State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > North-dakota > T49 > T49c02
Download pdf
Loading PDF...
<![CDATA[CHAPTER 49-02POWERS OF COMMISSION GENERALLY49-02-01.General jurisdiction of the public service commission over publicutilities. The general jurisdiction of the commission shall extend to and include:1.Contract and common carriers engaged in the transportation of persons and<br>property, excluding air carriers.2.Telecommunications companies engaged in the furnishing of telecommunications<br>services as provided for in chapter 49-21.3.Pipeline utilities engaged in the transportation of gas, oil, coal, and water.4.Electric utilities engaged in the generation and distribution of light, heat, or power.5.Gas utilities engaged in the distribution of natural, synthetic, or artificial gas.6.All heating utilities engaged in the distribution of heat.7.Warehouse companies engaged in the marketing, storage, or handling of<br>agricultural products.8.All other public utilities engaged in business in this state or in any county, city,<br>township, or other political subdivision of the state.49-02-01.1. Jurisdiction of commission limited as to certain utilities. Nothing in thischapter or in chapter 49-21 authorizes the commission to make any order affecting rates,<br>contracts, services rendered, adequacy, or sufficiency of facilities, or the rules or regulations of<br>any public utility owned and operated by the state or by any city, county, township, or other<br>political subdivision of the state or any public utility, that is not operated for profit, that is operated<br>as a nonprofit, cooperative, or mutual telecommunications company or is a telecommunications<br>company having fewer than eighteen thousand local exchange subscribers.However, anytelecommunicationsutilitythatisoperatedasanonprofit,cooperative,ormutualtelecommunications company or has fewer than eighteen thousand local exchange subscribers<br>is subject to sections 49-21-01.4, 49-21-02.4, 49-21-23, 49-21-24, and 49-21-25, subsections 6<br>through 14 of section 49-21-01.7, and to sections 49-21-01.2, 49-21-01.3, 49-21-06, 49-21-07,<br>49-21-09, and 49-21-10, regarding rates, terms, and conditions of access services or connection<br>between facilities and transfer of telecommunications between two or more telecommunications<br>companies. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the commission granted under chapters<br>49-03 and 49-03.1 or sections 49-04-05 and 49-04-06.49-02-01.2. Pipeline safety - Public service commission jurisdiction - Hazardousfacility orders.1.The commission, by rule, may establish and enforce minimum safety standards for<br>the design, construction, and operation of gas distribution facilities and intrastate<br>pipeline facilities used for the distribution and intrastate transportation of gas,<br>liquefied natural gas, or hazardous liquids, regardless of whether they are owned or<br>operated by a public utility, in order to ensure the reasonable safety thereof. Any<br>rule issued under this section affecting the design, installation, construction, initial<br>inspection, and initial testing is not applicable to pipeline facilities in existence on the<br>date such rule is adopted.Such rules may not be more stringent than thecorresponding federal regulations applicable to interstate pipelines and related<br>facilities.2.If the commission determines that a pipeline facility is hazardous to life or property, it<br>may issue an order requiring the operator of the facility to take corrective action.Page No. 1The commission may issue such an order without notice and opportunity for hearing<br>if the commission determines that to do otherwise would result in the likelihood of<br>serious harm to life or property. The commission shall include in such an order an<br>opportunity for hearing as soon as practicable after issuance of the order.49-02-02. Powers of public service commission with reference to public utilities.The commission shall have power to:1.Investigate all methods and practices of public utilities or other persons, subject to<br>the provisions of this title.2.Require public utilities or other persons to conform to the laws of this state and to all<br>rules, regulations, and orders of the commission not contrary to law.3.Require copies of reports, rates, classifications, schedules, and timetables in effect<br>and used by such utilities or other persons and all other information desired by the<br>commission relating to such investigations and requirements to be filed with the<br>commission.4.Compel obedience to its lawful orders by proceedings of mandamus or injunction or<br>other proper proceedings, in the name of the state, in any court having jurisdiction of<br>the parties or of the subject matter.5.Hold hearings on good cause being shown therefor or on its own motion, and to<br>provide notice thereof and to shorten the period for which notice must be given prior<br>to hearing, when good cause exists for such action. Such notice, however, must be<br>reasonable in view of the nature, scope, and importance of the hearing. Whenever it<br>appears to the satisfaction of the commission that all of the interested parties have<br>agreed concerning the matter at hand, or that no interested party has asked for a<br>hearing, the commission may issue its order without a hearing.6.Employ, and fix the compensation of, rate experts, engineers, auditors, attorneys,<br>and all other expert help and assistance for hearings or investigations on<br>applications filed by gas or electric public utilities. The expense of any hearings or<br>investigations and the actual expenses of any employees of the commission while<br>engaged upon any hearing or investigation must be deducted from the application<br>fee paid by the public utility involved. The commission shall ascertain the costs and<br>expenditures. The application fees received by the commission under chapter 49-05<br>must be deposited in a special account within the public service commission. All<br>moneys deposited in the account are appropriated on a continuing basis to the<br>commission to pay expenses incurred in the processing of cases in which<br>application fees are required.The commission shall refund the portion of a feecollected under chapter 49-05 which exceeds the expenses incurred for processing<br>the case for which the fee was paid.7.Cooperate with and receive technical and financial assistance from the United<br>States, any state, or any department, agency, or officer thereof for any purposes<br>relating to federal energy laws that deal with energy conservation, coal conversion,<br>rate reform, and utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.Thecommission shall also have the authority to file any reports, hold hearings, and<br>promulgate regulations for any such purposes.Information received by thecommission which was developed or obtained by the market monitor of the midwest<br>independent system operator, incorporated, or its successor, is exempt from section<br>44-04-18 and section 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota.8.Cooperate with and receive technical and financial assistance from the United<br>States, any state, or any department, agency, or officer thereof, and to file such<br>reports and promulgate rules as required by federal law or regulation for anyPage No. 2purposes relating to the regulation of safety standards for pipeline facilities and the<br>transportation associated with those pipeline facilities.49-02-03. Power of public service commission to establish rates. The commissionshall supervise the rates of all public utilities. It shall have the power, after notice and hearing, to<br>originate, establish, modify, adjust, promulgate, and enforce tariffs, rates, joint rates, and charges<br>of all public utilities. Whenever the commission, after hearing, shall find any existing rates, tariffs,<br>joint rates, or schedules unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in<br>violation of any of the provisions of this title, the commission by order shall fix reasonable rates,<br>joint rates, charges, or schedules to be followed in the future in lieu of those found to be unjust,<br>unreasonable, insufficient, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of any provision of<br>law.49-02-03.1. Power to fix special rates - Public service commission. Repealed byS.L. 1963, ch. 322, <meta property="og:url" content="https://statutes.laws.com/test/" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Statutes" />
