§ 23-20.9-8. Penalties and enforcement. (a) The Rhode Island department of health, having received a written and signed letter of complaint from a person, whose identity shall remain confidential, citing a school's violation of this chapter, shall enforce this entire chapter against violations by the following actions:

(1) Serving written notice to comply to the governing body of the school, with a copy of the notice to the complaining citizens, requiring the governing body of the school to correct within ten (10) days any violation of any section of this chapter.

(2) Upon receiving a second complaint at the department of health for the same or continued violation in the same school, the complaint shall be resolved by calling upon the attorney general for the state to maintain within forty-five (45) days an action for injunction to enforce the provisions of this chapter to cause the correction of this violation, and for assessment and recovery of a civil penalty for this violation.

(b) The governing body of a school who violates or allows the violation of this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty, not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). This penalty shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each day the violation is committed or permitted to continue by a governing body shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as-such. Any penalty assessed and recovered in an action brought pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the general treasurer and added to the general fund.

(c) In undertaking the enforcement of this chapter, the state is assuming an undertaking only to promote the general health and welfare. It is not assuming, nor is it imposing on its officers and employees, an obligation for breach of which it is liable in money damages to any person who claims that a breach proximately caused injury.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 230, § 1.)