Rhode Island § 28-29-26 - Workers’ Compensation — General Provisions

§ 28-29-26. Supervision of enforcement.

(a) Department of labor and training. The director as provided for in chapters 29 — 38 of this title, chapter 53 of this title, and chapter 16.1 of title 42, shall have supervision over the enforcement of the provisions of those chapters, and the director shall have the power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules, regulations, and orders necessary and suitable to the administration of the department’s responsibilities as described in those chapters.

(b)(1) Workers’ compensation court. The workers’ compensation court, as provided for in chapters 29 — 38 of this title, shall have supervision over the enforcement of the provisions of the chapters, and shall have the power and authority to adopt and enforce all reasonable rules, regulations, and orders necessary and suitable to the administration of its responsibilities described in the chapters. In addition to the foregoing, the court shall have the power and authority to hear and decide appeals from the retirement board in accordance with § 45-21.2-9. The court shall remain judicially and administratively independent. The workers’ compensation court shall have original jurisdiction over all civil actions filed pursuant to §§ 28-36-15 and 28-37-28 and pursuant to the provisions of chapter 53 of this title.

(2) Any petition arising from any dispute regardless of date of injury, unless specifically excepted, shall be filed with the court in accordance with chapter 35 of this title and the rules of practice promulgated by the workers’ compensation court.

(3) The enactment of this subsection shall not affect the rights of the parties established by any existing memorandum of agreement, suspension agreement and receipt, preliminary determination of the department of workers’ compensation, order or decree, or any existing right to the payment of compensation acquired pursuant to § 28-29-6 or § 28-35-9.