TITLE 23
Health and Safety
CHAPTER 23-28.2
Division of Fire Safety
SECTION 23-28.2-17
§ 23-28.2-17 Relief from responsibility.
The state fire marshal, his or her deputies, and assistants, charged with the
enforcement of the Fire Safety Code and the director of the fire academy and
his or her instructors charged with fire education and training as governed by,
chapters 28.1 through 28.39 of this title, shall not render themselves liable
personally, and they are hereby relieved from all personal liability for any
damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result of any act required
or permitted in the discharge of their official duties. Any suit instituted
against any officer or employee because of an act performed by him or her in
the lawful discharge of his or her duties, and under the provisions of the Fire
Safety Code and the fire education and training unit, shall be defended by the
legal representative of the state until the final termination of the
proceedings. In no case shall the fire marshal, his or her deputies, or
assistants, the fire academy director or his or her instructors be liable for
costs in any action, suit, or proceedings that may be instituted in pursuance
of the provisions of the Fire Safety Code or the fire education and training
unit, and any fire marshal or fire academy instructor, acting in good faith and
without malice, shall be free from liability for acts performed under any of
its provisions or by reason of any act or omission in the performance of his or
her official duties in connection therewith. The protection afforded herein to
the Rhode Island fire academy instructors shall apply only to those instructors
who are active or retired members of a paid or volunteer Rhode Island fire
department.
History of Section.
(P.L. 1975, ch. 165, § 12; P.L. 2013, ch. 292, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch.
373, § 1.)