<meta property="article:modified_time" content="2019-12-27T23:25:16+00:00" />
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
<h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2>
<a href='https://statutes.laws.com/'>Statutes</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota'>North-dakota</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t49'>T49</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t49/t49c02'>T49c02</a><br><br><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t49/pdf/t49c02.pdf">Download pdf</a><br><div id="embed_document" style="width:625px; height:815px; text-align:center;">Loading PDF...</div><script type="text/javascript"> var pdf_url = 'https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t49/pdf/t49c02.pdf'; $(document).ready(function() { var embedwindow = $("#embed_document"); if ($.browser.msie){ embedwindow.html('<embed src="'+pdf_url+'" width="100%" height="100%"></embed>'); } else { embedwindow.html('<iframe style="width:100%; height:100%;" src="https://docs.google.com/gview?url='+window.escape(pdf_url)+'&embedded=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>'); } });</script><br><br><noframes>CHAPTER 49-02POWERS OF COMMISSION GENERALLY49-02-01.General jurisdiction of the public service commission over publicutilities. The general jurisdiction of the commission shall extend to and include:1.Contract and common carriers engaged in the transportation of persons and<br>property, excluding air carriers.2.Telecommunications companies engaged in the furnishing of telecommunications<br>services as provided for in chapter 49-21.3.Pipeline utilities engaged in the transportation of gas, oil, coal, and water.4.Electric utilities engaged in the generation and distribution of light, heat, or power.5.Gas utilities engaged in the distribution of natural, synthetic, or artificial gas.6.All heating utilities engaged in the distribution of heat.7.Warehouse companies engaged in the marketing, storage, or handling of<br>agricultural products.8.All other public utilities engaged in business in this state or in any county, city,<br>township, or other political subdivision of the state.49-02-01.1. Jurisdiction of commission limited as to certain utilities. Nothing in thischapter or in chapter 49-21 authorizes the commission to make any order affecting rates,<br>contracts, services rendered, adequacy, or sufficiency of facilities, or the rules or regulations of<br>any public utility owned and operated by the state or by any city, county, township, or other<br>political subdivision of the state or any public utility, that is not operated for profit, that is operated<br>as a nonprofit, cooperative, or mutual telecommunications company or is a telecommunications<br>company having fewer than eighteen thousand local exchange subscribers.However, anytelecommunicationsutilitythatisoperatedasanonprofit,cooperative,ormutualtelecommunications company or has fewer than eighteen thousand local exchange subscribers<br>is subject to sections 49-21-01.4, 49-21-02.4, 49-21-23, 49-21-24, and 49-21-25, subsections 6<br>through 14 of section 49-21-01.7, and to sections 49-21-01.2, 49-21-01.3, 49-21-06, 49-21-07,<br>49-21-09, and 49-21-10, regarding rates, terms, and conditions of access services or connection<br>between facilities and transfer of telecommunications between two or more telecommunications<br>companies. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the commission granted under chapters<br>49-03 and 49-03.1 or sections 49-04-05 and 49-04-06.49-02-01.2. Pipeline safety - Public service commission jurisdiction - Hazardousfacility orders.1.The commission, by rule, may establish and enforce minimum safety standards for<br>the design, construction, and operation of gas distribution facilities and intrastate<br>pipeline facilities used for the distribution and intrastate transportation of gas,<br>liquefied natural gas, or hazardous liquids, regardless of whether they are owned or<br>operated by a public utility, in order to ensure the reasonable safety thereof. Any<br>rule issued under this section affecting the design, installation, construction, initial<br>inspection, and initial testing is not applicable to pipeline facilities in existence on the<br>date such rule is adopted.Such rules may not be more stringent than thecorresponding federal regulations applicable to interstate pipelines and related<br>facilities.2.If the commission determines that a pipeline facility is hazardous to life or property, it<br>may issue an order requiring the operator of the facility to take corrective action.Page No. 1The commission may issue such an order without notice and opportunity for hearing<br>if the commission determines that to do otherwise would result in the likelihood of<br>serious harm to life or property. The commission shall include in such an order an<br>opportunity for hearing as soon as practicable after issuance of the order.49-02-02. Powers of public service commission with reference to public utilities.The commission shall have power to:1.Investigate all methods and practices of public utilities or other persons, subject to<br>the provisions of this title.2.Require public utilities or other persons to conform to the laws of this state and to all<br>rules, regulations, and orders of the commission not contrary to law.3.Require copies of reports, rates, classifications, schedules, and timetables in effect<br>and used by such utilities or other persons and all other information desired by the<br>commission relating to such investigations and requirements to be filed with the<br>commission.4.Compel obedience to its lawful orders by proceedings of mandamus or injunction or<br>other proper proceedings, in the name of the state, in any court having jurisdiction of<br>the parties or of the subject matter.5.Hold hearings on good cause being shown therefor or on its own motion, and to<br>provide notice thereof and to shorten the period for which notice must be given prior<br>to hearing, when good cause exists for such action. Such notice, however, must be<br>reasonable in view of the nature, scope, and importance of the hearing. Whenever it<br>appears to the satisfaction of the commission that all of the interested parties have<br>agreed concerning the matter at hand, or that no interested party has asked for a<br>hearing, the commission may issue its order without a hearing.6.Employ, and fix the compensation of, rate experts, engineers, auditors, attorneys,<br>and all other expert help and assistance for hearings or investigations on<br>applications filed by gas or electric public utilities. The expense of any hearings or<br>investigations and the actual expenses of any employees of the commission while<br>engaged upon any hearing or investigation must be deducted from the application<br>fee paid by the public utility involved. The commission shall ascertain the costs and<br>expenditures. The application fees received by the commission under chapter 49-05<br>must be deposited in a special account within the public service commission. All<br>moneys deposited in the account are appropriated on a continuing basis to the<br>commission to pay expenses incurred in the processing of cases in which<br>application fees are required.The commission shall refund the portion of a feecollected under chapter 49-05 which exceeds the expenses incurred for processing<br>the case for which the fee was paid.7.Cooperate with and receive technical and financial assistance from the United<br>States, any state, or any department, agency, or officer thereof for any purposes<br>relating