Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws > Chapter 5-56 - Installers of Individual Sewage Disposal Systems

• 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.
• Agricultural land: means land suitable for agriculture by reason of suitability of soil or other natural characteristics or past use for agricultural purposes. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• 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.
• 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.
• Board: means the board established or designated as the housing board of review. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-24.2-2
• Capital improvements: means improvements with a useful life of ten (10) years or more, which increases or improves the service capacity of a public facility;

  (2)  "Capital improvement program" means that component of a municipal budget that sets out the need for public facility capital improvements, the costs of the improvements, and proposed funding sources. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.4-3

• Chief: means the highest-ranking administrative officer of the division of planning as established by §? 42-11-10(g). See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Coastal features: means any coastal beach, barrier island or spit, coastal wetland, coastal headland, bluff or cliff, rocky shore, manmade shoreline or dune as outlined and defined by the coastal resources management program, and as may be amended. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• commission: means the body established by a municipality under chapter 22 of this title or combination of municipalities which has the responsibility to prepare a comprehensive plan and make recommendations concerning that plan to the municipal legislative body. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• 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.
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• comprehensive land use plan: means a document containing the components described in this chapter, including the implementation program which is consistent with the goals and guidelines established by this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• 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.
• Days: means calendar days. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
• Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
• Division of planning: means the office established as a division of the department of administration by §? 42-11-10(g). See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Dwelling: means any building or structure or part thereof, including hotels and rooming houses, that is used, occupied, or intended to be used or occupied for human habitation, and includes dwelling premises, appurtenances, and facilities belonging to the dwelling or usually enjoyed with it. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-24.2-2
• Dwelling premises: means the land and auxiliary buildings, used or intended to be used in connection with the dwelling. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-24.2-2
• Enforcing officer: means the head, or his or her duly authorized representative, of the division, bureau, office, department, or agency responsible for enforcing and administering any ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-24.2-2
• 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.
• Goals: means those goals stated in § 45-22. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• 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
• 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.
• Land: means real property including improvements and fixtures on, above, or below the surface. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• land capacity: means the suitability of the land, as defined by geology, soil conditions, topography, and water resources, to support its development for uses such as residential, commercial, industrial, open space, or recreation. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Land use regulation: means a rule or statute of general application adopted by the municipal legislative body which controls, directs, or delineates allowable uses of land and the standards for these uses. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• 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}
• Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
• Limited equity housing cooperative: means a limited equity cooperative housing corporation chartered pursuant to chapter 6. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-24.2-2
• Maintain: means to evaluate regularly and revise as needed or required in order to ensure that a comprehensive plan remains consistent with the goals and guidelines established by this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• Municipal legislative body: means the town council in a town or the city council in a city; or that part of a municipal government that exercises legislative powers under a statute or charter. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Open space: means any parcel or area of land or water set aside, dedicated, designated, or reserved for public or private use or enjoyment or for the use and enjoyment of owners and occupants of land adjoining or neighboring the open space; provided that the area may be improved with only those buildings, structures, streets, and off-street parking, and other improvements that are designed to be incidental to the natural openness of the land. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
• Rescission: The cancellation of budget authority previously provided by Congress. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 specifies that the President may propose to Congress that funds be rescinded. If both Houses have not approved a rescission proposal (by passing legislation) within 45 days of continuous session, any funds being withheld must be made available for obligation.
• State guide plan: means goals, policies, and plans or plan elements for the physical, economic, and social development of the state, adopted by the state planning council in accordance with § 42-11-10. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• 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
• Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
• United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8
• 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.
• Zoning: means the reservation of certain specified areas within a community or city for building and structures, or use of land, for certain purposes with other limitations as height, lot coverage, and other stipulated requirements. See Rhode Island General Laws 45-22.2-4