registered public obligation or a writing relating to an uncertificated registered public obligation. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Balanced budget: A budget in which receipts equal outlays.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Bequeath: To gift property by will.
  • Bequest: Property gifted by will.
  • Board: means the Rhode Island board of examiners in dentistry or any committee or subcommittee of the board. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Business operations: means engaging in commerce in any form in Iran, including by acquiring, developing, maintaining, owning, selling, possessing, leasing, or operating equipment, facilities, personnel, products, services, personal property, real property, or any other apparatus of business or commerce. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
  • Certificated registered public obligation: means a registered public obligation which is represented by an instrument. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Chief judge: The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court but also decides cases; chief judges are determined by seniority.
  • Chief of the division of oral health: means the chief of the division of oral health of the Rhode Island department of health who is a licensed dentist possessing a master's degree in public health or a certificate in public health from an accredited program. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Classified service: means all offices and positions of trust or employment in the state service except those placed in the unclassified service by chapter 4 of this title or any other legislation. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Code: means the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Commercial real estate: means any real estate other than: (i) Real estate containing one to four (4) residential units; (ii) Real estate on which: (A) No buildings or structures are located; and (B) Which is zoned for single-family residential use; or (iii) Single-family residential units such as condominiums, townhouses, or homes singly or in a subdivision when sold, leased, or otherwise conveyed on a unit by unit basis, even though these units may be a part of a larger building or parcel of real estate containing more than four (4) residential units. See Rhode Island General Laws 34-49-2
  • Commission: means the state investment commission;

    (2)  "Participation Unit" means the equal proportionate share into which the beneficial interest in the trust is divided and includes a fraction of a unit as well as whole units. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.2-3

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Community Reinvestment Act: The Act is intended to encourage depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. It was enacted by the Congress in 1977. Source: OCC
  • Company: means any sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or other entity or business association, including all wholly-owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries, parent companies, or affiliates of such entities or business associations, that exist for profit-making purposes. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Compensation: means fees, commissions, and any and all other compensation which may be due a real estate broker for performance of licensed services as defined in § 5-20-1 et seq. See Rhode Island General Laws 34-49-2
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Concurrent resolution: A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the President/Governor and thus do not have the force of law.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Controller: means the state controller. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-14-5
  • Controller: means the state controller of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-20-5
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Corporation: means the governmental agency and public instrumentality authorized, created, and established pursuant to § 35-12-4. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-12-3
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dental administrator: means the administrator of the Rhode Island board of examiners in dentistry. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • dental assistant: is a ny person not licensed under the provisions of this chapter who performs dental services, procedures, or duties in aid of a licensed and registered dentist. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-31
  • Dental hygienist: means a person with a license to practice dental hygiene in this state under the provisions of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Dentist: means a person with a license to practice dentistry in this state under the provisions of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Department: means the Rhode Island department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Department: means the department of administration. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • department and agency: as used in this title , shall be deemed to include and be interpreted to mean any department, division, board, commission, commissioner, committee, agent, officer, person, or institution for whom an appropriation is made, or who is authorized to expend or to collect money for the state. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-1-4
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Direct visual supervision: means supervision by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (with a permit to administer deep sedation and general anesthesia) by verbal command and under direct line of sight. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Director: means the director of the Rhode Island department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Director: means the director of administration. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-14-5
  • Director: means the director of administration. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-20-5
  • Director: means the director of the department of administration. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Division: means the division of personnel administration. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Donor: The person who makes a gift.
  • Employee: means any person holding a position subject to appointment by an appointing authority. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Employment list: means a list of names of persons arranged in the order of their ratings who have been found qualified through suitable tests, and who are entitled to have their names certified to appointing authorities for original appointment under the provisions of chapter 4 of this title and rules. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • 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.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Facsimile seal: means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the seal of the issuer, official, or official body. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Facsimile signature: means a reproduction, by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means, of the manual signature of the authorized officer. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-11-1
  • Facsimile signature: means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of a manual signature. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Financial intermediary: means a bank, broker, clearing corporation, or other person, or the nominee of any of them, which in the ordinary course of its business maintains registered public obligation accounts for its customers, when so acting. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Fixed Rate: Having a "fixed" rate means that the APR doesn't change based on fluctuations of some external rate (such as the "Prime Rate"). In other words, a fixed rate is a rate that is not a variable rate. A fixed APR can change over time, in several circumstances:
    • You are late making a payment or commit some other default, triggering an increase to a penalty rate
    • The bank changes the terms of your account and you do not reject the change.
    • The rate expires (if the rate was fixed for only a certain period of time).
  • flexitime: as used in this chapter means employment in which the workday of a full-time employee consists of at least four (4) work hours worked between hours which are specified and known as "core time" and the remaining hours of which may be worked by the employee, as approved by the supervisor from among hours which are specified as the earliest time an employee may normally start work and the latest time an employee may normally stop work without special arrangements made in advance and known as the "bandwidth" of the workday. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3.1-3
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • General obligation bond acts: shall mean :