to federal energy laws that deal with energy conservation, coal conversion,<br>rate reform, and utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.Thecommission shall also have the authority to file any reports, hold hearings, and<br>promulgate regulations for any such purposes.Information received by thecommission which was developed or obtained by the market monitor of the midwest<br>independent system operator, incorporated, or its successor, is exempt from section<br>44-04-18 and section 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota.8.Cooperate with and receive technical and financial assistance from the United<br>States, any state, or any department, agency, or officer thereof, and to file such<br>reports and promulgate rules as required by federal law or regulation for anyPage No. 2purposes relating to the regulation of safety standards for pipeline facilities and the<br>transportation associated with those pipeline facilities.49-02-03. Power of public service commission to establish rates. The commissionshall supervise the rates of all public utilities. It shall have the power, after notice and hearing, to<br>originate, establish, modify, adjust, promulgate, and enforce tariffs, rates, joint rates, and charges<br>of all public utilities. Whenever the commission, after hearing, shall find any existing rates, tariffs,<br>joint rates, or schedules unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in<br>violation of any of the provisions of this title, the commission by order shall fix reasonable rates,<br>joint rates, charges, or schedules to be followed in the future in lieu of those found to be unjust,<br>unreasonable, insufficient, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of any provision of<br>law.49-02-03.1. Power to fix special rates - Public service commission. Repealed byS.L. 1963, ch. 322, <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/","url":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/","name":"State Codes and Statutes - Statutes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/#website"},"datePublished":"2015-03-10T03:31:37+00:00","dateModified":"2019-12-27T23:25:16+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://statutes.laws.com/test/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://statutes.laws.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"State Codes and Statutes"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/#website","url":"https://statutes.laws.com/","name":"Statutes","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://statutes.laws.com/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}</script>
<!-- / Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Statutes » Feed" href="https://statutes.laws.com/feed/" />
<script type="text/javascript">
/* <![CDATA[ */
window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/statutes.laws.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7"}};
/*! This file is auto-generated */
!function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83e\udef1\ud83c\udffb\u200d\ud83e\udef2\ud83c\udfff","\ud83e\udef1\ud83c\udffb\u200b\ud83e\udef2\ud83c\udfff")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings);
/* ]]]]><![CDATA[> */
</script>
<style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'>
img.wp-smiley, img.emoji {
display: inline !important;
border: none !important;
box-shadow: none !important;
height: 1em !important;
width: 1em !important;
margin: 0 0.07em !important;
vertical-align: -0.1em !important;
background: none !important;
padding: 0 !important;
}
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'>
/*! This file is auto-generated */
.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}
</style>
<style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'>
body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}body .is-layout-flow > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}body .is-layout-flow > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignleft{float: left;margin-inline-start: 0;margin-inline-end: 2em;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignright{float: right;margin-inline-start: 2em;margin-inline-end: 0;}body .is-layout-constrained > .aligncenter{margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)){max-width: var(--wp--style--global--content-size);margin-left: auto !important;margin-right: auto !important;}body .is-layout-constrained > .alignwide{max-width: var(--wp--style--global--wide-size);}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}body .is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}body .is-layout-flex > *{margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}body .is-layout-grid > *{margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}
.wp-block-navigation a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color: inherit;}
:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}
:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}
.wp-block-pullquote{font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;}
</style>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='contact-form-7-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/css/styles.css?ver=5.9.3' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='redux-extendify-styles-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/redux-core/assets/css/extendify-utilities.css?ver=4.4.15' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='google-fonts-2-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Titillium+Web&subset=latin&ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='reset-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/reset.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='font-awesome-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/lib/font-awesome/css/font-awesome.min.css?ver=4.7.0' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='main-stylesheet-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/main-stylesheet.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='shortcode-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/shortcode.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='lightbox-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/lightbox.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='dat-menu-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/dat-menu.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='responsive-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/responsive.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<!--[if lt IE 8]>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='ie-only-styles-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/css/ie-ancient.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<![endif]-->
<link rel='stylesheet' id='dynamic-css-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=ot_dynamic_css&ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='style-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/style.css?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='elementor-icons-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/lib/eicons/css/elementor-icons.min.css?ver=5.23.0' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='elementor-frontend-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/css/frontend-lite.min.css?ver=3.17.3' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='swiper-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/elementor/assets/lib/swiper/css/swiper.min.css?ver=5.3.6' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='elementor-post-248-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/elementor/css/post-248.css?ver=1699721364' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='elementor-pro-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/elementor-pro/assets/css/frontend-lite.min.css?ver=3.16.2' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='elementor-global-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/elementor/css/global.css?ver=1699721365' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='toc-screen-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/table-of-contents-plus/screen.min.css?ver=2309' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel='stylesheet' id='google-fonts-1-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto%3A100%2C100italic%2C200%2C200italic%2C300%2C300italic%2C400%2C400italic%2C500%2C500italic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic%2C900%2C900italic%7CRoboto+Slab%3A100%2C100italic%2C200%2C200italic%2C300%2C300italic%2C400%2C400italic%2C500%2C500italic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic%2C900%2C900italic&display=auto&ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7' type='text/css' media='all' />
