The bill amends Section 31-38-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38, which pertains to the "Inspection of Motor Vehicles." It specifies that the director of the department of revenue, or their designee, is responsible for issuing permits to official inspection stations for vehicle inspections and the issuance of official certificates of inspection and approval. A new insertion in the bill mandates that only facilities located within the State of Rhode Island are eligible to receive renewal permits or new permits to operate as official inspection stations. Additionally, the bill requires a separate permit for the inspection of all trailers or semi-trailers used to transport horses or other livestock, regardless of their registered gross weight.

The bill also outlines the application process for permits, the conditions for granting permits, the requirement for a bond to cover damages during inspections, and the authority of the director to supervise, suspend, or revoke permits. Permits are to be issued for a period of one year with an annual fee of twenty-five dollars, and a duplicate permit can be issued for one dollar if the original is lost, destroyed, or stolen. Furthermore, any person conducting vehicle inspections subject to emission inspection must also be authorized to conduct motor vehicle emissions inspections and must perform both inspections simultaneously. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2024, as indicated by the deletion of "upon passage" and the insertion of the specific date.

Statutes affected:
434  SUB A as amended: 31-38-6
434  SUB A: 31-38-6
434: 31-38-6