§ 23-27.3-100.1.5.1 - Housing and maintenance code – Powers and duties of the building code standards committee.
SECTION 23-27.3-100.1.5.1
§ 23-27.3-100.1.5.1 Housing andmaintenance code – Powers and duties of the building code standardscommittee. – (a) The committee shall have the authority to adopt and promulgate a housingand maintenance code which shall be reasonably consistent with recognized andaccepted standards and codes promoted by national model code organizations. Thecode shall be submitted to the legislature for adoption and amendments asrequired. Once adopted by the legislature, the law shall not be amended by thecities and towns. The committee shall have the singular authority to submitfurther amendments to the legislature as required. These new provisions shallreplace, and/or amend the existing provisions of the Minimum Housing Standards,chapter 24.2 of title 45, and the Housing, Maintenance and Occupancy Code,chapter 24.3 of title 45. Once adopted by the legislature, the laws shall notbe amended by the cities and towns without prior approval of the committee andsubsequently the legislature. The state housing and property maintenance codesubcommittee shall carry out its responsibilities to the building codestandards committee by acting as an entity of the committee in administeringthe code, by recommending needed code amendments, by promulgating the code, andby serving as the board of standards and appeals for the code.
(b) The subcommittee shall also have a recording secretarywho shall attend all meetings and direct the conduct of any investigation whichmay be necessary in the preparation of any hearing. The recording secretaryshall be a member of the classified service on the staff of the state buildingcommissioner and shall be compensated as appropriate for the expertiserequired. The administration and appeals procedures pertaining to these lawsshall remain in the prerogatives of the local municipalities and thelegislature.
(c) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscalyear, the committee shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor,the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, andthe secretary of state, of its activities during that fiscal year. The reportshall provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held,including meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, applicationsconsidered and their disposition, rules or regulations promulgated, studiesconducted, policies and plans developed, approved, or modified, and programsadministered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all fundsreceived and expended including the source of the funds, a listing of any staffsupported by these funds, and a summary of any clerical, administrative ortechnical support received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscalyear including accomplishments, shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis ofhearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to theauthority of the committee; a summary of any training courses held pursuant tothis chapter; a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year,and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be postedelectronically on the websites of the general assembly and the secretary ofstate pursuant to the provisions of § 42-20-8.2. The director of thedepartment of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of theprovisions of this section.
(d) To conduct a training course for newly appointed andqualified members within six (6) months of their qualification or designation.The course shall be developed by the chair of the committee, be approved by thecommittee, and be conducted by the chair of the committee. The committee mayapprove the use of any committee and/or staff members and/or individuals toassist with training. The training course shall include instruction in thefollowing areas: the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2; and thecommittee's rules and regulations. The director of the department ofadministration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act[June 16, 2006], prepare and disseminate training materials relatingto the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14, and 38-2.