    (i)  Any future public law which authorizes the state to issue its general obligation bonds, except those acts that expressly provide that this chapter shall not apply thereto; and

    (ii)  The following authorized but unissued bond authorizations of the state:

    (A)  Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for land acquisition-industrial development under P. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-15-2

  • general store: as used in this chapter , shall be deemed to include the general store, drug store, and bakery at the state institutions in Cranston under the control of the department of corrections. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-5-9
  • Germane: On the subject of the pending bill or other business; a strict standard of relevance.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Governor: means the governor of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-14-5
  • Governor: means the governor of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-20-5
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Health-maintenance organization: means a public or private organization licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17 of Title 23 or chapter 41 of Title 27. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Healthcare facility: means any institutional health service provider licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17 of Title 23. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • Inactive business operations: means the mere continued holding or renewal of rights to property previously operated for the purpose of generating revenues but not presently deployed for such purpose. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Instrument of payment: means a check, draft, warrant, or order for the payment, delivery, or transfer of funds. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-11-1
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Iran: means the government of Iran, and includes the territory of Iran and any other territory or marine area, including the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the government of Iran claims sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction, provided that the government of Iran exercises partial or total control over the area or derives a benefit from economic activity in the area pursuant to international arrangements. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Issuer: means a public entity which issues an obligation. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Joint resolution: A legislative measure which requires the approval of both chambers.
  • 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.
  • justice of the peace: include warden of the peace and the words "district court" include warden's court. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-14
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Legacy: A gift of property made by will.
  • Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Limited registrant: means a person holding a limited registration certificate pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Minority leader: See Floor Leaders
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • National Credit Union Administration: The federal regulatory agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. (NCUA also administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures the deposits of federal credit unions.) Source: OCC
  • Notes: means the notes, securities, or other obligations or evidences of indebtedness issued by the corporation pursuant to this chapter, all of which shall be issued under the name of or known as obligations of the "university of Rhode Island research corporation". See Rhode Island General Laws 35-12-3
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Obligation: means an agreement of a public entity to pay principal and any interest thereon, whether in the form of a contract to repay borrowed money, a lease, an installment purchase agreement, or otherwise, and includes a share, participation, or other interest in that agreement. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Official actions: means the actions by statute, order, ordinance, resolution, contract, or other authorized means by which the issuer provides for issuance of a registered public obligation. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Official or official body: means :

    (i)  The officer or board that is empowered under the laws of one or more states, including this state, to provide for original issuance of an obligation of the issuer, by defining the obligation and its terms, conditions, and other incidents;

    (ii)  The successor or successors of the official or official body; and

    (iii)  Such other person or group of persons as shall be assigned duties of the official or official body with respect to a registered public obligation under applicable law from time to time. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2