<link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com/" crossorigin><script type="text/javascript" id="jquery-core-js-extra">
/* <![CDATA[ */
var ot = {"THEME_NAME":"legatus","adminUrl":"https:\/\/statutes.laws.com\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","gallery_id":"","galleryCat":"","imageUrl":"https:\/\/statutes.laws.com\/wp-content\/themes\/legatus\/images\/","cssUrl":"https:\/\/statutes.laws.com\/wp-content\/themes\/legatus\/css\/","themeUrl":"https:\/\/statutes.laws.com\/wp-content\/themes\/legatus"};
/* ]]]]><![CDATA[> */
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script>
<script></script><link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/json" href="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-json/wp/v2/pages/19" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://statutes.laws.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd" />
<link rel='shortlink' href='https://statutes.laws.com/?p=19' />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatutes.laws.com%2Ftest%2F" />
<link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatutes.laws.com%2Ftest%2F&format=xml" />
<meta name="generator" content="Redux 4.4.15" /><script type="text/javascript">
(function(url){
if(/(?:Chrome\/26\.0\.1410\.63 Safari\/537\.31|WordfenceTestMonBot)/.test(navigator.userAgent)){ return; }
var addEvent = function(evt, handler) {
if (window.addEventListener) {
document.addEventListener(evt, handler, false);
} else if (window.attachEvent) {
document.attachEvent('on' + evt, handler);
}
};
var removeEvent = function(evt, handler) {
if (window.removeEventListener) {
document.removeEventListener(evt, handler, false);
} else if (window.detachEvent) {
document.detachEvent('on' + evt, handler);
}
};
var evts = 'contextmenu dblclick drag dragend dragenter dragleave dragover dragstart drop keydown keypress keyup mousedown mousemove mouseout mouseover mouseup mousewheel scroll'.split(' ');
var logHuman = function() {
if (window.wfLogHumanRan) { return; }
window.wfLogHumanRan = true;
var wfscr = document.createElement('script');
wfscr.type = 'text/javascript';
wfscr.async = true;
wfscr.src = url + '&r=' + Math.random();
(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(wfscr);
for (var i = 0; i < evts.length; i++) {
removeEvent(evts[i], logHuman);
}
};
for (var i = 0; i < evts.length; i++) {
addEvent(evts[i], logHuman);
}
})('//statutes.laws.com/?wordfence_lh=1&hid=E9EDE6EB2EEF3B18C42238E0F5217CA0');
</script><meta name="generator" content="Elementor 3.17.3; features: e_dom_optimization, e_optimized_assets_loading, e_optimized_css_loading, additional_custom_breakpoints; settings: css_print_method-external, google_font-enabled, font_display-auto">
<meta name="generator" content="Powered by WPBakery Page Builder - drag and drop page builder for WordPress."/>
<meta name="generator" content="Powered by Slider Revolution 6.6.11 - responsive, Mobile-Friendly Slider Plugin for WordPress with comfortable drag and drop interface." />
<!-- Clicky Web Analytics - https://clicky.com, WordPress Plugin by Yoast - https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/clicky/ --><script type='text/javascript'>
function clicky_gc(name) {
var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
for (var i in ca) {
if (ca[i].indexOf(name + '=') != -1) {
return decodeURIComponent(ca[i].split('=')[1]);
}
}
return '';
}
var username_check = clicky_gc('"comment_author_d2f3dac10cedf763d31d1d5e708a3685"');
if (username_check) var clicky_custom_session = {username: username_check};
</script>
<script>
var clicky_site_ids = clicky_site_ids || [];
clicky_site_ids.push("100851447");
</script>
<script async src="//static.getclicky.com/js"></script><script>function setREVStartSize(e){
//window.requestAnimationFrame(function() {
window.RSIW = window.RSIW===undefined ? window.innerWidth : window.RSIW;
window.RSIH = window.RSIH===undefined ? window.innerHeight : window.RSIH;
try {
var pw = document.getElementById(e.c).parentNode.offsetWidth,
newh;
pw = pw===0 || isNaN(pw) || (e.l=="fullwidth" || e.layout=="fullwidth") ? window.RSIW : pw;
e.tabw = e.tabw===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.tabw);
e.thumbw = e.thumbw===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.thumbw);
e.tabh = e.tabh===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.tabh);
e.thumbh = e.thumbh===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.thumbh);
e.tabhide = e.tabhide===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.tabhide);
e.thumbhide = e.thumbhide===undefined ? 0 : parseInt(e.thumbhide);
e.mh = e.mh===undefined || e.mh=="" || e.mh==="auto" ? 0 : parseInt(e.mh,0);
if(e.layout==="fullscreen" || e.l==="fullscreen")
newh = Math.max(e.mh,window.RSIH);
else{
e.gw = Array.isArray(e.gw) ? e.gw : [e.gw];
for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gw[i]===undefined || e.gw[i]===0) e.gw[i] = e.gw[i-1];
e.gh = e.el===undefined || e.el==="" || (Array.isArray(e.el) && e.el.length==0)? e.gh : e.el;
e.gh = Array.isArray(e.gh) ? e.gh : [e.gh];
for (var i in e.rl) if (e.gh[i]===undefined || e.gh[i]===0) e.gh[i] = e.gh[i-1];
var nl = new Array(e.rl.length),
ix = 0,
sl;
e.tabw = e.tabhide>=pw ? 0 : e.tabw;
e.thumbw = e.thumbhide>=pw ? 0 : e.thumbw;
e.tabh = e.tabhide>=pw ? 0 : e.tabh;
e.thumbh = e.thumbhide>=pw ? 0 : e.thumbh;
for (var i in e.rl) nl[i] = e.rl[i]<window.RSIW ? 0 : e.rl[i];
sl = nl[0];
for (var i in nl) if (sl>nl[i] && nl[i]>0) { sl = nl[i]; ix=i;}
var m = pw>(e.gw[ix]+e.tabw+e.thumbw) ? 1 : (pw-(e.tabw+e.thumbw)) / (e.gw[ix]);
newh = (e.gh[ix] * m) + (e.tabh + e.thumbh);
}
var el = document.getElementById(e.c);
if (el!==null && el) el.style.height = newh+"px";
el = document.getElementById(e.c+"_wrapper");
if (el!==null && el) {
el.style.height = newh+"px";
el.style.display = "block";
}
} catch(e){
console.log("Failure at Presize of Slider:" + e)
}
//});
};</script>
<noscript><style> .wpb_animate_when_almost_visible { opacity: 1; }</style></noscript> <style>
body {
background: none !important;
}
</style>
<!-- END head -->
</head>
<!-- BEGIN body -->
<body class="page-template-default page page-id-19 wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.5 vc_responsive elementor-default elementor-kit-248 elementor-page elementor-page-19">
<!-- BEGIN .boxed -->
<div class="boxed">
<!-- BEGIN .header -->
<div class="header">
<!-- BEGIN .header-very-top -->
<div class="header-very-top">
<!-- BEGIN .wrapper -->
<div class="wrapper">
<div class="left">
<ul class="ot-menu very-top-menu load-responsive" rel="Top Menu"><li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com" class="icon-text"><i class="fa fa-home"></i></a></li><li id="menu-item-154" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-1 single"><a href="https://www.laws.com/">Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-155" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-2 single"><a href="https://lawyer.laws.com/">Lawyers</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-156" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-3 single"><a href="https://find.laws.com/">Find Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-157" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-4 single"><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/">Legal Forms</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-158" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-5 single"><a href="https://state-laws.laws.com/">State Laws</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="clear-float"></div>
