Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 525 - Governor's Commission on Disabilities
Chapter 20 - Civil Rights and Certification
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 3 - Rhode Island Livable Home Modifications
Section 525-RICR-20-00-3.4 - Definitions
Universal Citation: 525 RI Code of Rules 20 00 3.4
Current through September 18, 2024
A. As used in this Regulation:
1. "Accessibility features" means and
includes the following:
a. Accessible route to
a zero (0) step entrance on firm surface that is no steeper than a 1:12 slope
from a driveway or public sidewalk;
b. Zero (0) step entrance;
c. Doorways that are usable by the
individual's mobility device and at least thirty-two inches (32") of clear
width;
d. Hallways and passages
that are usable by the individual's mobility device and at least thirty-six
inches (36") of clear width;
e.
Accessible light switches, electrical outlets and environmental
controls;
f. Accessible
bathroom;
g. Accessible and useable
kitchen facilities;
h. Handrails
and grab bars;
i. Purchase and
permanent installation of a backup electric generator for life sustaining
electric-powered medical equipment in their homes for devices such as
respirators, oxygen concentrators, and/or dialysis machines;
j. Installation of a permanent home
monitoring system for residents with any form of dementia; and
k. Modifying of an existing unit shall also
include permanently installed lifts or elevators. The modification of these
features must meet the specifications of an existing standard.
l. Appliances or alarms that can be easily
reinstalled in another residence would not meet the definition of an
accessibility feature.
2.
"Building codes" means Rhode Island State Building & Fire Code Regulations,
including but not limited to the State Buildings Code; State Fire Safety Code;
State Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code for Existing Buildings and
Structures; and State Elevator Safety Code (http://sos.ri.gov/divisions/Open-Government/State/rules-and-regulations/building-and-fire-codes).
3. "Commission" means the Governor's
Commission on Disabilities.
4.
"Countable income" means the resident with the disability's taxable income as
reported on the prior year's 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ, minus withdrawals from a
retirement account or pension fund for medically necessary expenses.
5. "Dependent" means the same as 26 C.F.R. §
1.152-1 - "General definition of a dependent" claimed as a dependent on
the resident with a disability's Federal Tax Return (https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-929 ).
6. "Disability" means the same as defined by
R.I. Gen. Laws §
42-87-1 ("definitions of disability"), except for R.I.
Gen. Laws §§
42-87-1(1)(ii) through (iv).
7. "Existing standards" means and includes
adaptability features prescribed by the Rhode Island State Building Code, the
Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, incorporated above, or Fair Housing
Accessibility Guidelines, incorporated above.
8. "Health care facility" means an
institution licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Health that provides
health care services in a health care setting, including but not limited to
hospitals and other licensed inpatient centers, skilled nursing facility,
hospice and palliative care, residential treatment centers, and rehabilitation
and other therapeutic health settings.
9. "Modify", "modification", or "modifying"
means the alteration, construction, installation, and/or renovation of
accessibility features and/or sensory modifications to the residence.
10. "Needs assessment" means an evaluation
of:
a. Balance, coordination, endurance,
safety awareness, strength, attention, problem solving, vision, communication,
and many other functions while the individual performs daily tasks;
b. The home environment to identify barriers
to safety, functional mobility and self-care activities;
c. How a person interacts with the
environment to complete a task or activity; and
d. Through this process, modifications and
intervention strategies are selected to improve the fit between these elements,
with a goal of maximizing safety and independence in the home. The intervention
plan may include but is not limited to strategies such as adaptive equipment,
lighting, family caregiver training, or remodeling.
11. "Qualified healthcare professional"
includes, but is not limited to, a physician, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, audiologist, or certified aging-in-place specialist, capable of
conducting an assessment of a resident who has a disability.
12. "Resident who has a disability" means an
individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one (1) or more of the major life activities of such individual.
13. "Sensory modifications" means alarms,
appliances and controls designed to assist sensory disabled persons that are
structurally integrated into the residential unit. Built-in appliances would
meet this definition.
a. Accommodations or
features that can be removed and reinstalled in another residential unit and so
reused at another location are not considered to be sensory modifications for
the purposes of this program.
b.
Appliances or alarms that can be reinstalled in another residence would not
meet this definition.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Rhode Island may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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