The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Rhode Island
- Level
- State
- Authority
- R.I. Gen. Laws tit. 21 (Food and Drugs), ch. 27 (Sanitation in Food Establishments)
- Effective
- standing
- End
- standing (read as 2021-09-30)
- In force
- Standing (a statutory duty; in force throughout the six quarters)
- Quarters
- 2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Business closureStanding dutyOperating condition
- Addressees
- specified businesses: every food business (restaurants, bars, caterers, food retailers, food manufacturers)
- Character
- sanitary code duty
- Collection
- Standing duties: Rhode Island DUT-RI
Operative words
Whenever the director deems it necessary in the interests of public health to cause any food business to cease operating the director may do so by serving written notice upon the owner or manager of the food business; provided, that before the notice is given the owner or manager shall have been given an opportunity to show cause why the food business should not cease operating.
Penalty
R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-9 (read, not saved): imprisonment to three months or fine to $100 for a first offense; six months or $200 for a second; one year or $500 for a third or subsequent offense
What it required
The Director of Health may order any food business to cease operating 'in the interests of public health,' the notice remaining in effect 'until the director serves further notice permitting the resumption of operation,' with relief in equity available to the director; every restaurant, bar, caterer and food retailer operated under this standing power throughout the period.
Retrieval note§ 21-27-3 (read, not saved): 'The director shall adopt any regulations relating to sanitation that he or she may deem advisable with reference to any food business and with reference to the premises, property, equipment, and utensils used in connection with any food business.' RIDOH's Food Code, 216-RICR-50-10-1, was not saved. The Safe Activities regulation's dining rules (Ex. RI-070 § 7.4.2) operated on top of this chapter.