</div>
<div class="double-split"></div>
<!-- END .header-very-top -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .header-middle -->
<div class="header-middle">
<div class="wrapper">
<div class="banner">
<div class="banner-block">
</div>
</div>
<div class="clear-float"></div>
</div>
<!-- END .header-middle -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .header-menu -->
<div class="header-menu thisisfixed">
<div class="wrapper">
<div class="logo-image">
<!--<h1></h1>-->
<a href="https://statutes.laws.com"><img class="logo" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/images/logo.png" alt="Statutes" /></a>
</div>
<ul class="menu main-menu" ><li id="menu-item-148" class="normal-drop no-description menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-1" style="background:#264C84; color:#264C84; "><a href="https://www.laws.com/">Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-149" class="normal-drop no-description menu_red menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-2"><a href="https://lawyer.laws.com/">Lawyers</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-150" class="normal-drop no-description menu_green menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-3"><a href="https://find.laws.com/">Find Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-152" class="normal-drop no-description menu_boldred menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-4"><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/">Legal Forms</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-151" class="normal-drop no-description menu_blue menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom custom-class-5"><a href="https://state-laws.laws.com/">State Laws</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="clear-float"></div>
</div>
<!-- END .header-menu -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .header-undermenu -->
<div class="header-undermenu">
<div class="wrapper">
<div class="clear-float"></div>
</div>
<!-- END .header-undermenu -->
</div>
<!-- Begin add search bar -->
<br />
<div class="wrapper">
<!-- add search bar - Peter - May 2015 -->
<style>
.input-txt-bigger{background:url(https://laws.com/uploads/input-txt-bigger.jpg) no-repeat;width:100%;height:30px;color:#5a8bb7;padding:0px 10px;padding:6px 10px\9;float:left;border:0px;font-size:16px}
.input-btn{background:url(https://laws.com/uploads/input-btn-blue.png) no-repeat;width:100%;height:30px;color:#fff;font-weight:bold;margin-left:10px;text-align:center;float:left;border:0px;cursor:pointer}
</style>
<form action="https://laws.com/searchresults" method="get">
<input type="text" id="qucik-key" name="sname" value="Search Laws" onfocus="if(this.value=='Search Laws' || this.value=='') this.value='';" onblur="if(this.value=='') this.value='Search Laws';" class="input-txt-bigger" style="background:none;border:2px solid #1661B2;width:75%;height:55px;font-size:30px;font-weight:bold" /> <input type="submit" class="input-btn" value="SEARCH" style="width:167px;height:55px;font-size:20px;background:url(https://laws.com/uploads/input-btn-blue-big.png) no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent" />
</form>
<!-- End add search bar - Peter - May 2015 -->
</div>
<div style="height: 70px;"></div>
<!-- Begin add search bar -->
<!-- END .header -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .content -->
<div class="content">
<!-- BEGIN .wrapper -->
<div class="wrapper">
<!-- BEGIN .main-content-left -->
<div class="main-content-left">
<div class="social-icons-float">
<span class="soc-header">Share</span>
<span class="social-icon">
<span class="social-count"><span class="count">0</span><span class="social-arrow"> </span></span>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://statutes.laws.com/test/" data-url="https://statutes.laws.com/test/" class="social-button ot-share" style="background:#495fbd;"><i class="fa fa-facebook"></i><font>Share</font></a>
</span>
<span class="social-icon">
<span class="social-count"><span class="count">0</span><span class="social-arrow"> </span></span>
<a href="#" data-hashtags="" data-url="https://statutes.laws.com/test/" data-via="" data-text="State Codes and Statutes" class="social-button ot-tweet" style="background:#43bedd;"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i><font>Tweet</font></a>
</span>
<span class="social-icon">
<span class="social-count">0<span class="social-arrow"> </span></span>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://statutes.laws.com/test/" class="social-button ot-pluss" style="background:#df6149;"><i class="fa fa-google-plus"></i><font>+1</font></a>
</span>
<span class="social-icon">
<span class="social-count"><span class="count">0</span><span class="social-arrow"> </span></span>
<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://statutes.laws.com/test/&title=State Codes and Statutes" class="social-button ot-link" style="background:#264c84;" data-url="https://statutes.laws.com/test/"><i class="fa fa-linkedin"></i><font>Share</font></a>
</span>
</div>
<!-- 27.04.15 - BEGIN box search -->
<!-- Adding the ads for legal-forms - Peter - 27-4-2015 -->
<!-- End Adding the ads for legal-forms - Peter - 27-4-2015 -->
<!-- 27.04.15 - END box search -->
<div style="clear:both;"></div>
<div class="content-article-title">
<h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2>
<div class="right-title-side">
<br/>
<a href="https://statutes.laws.com"><i class="fa fa-angle-left"></i>Back To Homepage</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="main-article-content">
<!-- BEGIN .shortcode-content -->
<div class="shortcode-content">
<h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2>
<a href='https://statutes.laws.com/'>Statutes</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota'>North-dakota</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t49'>T49</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t49/t49c02'>T49c02</a><br><br><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t49/pdf/t49c02.pdf">Download pdf</a><br><div id="embed_document" style="width:625px; height:815px; text-align:center;">Loading PDF...</div><script type="text/javascript"> var pdf_url = 'https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t49/pdf/t49c02.pdf'; $(document).ready(function() { var embedwindow = $("#embed_document"); if ($.browser.msie){ embedwindow.html('<embed src="'+pdf_url+'" width="100%" height="100%"></embed>'); } else { embedwindow.html('<iframe style="width:100%; height:100%;" src="https://docs.google.com/gview?url='+window.escape(pdf_url)+'&embedded=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>'); } });</script><br><br><noframes>CHAPTER 49-02POWERS OF COMMISSION GENERALLY49-02-01.General jurisdiction of the public service commission over publicutilities. The general jurisdiction of the commission shall extend to and include:1.Contract and common carriers engaged in the transportation of persons and<br>property, excluding air carriers.2.Telecommunications companies engaged in the furnishing of telecommunications<br>services as provided for in chapter 49-21.3.Pipeline utilities engaged in the transportation of gas, oil, coal, and water.4.Electric utilities engaged in the generation and distribution of light, heat, or power.5.Gas utilities engaged in the distribution of natural, synthetic, or artificial gas.6.All heating utilities engaged in the distribution of heat.7.Warehouse companies engaged in the marketing, storage, or handling of<br>agricultural products.8.All other public utilities engaged in business in this state or in any county, city,<br>township, or other political subdivision of the state.49-02-01.1. Jurisdiction of commission limited as to certain utilities. Nothing in thischapter or in chapter 49-21 authorizes the commission to make any order affecting rates,<br>contracts, services rendered, adequacy, or sufficiency of facilities, or the rules or regulations of<br>any public utility owned and operated by the state or by any city, county, township, or other<br>political subdivision of the state or any public utility, that is not operated for profit, that is operated<br>as a nonprofit, cooperative, or mutual telecommunications company or is a telecommunications<br>company having fewer than eighteen thousand local exchange subscribers.However, anytelecommunicationsutilitythatisoperatedasanonprofit,cooperative,ormutualtelecommunications company or has fewer than eighteen thousand local exchange subscribers<br>is subject to sections 49-21-01.4, 49-21-02.4, 49-21-23, 49-21-24, and 49-21-25, subsections 6<br>through 14 of section 49-21-01.7, and to sections 49-21-01.2, 49-21-01.3, 49-21-06, 49-21-07,<br>49-21-09, and 49-21-10, regarding rates, terms, and conditions of access services or connection<br>between facilities and transfer of telecommunications between two or more telecommunications<br>companies. