Rhode Island General Laws Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-33-15.1. Enforcement procedure

(a) After the issuance of a compliance order pursuant to § 23-33-15, the director shall, within a reasonable time after the termination of the inspection or investigation, notify the owner by certified mail of the penalty, if any, proposed to be assessed under § 23-33-20 and that the owner has fifteen (15) working days within which to notify the director that he or she wishes to contest the compliance order or proposed assessment of penalty.  If within fifteen (15) working days from the receipt of the notice issued by the director, the owner fails to notify the director that he or she intends to contest the compliance order or proposed assessment of penalty, and no notice is filed by any owner or representative of the owner under subsection (c) within such time, the compliance order and the assessment, as proposed, shall be deemed a final order of the review board and not subject to review as to any question of fact by any court or agency.

(b) If the director has reason to believe that an owner has failed to correct a violation for which a compliance order has been issued within the period permitted for its correction, which period shall not begin until the entry of a final order by the review board in the case of any review proceedings under this section initiated by the owner in good faith and not solely for the delay or avoidance of penalties, the director shall notify the owner by certified mail of the failure, and that the owner has fifteen (15) working days within which to notify the director that he or she intends to contest the notification or proposed assessment of penalty.  The proposed assessment shall be deemed a final order of the review board and not subject to any review as to any question of fact by any court or agency.

(c) If an owner notifies the director that he or she intends to contest a compliance order issued under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, or if, within fifteen (15) working days of the issuance of a compliance order under § 23-33-15 any owner or representative of the owner files a notice with the director alleging that the period of time fixed in the compliance order for abatement of the violation is unreasonable, the director shall immediately notify in writing the chairperson of the review board of such notification, and the review board shall thereafter issue an order, based on findings of fact, affirming, modifying, or vacating the director's compliance order or proposed penalty, or directing other appropriate relief, and such order shall become final thirty (30) days after its issuance.  If the owner shows good faith effort to comply with the abatement requirements of a compliance order, and factors beyond his or her reasonable control prevent compliance, the review board, after an opportunity for a hearing, shall issue an order affirming or modifying the abatement requirement in the compliance order.  The rules of procedure prescribed by the review board shall provide the affected owner or representative of the owner an opportunity to participate as parties to hearings under this subsection.