COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION, the official text

S2722 2026 -- S 2722 ======== LC005337 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION Introduced By: Senators Vargas, Britto, DiPalma, Urso, Famiglietti, Acosta, Bell, Appollonio, and Patalano Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 9-1 of the General Laws entitled Causes of Action is hereby 2 amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 9-1-55. Recovery of replacement value of a child restraint system in a motor vehicle 4 accident. 5 (a) Any person responsible for a collision with a motor vehicle, which contains or employs 6 a federally approved child restraint system under 49 CFR § 571.213 that is being used to transport 7 a child in compliance with § 31-22-22 or which is unoccupied at the time of the collision, shall be 8 liable to the owner of the child restraint system for the replacement value of the child restraint 9 system. 10 (b) The person responsible for the collision or their insurer shall be entitled to take 11 possession of the child restraint system upon payment of the replacement value pursuant to the 12 provisions of subsection (a) of this section. 13 (c) The provision of this section shall apply regardless of the lack of any visible damage to 14 the child restraint system. 15 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005337 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION *** 1 This act would create a cause of action for the replacement cost of a child restraint system 2 that is in a motor vehicle at the time of a motor vehicle accident. 3 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005337 ======== LC005337 - Page 2 of 2