Rhode Island § 28-36-13 - Workers’ Compensation — Insurance

§ 28-36-13. Information furnished by insurers or self-insurers on request of director.

(a) Any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer insuring employers against liability for personal injuries to employees shall fill out all blanks and answer all questions submitted to it by the director relating to classifications, premium rates, amount of compensation paid, and any other information that the director may deem important either for the proper administration of chapters 29 — 38 of this title or for statistical purposes. The director shall have the authority and the jurisdiction that may be necessary to carry out duties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, including with cause, the power to subpoena. The director shall have discretion to assess an administrative penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per offense against any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that fails to provide information requested by the director under this section. Any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that willfully fails to notify the director as required in this section shall be subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense. All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general at the request of the director.

(b) Any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer who or that willfully fails to apply the proper classification based on a ruling of the classification appeals board or to timely adjust incurred losses shall be subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each offense. All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general at the request of the director. Additionally, the director shall have discretion to assess an administrative penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per offense against any employer, insurance company, self-insurer, or group self-insurer that violates this section.

(c) The director, in his or her discretion, may bring a civil action to collect all penalties assessed pursuant to this section. The workers’ compensation court shall have jurisdiction to enforce compliance with any order of the director made pursuant to this section.

(d) All fines or penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general fund.