R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-1-16
This is the official text of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-1-16, part of Rhode Island’s Gen. Laws — part of the compiled statutory law of Rhode Island, published by the state as "Gen. Laws." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 5-1-16. Architects rendering assistance during disaster emergency Immunity from civil liability.
Official statutory text
(a)(1) An architect or architectural firm, duly licensed to practice in Rhode Island under this chapter, who or that voluntarily and without compensation provides architectural services at the scene of a disaster emergency is not liable for any personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, or other loss or damages caused by an act or omission of the architect or architectural firm in performing the services.
(2) An architect or architectural firm, duly licensed to practice in Rhode Island under this chapter, who or that voluntarily and without compensation provides architectural services at the scene of a disaster emergency and all authorized disaster response workers who shall, in the course of performing their duties as such, practice professional, architecture, mechanical, engineering or other skill during a disaster emergency, in the absence of benefits provided by law, shall be entitled to all rights in like manner as state employees under the provisions of chapters 29 38 of title 28, and under the provisions of § 9-31-8.
(b) As used in this section, disaster emergency means a disaster emergency declared by executive order or proclamation of the governor pursuant to chapter 15 of title 30.
(c) The immunity provided in subsection (a) of this section applies only to the practice of architecture as defined in this chapter regarding an architectural service that:
(1) Concerns any building, structure, or system, whether publicly or privately owned, that is identified pursuant to a disaster emergency executive order or proclamation;
(2) Relates to the structural integrity of the entire building, structure, or system, or any portion of the structure or system, or to a nonstructural element of the structure or system, affecting public safety; and
(3) Is rendered during the time in which a state of disaster emergency exists, as provided in chapter 15 of title 30.
(d) The immunity granted by this section shall not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(e) In the event that the governor of Rhode Island declares a state disaster, all registered architects with a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certification will be allowed to practice for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of the declared disaster.
(2) An architect or architectural firm, duly licensed to practice in Rhode Island under this chapter, who or that voluntarily and without compensation provides architectural services at the scene of a disaster emergency and all authorized disaster response workers who shall, in the course of performing their duties as such, practice professional, architecture, mechanical, engineering or other skill during a disaster emergency, in the absence of benefits provided by law, shall be entitled to all rights in like manner as state employees under the provisions of chapters 29 38 of title 28, and under the provisions of § 9-31-8.
(b) As used in this section, disaster emergency means a disaster emergency declared by executive order or proclamation of the governor pursuant to chapter 15 of title 30.
(c) The immunity provided in subsection (a) of this section applies only to the practice of architecture as defined in this chapter regarding an architectural service that:
(1) Concerns any building, structure, or system, whether publicly or privately owned, that is identified pursuant to a disaster emergency executive order or proclamation;
(2) Relates to the structural integrity of the entire building, structure, or system, or any portion of the structure or system, or to a nonstructural element of the structure or system, affecting public safety; and
(3) Is rendered during the time in which a state of disaster emergency exists, as provided in chapter 15 of title 30.
(d) The immunity granted by this section shall not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(e) In the event that the governor of Rhode Island declares a state disaster, all registered architects with a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certification will be allowed to practice for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of the declared disaster.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Rhode Island?
Find a Rhode Island lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.