  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Peer-review board: means any committee of a state, local, dental or dental hygiene association or society, or a committee of any licensed healthcare facility, or the dental staff of the committee, or any committee of a dental care foundation or health-maintenance organization, or any staff committee or consultant of a hospital, medical, or dental service corporation, the function of which, or one of the functions of which, is to evaluate and improve the quality of dental care rendered by providers of dental care service or to determine that dental care services rendered were professionally indicated or were performed in compliance with the applicable standard of care or that the cost for dental care rendered was considered reasonable by the providers of professional dental care services in the area and includes a committee functioning as a utilization review committee under the provisions of Pub. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • Permanent part-time: means a work schedule which provides for less than thirty-five (35) hours per week on a nontemporary basis. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3.1-3
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust or estate, state or political subdivision, or instrumentality of a state. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-1
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Personnel administration: means the legal framework of the state government personnel system, i. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Personnel administrator: means the head of the division. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Personnel management: means the powers and duties of the personnel administrator as set forth in this chapter and chapter 4 of this title. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Petit jury: A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute. Federal criminal juries consist of 12 persons. Federal civil juries consist of six persons.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Position: means any office or place of employment in the state service. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Promotion list: means a list of names of classified employees arranged in order of their ratings, who have been found qualified through suitable tests for promotion to positions in other classes under the provisions of chapter 4 of this title and rules. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public corporation: means any body corporate and politic created or to be created pursuant to statute, including, without limitation, the Rhode Island industrial recreational building authority, the Rhode Island economic development corporation and any subsidiaries thereof, the Rhode Island industrial facilities corporation, the Rhode Island refunding bond authority, the Rhode Island health and educational building authority, the board of governors for higher education, the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation, the Rhode Island public transit authority, the Rhode Island student loan authority, the water resources board corporate, the Narragansett Bay water quality management district commission, the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation, the Rhode Island depositors economic protection corporation, the Rhode Island convention center authority, the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority, their successors and assigns. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-20-5
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
  • Public entity: means any entity, department, or agency which is empowered under the laws of one or more states, territories, possessions of the United States, or the District of Columbia, including this state, to issue obligations, any interest with respect to which may, under any provision of law, be provided an exemption from the income tax referred to in the code. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Public fund: means Rhode Island state pension funds or the state investment commission in charge of the Rhode Island state pension funds. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Public security: means a bond, note, certificate of indebtedness, or other obligation for the payment of money, issued by this state or by any of its departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities or by any of its political subdivisions. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-11-1
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • real estate: may be construed to include lands, tenements, and hereditaments and rights thereto and interests therein. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-10
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Registered public obligations: means an obligation issued by a public entity pursuant to a system of registration. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Scrutinized business operations: means any and all active business operations that are subject or liable to sanctions under Public Law 104-172, as amended, the "Iran Sanctions Act of 1996" and that involve the maintenance of a company's existing assets or investments in Iran, or the deployment of new investments to Iran that meet or exceed the twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) threshold referred to in Public Law 104-172, as amended, the "Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • Scrutinized company: means any company engaging in scrutinized business operations. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-10.3-2
  • seal: shall be construed to include an impression of the seal made with or without the use of wax or wafer on the paper. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-15
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: means the state of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-12-3
  • State: shall mean the state of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-15-2
  • State service: means all offices and positions of trust or employment in the service of the state. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Supplemental appropriation: Budget authority provided in an appropriations act in addition to regular or continuing appropriations already provided. Supplemental appropriations generally are made to cover emergencies, such as disaster relief, or other needs deemed too urgent to be postponed until the enactment of next year's regular appropriations act.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • town council: include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Uncertificated registered public obligation: means a registered public obligation which is not represented by an instrument. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-13-2
  • Uniform Commercial Code: A set of statutes enacted by the various states to provide consistency among the states' commercial laws. It includes negotiable instruments, sales, stock transfers, trust and warehouse receipts, and bills of lading. Source: OCC
  • United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8
  • University: means the university of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 35-12-3
  • unprofessional conduct: as used in this chapter includes, but is not limited to, the following items or any combination of them and may be defined by regulations established by the board with the approval of the director:

