Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-13.1. Powers of administrator
In enforcing the provisions of this chapter with respect to persons who or that are not public utilities, the administrator may:
(1) Conduct an investigation in connection with violations involving the excavation or demolition of public utility facilities; and
(2) For purposes of an investigation permitted under this section, require any person, which for purposes of this section only may be defined to include an individual, partnership, corporation, association or agent thereof, involved in the excavation or demolition of a public utility facility to appear at such time and place as the administrator may designate, then and there under oath to produce for the use of the administrator any and all documents and other such information relating directly to the incident as the administrator may require; and
(3) Require the attendance of any person as provided in this section, provided however that the administrator shall issue a notice setting the time and place when the attendance is required and shall cause the notice to be delivered or sent by registered or certified mail to the person at least fourteen (14) days before the date fixed in the notice for the attendance. In the event that any person fails to receive or accept notice by mail or fails to produce information requested, the administrator is empowered to issue a subpoena in a manner consistent with §?39-1-13.
If any person receiving notice pursuant to this provision neglects to attend or remain in attendance so long as may be necessary for the purposes which the notice was issued, or refuses to produce information requested, any justice of the Superior Court for the county within which the inquiry is carried on or within which the person resides or transacts business, upon application of either the administrator or the person subject to the notice, shall have jurisdiction to hear and consider on an expedited basis the request and if deemed necessary and relevant to the consideration of the incident at issue, may issue an appropriate order. Any failure to obey the order of the superior court may be punished by the court as contempt thereof. The administrator may, after notice and opportunity for a fair and prompt hearing, and a finding that the person was in whole or in part responsible for the incident based upon clear and convincing evidence, impose a penalty or fine not in excess of penalties set forth in §?39-1.2-13.
This section shall not limit or affect any powers conferred upon the administrator pursuant to this title as such powers relate to public utility companies or agents thereof.
History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 2.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-13.1
- Administrator: means the administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-1
- Association: means the group of public utilities formed pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-1
- 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.
- Demolition: means the wrecking, razing, rending, moving, or removing of any structure. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-1
- 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.
- Excavation: means an operation for the purpose of movement or removal of earth, rock, or other materials in or on the ground, or otherwise disturbing the subsurface of the earth, by the use of powered or mechanized equipment, including, but not limited to: digging, blasting, auguring, back filling, test boring, drilling, pile driving, grading, plowing in, hammering, pulling in, trenching, and tunneling; excluding the movement of earth by tools manipulated only by human or animal power and the tilling of soil for agricultural purposes. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-1
- 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.
- 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.
- Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, or a public utility, including a person engaged as a contractor by a public agency and including a public agency. See Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-1
- Public utility: means the owner or operator of underground facilities for furnishing electric, gas, telephone, or water service as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(20); and also means and includes, for the purposes of this chapter only, electric transmission companies and nonregulated power producers, as defined in § 39-1-2(a)(13) and (19); any cable television service; and any water company that voluntarily becomes a member of the association provided for under Rhode Island General Laws 39-1.2-1
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.