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the commission granted under chapters<br>49-03 and 49-03.1 or sections 49-04-05 and 49-04-06.49-02-01.2. Pipeline safety - Public service commission jurisdiction - Hazardousfacility orders.1.The commission, by rule, may establish and enforce minimum safety standards for<br>the design, construction, and operation of gas distribution facilities and intrastate<br>pipeline facilities used for the distribution and intrastate transportation of gas,<br>liquefied natural gas, or hazardous liquids, regardless of whether they are owned or<br>operated by a public utility, in order to ensure the reasonable safety thereof. Any<br>rule issued under this section affecting the design, installation, construction, initial<br>inspection, and initial testing is not applicable to pipeline facilities in existence on the<br>date such rule is adopted.Such rules may not be more stringent than thecorresponding federal regulations applicable to interstate pipelines and related<br>facilities.2.If the commission determines that a pipeline facility is hazardous to life or property, it<br>may issue an order requiring the operator of the facility to take corrective action.Page No. 1The commission may issue such an order without notice and opportunity for hearing<br>if the commission determines that to do otherwise would result in the likelihood of<br>serious harm to life or property. The commission shall include in such an order an<br>opportunity for hearing as soon as practicable after issuance of the order.49-02-02. Powers of public service commission with reference to public utilities.The commission shall have power to:1.Investigate all methods and practices of public utilities or other persons, subject to<br>the provisions of this title.2.Require public utilities or other persons to conform to the laws of this state and to all<br>rules, regulations, and orders of the commission not contrary to law.3.Require copies of reports, rates, classifications, schedules, and timetables in effect<br>and used by such utilities or other persons and all other information desired by the<br>commission relating to such investigations and requirements to be filed with the<br>commission.4.Compel obedience to its lawful orders by proceedings of mandamus or injunction or<br>other proper proceedings, in the name of the state, in any court having jurisdiction of<br>the parties or of the subject matter.5.Hold hearings on good cause being shown therefor or on its own motion, and to<br>provide notice thereof and to shorten the period for which notice must be given prior<br>to hearing, when good cause exists for such action. Such notice, however, must be<br>reasonable in view of the nature, scope, and importance of the hearing. Whenever it<br>appears to the satisfaction of the commission that all of the interested parties have<br>agreed concerning the matter at hand, or that no interested party has asked for a<br>hearing, the commission may issue its order without a hearing.6.Employ, and fix the compensation of, rate experts, engineers, auditors, attorneys,<br>and all other expert help and assistance for hearings or investigations on<br>applications filed by gas or electric public utilities. The expense of any hearings or<br>investigations and the actual expenses of any employees of the commission while<br>engaged upon any hearing or investigation must be deducted from the application<br>fee paid by the public utility involved. The commission shall ascertain the costs and<br>expenditures. The application fees received by the commission under chapter 49-05<br>must be deposited in a special account within the public service commission. All<br>moneys deposited in the account are appropriated on a continuing basis to the<br>commission to pay expenses incurred in the processing of cases in which<br>application fees are required.The commission shall refund the portion of a feecollected under chapter 49-05 which exceeds the expenses incurred for processing<br>the case for which the fee was paid.7.Cooperate with and receive technical and financial assistance from the United<br>States, any state, or any department, agency, or officer thereof for any purposes<br>relating to federal energy laws that deal with energy conservation, coal conversion,<br>rate reform, and utilities subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.Thecommission shall also have the authority to file any reports, hold hearings, and<br>promulgate regulations for any such purposes.Information received by thecommission which was developed or obtained by the market monitor of the midwest<br>independent system operator, incorporated, or its successor, is exempt from section<br>44-04-18 and section 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota.8.Cooperate with and receive technical and financial assistance from the United<br>States, any state, or any department, agency, or officer thereof, and to file such<br>reports and promulgate rules as required by federal law or regulation for anyPage No. 2purposes relating to the regulation of safety standards for pipeline facilities and the<br>transportation associated with those pipeline facilities.49-02-03. Power of public service commission to establish rates. The commissionshall supervise the rates of all public utilities. It shall have the power, after notice and hearing, to<br>originate, establish, modify, adjust, promulgate, and enforce tariffs, rates, joint rates, and charges<br>of all public utilities. Whenever the commission, after hearing, shall find any existing rates, tariffs,<br>joint rates, or schedules unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in<br>violation of any of the provisions of this title, the commission by order shall fix reasonable rates,<br>joint rates, charges, or schedules to be followed in the future in lieu of those found to be unjust,<br>unreasonable, insufficient, unjustly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of any provision of<br>law.49-02-03.1. Power to fix special rates - Public service commission. Repealed byS.L. 1963, ch. 322, <!-- END .shortcode-content -->
</div>
</div>
<!-- END .main-content-left -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .main-content-right -->
<div class="main-content-right">
<!-- BEGIN .main-nosplit -->
<div class="main-nosplit">
<!--<div class="widget-0 first panel">
<h3>Advertising</h3>
<script type="text/javascript">
/*
var rkbspt = document.createElement('script');
rkbspt.type = 'text/javascript';
rkbspt.src = 'https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/getads.js';
var rkbscpt = document.querySelector('.widget-0.panel').appendChild(rkbspt);
rkbscpt.onload = function(){
aax_getad_mpb({
"slot_uuid":"557c365d-8984-4710-a63b-62d1baabc10e"
});
};
*/
</script>
<script id="mNCC" language="javascript">
medianet_width = "336";
medianet_height = "280";
medianet_crid = "436333511";
medianet_versionId = "3111299";
</script>
<script src="//contextual.media.net/nmedianet.js?cid=8CUC4DD64"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var e9 = new Object();
e9.size = "300x250";
e9.noAd = 1;