    (1)  Fraudulent or deceptive procuring or use of a license or limited registration;

    (2)  All advertising of dental, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting business that is intended, or has a tendency, to deceive the public or a dentist advertising as a specialty in an area of dentistry unless the dentist:

    (i)  Is a diplomat of or a fellow in a specialty board accredited or recognized by the American Dental Association; or

    (ii)  Has completed a postgraduate program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association;

    (3)  Conviction of a felony; conviction of a crime arising out of the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting;

    (4)  Abandonment of a patient;

    (5)  Dependence upon controlled substances, habitual drunkenness, or rendering professional services to a patient while the dentist, dental hygienist, DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant, or limited registrant is intoxicated or incapacitated by the use of drugs;

    (6)  Promotion by a dentist, dental hygienist, DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant, or limited registrant of the sale of drugs, devices, appliances, or goods or services provided for a patient in a manner as to exploit the patient for the financial gain of the dentist, dental hygienist, DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant, or limited registrant;

    (7)  Immoral conduct of a dentist, dental hygienist, DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant, or limited registrant in the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting;

    (8)  Willfully making and filing false reports or records in the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene;

    (9)  Willful omission to file or record, or willfully impeding or obstructing a filing or recording, or inducing another person to omit to file or record dental or other reports as required by law;

    (10)  Failure to furnish details of a patient's dental record to succeeding dentists or dental care facility upon proper request pursuant to this chapter;

    (11)  Solicitation of professional patronage by agents or persons or profiting from acts of those representing themselves to be agents of the licensed dentist, dental hygienist, or limited registrant;

    (12)  Division of fees, or agreeing to split or divide the fees, received for professional services for any person for bringing to or referring a patient;

    (13)  Agreeing with clinical or bioanalytical laboratories to accept payments from those laboratories for individual tests or test series for patients, or agreeing with dental laboratories to accept payment from those laboratories for work referred;

    (14)  Willful misrepresentation in treatments;

    (15)  Practicing dentistry with an unlicensed dentist or practicing dental hygiene with an unlicensed dental hygienist or practicing DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting with an unlicensed DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assistant, except in an accredited training program, or with a dental assistant in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board or aiding or abetting those unlicensed persons in the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene;

    (16)  Gross and willful overcharging for professional services, including filing of false statements for collection of fees for which services are not rendered, or willfully making or assisting in making a false claim or deceptive claim or misrepresenting a material fact for use in determining rights to dental care or other benefits;

    (17)  Offering, undertaking, or agreeing to cure or treat disease by a secret method, procedure, treatment, or medicine;

    (18)  Professional or mental incompetence;

    (19)  Incompetent, negligent, or willful misconduct in the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting, including the rendering of unnecessary dental services and any departure from, or the failure to conform to, the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing dental, dental hygiene, or DAANCE-certified maxillofacial surgery assisting practice in his or her area of expertise as is determined by the board. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-31.1-10

  • Variable Rate: Having a "variable" rate means that the APR changes from time to time based on fluctuations in an external rate, normally the Prime Rate. This external rate is known as the "index." If the index changes, the variable rate normally changes. Also see Fixed Rate.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • veteran: means any person, male or female, who was employed as an officer, member of the enlisted personnel or otherwise in the active military or naval service of the United States or of any auxiliary unit of the military or naval service, except civilian employees, during the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the China Relief Expedition or at some time during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, or the period between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, or who was engaged in the active conduct of and/or fighting in the Korean campaign (active conduct of and/or fighting in the Korean Campaign, shall mean service by any man or woman of the armed forces of the United States between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955), or the conflict in Vietnam (active conduct of and/or fighting in the conflict in Vietnam shall mean service by any man or woman of the armed forces of the United States between August 5, 1964, and May 7, 1975), and who served for at least six (6) months and one day; provided, however, that the definition shall not include any person who has been separated from employment of service, except through honorable discharge, if the reason for the separation shall be deemed by the personnel administrator to be sufficient cause to deny inclusion. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-3-3