R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 42-128.1 § 42-128.1-12
Independent evaluation
Operative Text
In order to assure the effectiveness of the lead hazard awareness mitigation program established by this chapter and to recommend any changes, which may be necessary to appropriate, the auditor general shall: (1)(i) Conduct a performance audit for the period ending December 31, 2003, of the duties and responsibilities assigned to the state agencies and to political subdivisions by this chapter and by the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, chapter 24.6 of title 23, and of the effectiveness of this chapter in meeting its purposes. The auditor general may contract with independent firms and organizations with expertise in lead poisoning prevention and lead hazard mitigation to assist with the evaluation of matters set forth in this subsection. (ii) The auditor general's report shall be submitted to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the chairperson of the housing resources commission, and the director of health, on or before March 31, 2005, and shall contain, as appropriate, recommendations: (A) to make the programs established by this chapter and by the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act more effective in achieving their respective purposes; and (B) to address any unreasonable hardships caused by this chapter or likely to be caused by this chapter with its full implementation July 1, 2005. (iii) The performance audit required by this subsection shall, in addition to the examination of effectiveness of administration and the efficiency and adequacy of state agencies and political subdivisions in the performance of their duties under this chapter and the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, include consideration of the following matters: (A) The number and type and date of public service announcements required by § 42-128.1-6(b); (B) The availability and distribution of education materials specified by § 42-128.1-6(c)(i); (C) The number, date, and location of lead hazard awareness seminars and the number of persons who have participated in those seminars; (D) The number of "mitigation inspectors," average length of time necessary to conduct the inspections, the cost of meeting standards per inspection, and the availability of inspectors to conduct the inspections, at a reasonable cost needed in the various geographic areas of the state; (E) The availability of programs to assist property owners, especially low and moderate income property owners; (2) Conduct a performance audit for the period ending June 30, 2007, of the duties and responsibilities, as assigned by this chapter, to state agencies and political subdivisions and of the effectiveness of this chapter in meeting its purposes, especially with regard to increasing the supply of housing in which lead hazards have been mitigated and in reducing the incidence and severity of lead poisoning in Rhode Island. The auditor general may contract with independent firms and organizations with expertise in lead poisoning prevention and lead hazard mitigation to assist with the evaluation of matters set forth in this chapter. The auditor general's report shall be submitted to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the chairperson of the housing resources commission, and the director of health, on or before January 1, 2008, and shall contain, as appropriate, recommendations: (i) to make the programs established by this chapter more effective in achieving the respective purposes; and (ii) to redress any unreasonable hardships caused by this chapter or likely to be caused by this chapter.
Rhode Island General Laws § 42-128.1-12 establishes an independent oversight mechanism for the state's lead hazard awareness and mitigation program. It directs the auditor general to conduct two separate performance audits — one covering activity through December 31, 2003, and a second covering activity through June 30, 2007 — examining how effectively state agencies and local governments carried out their duties under the lead hazard mitigation chapter and the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. Each audit culminates in a formal report submitted to senior state officials, including the governor and legislative leaders, with recommendations for improving program effectiveness and addressing any unreasonable hardships the law may cause.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 42-128.1-12, the auditor general's performance audits specifically examined factors relevant to property owners, including the availability of mitigation inspectors, the cost of meeting inspection standards, and the existence of assistance programs for low- and moderate-income property owners. Compliant operators generally maintain records of inspections, costs, and any program assistance received, as this type of information feeds directly into the audit's scope. Landlords who experienced hardships related to the chapter's requirements had a formal channel through which those concerns could be surfaced and addressed via the auditor general's recommendations to state leadership.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 42-128.1-12 created an independent review process designed to assess whether Rhode Island's lead hazard mitigation program was actually reducing lead poisoning and increasing the supply of lead-safe housing — outcomes that directly affect tenants, particularly those in older housing stock. The auditor general's reports, submitted to the governor and legislative leaders, were required to include recommendations for making the programs more effective, meaning tenants' collective experiences with lead hazard issues were intended to inform policy improvements. Tenants seeking information about lead hazard rights and protections under the broader chapter may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or the Rhode Island Department of Health for guidance on available resources.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 15, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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