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//tags.expo9.exponential.com/tags/Lawscom/BTF/tags.js"></script>
</div>-->
<div class="widget_text widget-1 first panel"><div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
e9 = new Object();
e9.size = "300x250,300x600";
e9.noAd = 1;
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//tags.expo9.exponential.com/tags/Lawscom/ROS/tags.js"></script></div></div><div class="widget-2 panel"><div class="menu-top-menu-container"><ul id="menu-top-menu-1" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-154" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-154 custom-class-1"><a href="https://www.laws.com/">Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-155" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-155 custom-class-2"><a href="https://lawyer.laws.com/">Lawyers</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-156" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-156 custom-class-3"><a href="https://find.laws.com/">Find Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-157" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-157 custom-class-4"><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/">Legal Forms</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-158" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-158 custom-class-5"><a href="https://state-laws.laws.com/">State Laws</a></li>
</ul></div></div><div class="widget_text widget-3 panel"><div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
e9 = new Object();
e9.size = "300x250,300x600";
e9.noAd = 1;
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//tags.expo9.exponential.com/tags/Lawscom/ROS/tags.js"></script></div></div><div class="widget_text widget-4 last panel"><div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
e9 = new Object();
e9.size = "300x250,300x600";
e9.noAd = 1;
//--></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//tags.expo9.exponential.com/tags/Lawscom/ROS/tags.js"></script></div></div>
<!-- END .main-nosplit -->
</div>
<!-- END .main-content-right -->
</div>
<div class="clear-float"></div>
<!-- END .wrapper -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .content -->
</div>
<!-- BEGIN .footer -->
<div class="footer">
<!-- BEGIN .wrapper -->
<div class="wrapper">
<div class="banner-block">
<!-- <a href="http://www.orange-themes.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/images/banner-468x60.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a>-->
</div>
<!-- Disable breaking news slider - Peter - 7 Apr 2015 -->
<!-- BEGIN .footer-content -->
<div class="footer-content">
<div class="footer-menu">
<ul class="load-responsive" rel="Footer Menu"><li id="menu-item-148" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-148 custom-class-1"><a href="https://www.laws.com/">Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-149" class="menu_red menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-149 custom-class-2"><a href="https://lawyer.laws.com/">Lawyers</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-150" class="menu_green menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-150 custom-class-3"><a href="https://find.laws.com/">Find Laws</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-152" class="menu_boldred menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-152 custom-class-4"><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/">Legal Forms</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-151" class="menu_blue menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-151 custom-class-5"><a href="https://state-laws.laws.com/">State Laws</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="left">
<ul>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/alabama-forms">Alabama Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/alaska-forms">Alaska Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/arizona-forms">Arizona Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/arkansas-forms">Arkansas Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/california-forms">California Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/colorado-forms">Colorado Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/connecticut-forms">Connecticut Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/district-of-columbia-forms">District Of Columbia Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/delaware-forms">Delaware Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/florida-forms">Florida Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/georgia-forms">Georgia Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/idaho-forms">Idaho Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/hawaii-forms">Hawaii Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/illinois-forms">Illinois Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/indiana-forms">Indiana Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/iowa-forms">Iowa Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/kansas-forms">Kansas Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/kentucky-forms">Kentucky Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/louisiana-forms">Louisiana Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/maine-forms">Maine Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/maryland-forms">Maryland Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/massachusetts-forms">Massachusetts Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/michigan-forms">Michigan Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/minnesota-forms">Minnesota Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/mississippi-forms">Mississippi Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/missouri-forms">Missouri Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/montana-forms">Montana Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/nebraska-forms">Nebraska Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/nevada-forms">Nevada Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/new-hampshire-forms">New Hampshire Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/new-jersey-forms">New Jersey Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/new-mexico-forms">New Mexico Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/new-york-forms">New York Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/north-carolina-forms">North Carolina Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/north-dakota-forms">North Dakota Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/ohio-forms">Ohio Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/oklahoma-forms">Oklahoma Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/oregon-forms">Oregon Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/pennsylvania-forms">Pennsylvania Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/rhode-island-forms">Rhode Island Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/south-carolina-forms">South Carolina Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/south-dakota-forms">South Dakota Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/tennessee-forms">Tennessee Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/texas-forms">Texas Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/utah-forms">Utah Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/vermont-forms">Vermont Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/virginia-forms">Virginia Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/washington-forms">Washington Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/west-virginia-forms">West Virginia Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/wisconsin-forms">Wisconsin Forms</a></li>
<li><a href="https://legal-forms.laws.com/wyoming-forms">Wyoming Forms</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/alabama">Alabama Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/alaska">Alaska Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/arizona">Arizona Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/arkansas">Arkansas Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/california">California Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/connecticut">Connecticut Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/delaware">Delaware Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/district-of-columbia">District of Columbia Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/florida">Florida Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/georgia">Georgia Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/hawaii">Hawaii Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/idaho">Idaho Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/illinois">Illinois Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/indiana">Indiana Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/iowa">Iowa Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/kansas">Kansas Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/kentucky">Kentucky Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/louisiana">Louisiana Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/maine">Maine Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/maryland">Maryland Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/massachusetts">Massachusetts Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/michigan">Michigan Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/minnesota">Minnesota Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/mississippi">Mississippi Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/missouri">Missouri Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/montana">Montana Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/nebraska">Nebraska Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/nevada">Nevada Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/new-hampshire">New Hampshire Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/new-jersey">New Jersey Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/new-mexico">New Mexico Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/new-york">New York Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/north-carolina">North Carolina Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota">North Dakota Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/ohio">Ohio Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/oklahoma">Oklahoma Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/oregon">Oregon Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/pennsylvania">Pennsylvania Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/rhode-island">Rhode Island Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/south-carolina">South Carolina Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/south-dakota">South Dakota Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/tennessee">Tennessee Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/texas">Texas Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/utah">Utah Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/vermont">Vermont Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/washington">Washington Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/west-virginia">West Virginia Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/wisconsin">Wisconsin Codes & Statutes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://statutes.laws.com/wyoming">Wyoming Codes & Statutes</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</center><br>
<div class="footer-menu">
<ul class="load-responsive" rel="Footer Menu"><li id="menu-item-34164" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34164"><a href="https://www.laws.com/category/about">Contact Us</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-34165" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34165"><a href="https://marketing.laws.com">Lawyer Marketing</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-34166" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34166"><a href="https://advertising.laws.com/">Advertise on Laws.com</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-34167" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34167"><a href="https://www.laws.com/category/AboutUs">About Us</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-34168" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34168"><a href="https://www.laws.com/category/TermsOfUse">Terms of Use</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-34169" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34169"><a href="https://www.laws.com/category/PrivacyPolicy">Privacy Policy</a></li>
<li id="menu-item-34170" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-34170"><a href="https://www.laws.com/category/AdvertisingPolicy">Advertising Policy</a></li>
</ul> </div>
<strong>Disclaimer</strong> <br>There is no confidential attorney-client relationship formed by using Laws.com website and information provided on this site is not legal advice. For legal advice, please contact your attorney. Attorneys listed on this website are not referred or endorsed by this website. By using Laws.com you agree to Laws.com Terms Of Use.<br>
Copyright © 2017 Laws.com | All rights reserved
</div>
<!--<div class="right">Designed by <a href="https://laws.com" target="_blank">Laws.com</a></div>-->
<div class="clear-float"></div>
<!-- END .footer-content -->
</div>
<!-- END .wrapper -->
</div>
<!-- END .footer -->
</div>
<!-- END .boxed -->
</div>
<div class="lightbox">
<div class="lightcontent-loading">
<h2 class="light-title">Loading..</h2>
<a href="#" onclick="javascript:lightboxclose();" class="light-close"><i class="fa fa-times"></i>Close Window</a>
<div class="loading-box">
<h3>Loading, Please Wait!</h3>
<span>This may take a second or two.</span>
<span class="loading-image"><img src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/images/loading.gif" title="" alt="" /></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="lightcontent"></div>
</div>
<script>
window.RS_MODULES = window.RS_MODULES || {};
window.RS_MODULES.modules = window.RS_MODULES.modules || {};
window.RS_MODULES.waiting = window.RS_MODULES.waiting || [];
window.RS_MODULES.defered = true;
window.RS_MODULES.moduleWaiting = window.RS_MODULES.moduleWaiting || {};
window.RS_MODULES.type = 'compiled';
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var relevanssi_rt_regex = /(&|\?)_(rt|rt_nonce)=(\w+)/g
var newUrl = window.location.search.replace(relevanssi_rt_regex, '')
history.replaceState(null, null, window.location.pathname + newUrl + window.location.hash)
</script>
<link rel='stylesheet' id='rs-plugin-settings-css' href='https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/public/assets/css/rs6.css?ver=6.6.11' type='text/css' media='all' />
<style id='rs-plugin-settings-inline-css' type='text/css'>
#rs-demo-id {}
</style>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/swv/js/index.js?ver=5.9.3" id="swv-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" id="contact-form-7-js-extra">
/* <![CDATA[ */
var wpcf7 = {"api":{"root":"https:\/\/statutes.laws.com\/wp-json\/","namespace":"contact-form-7\/v1"},"cached":"1"};
/* ]]]]><![CDATA[> */
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/js/index.js?ver=5.9.3" id="contact-form-7-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" id="wpil-frontend-script-js-extra">
/* <![CDATA[ */
var wpilFrontend = {"ajaxUrl":"\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","postId":"19","postType":"post","openInternalInNewTab":"1","openExternalInNewTab":"1","disableClicks":"0","openLinksWithJS":"0","trackAllElementClicks":"0","clicksI18n":{"imageNoText":"Image in link: No Text","imageText":"Image Title: ","noText":"No Anchor Text Found"}};
/* ]]]]><![CDATA[> */
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/link-whisper-premium/js/frontend.min.js?ver=1708797351" id="wpil-frontend-script-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/public/assets/js/rbtools.min.js?ver=6.6.11" defer async id="tp-tools-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/public/assets/js/rs6.min.js?ver=6.6.11" defer async id="revmin-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/effect.min.js?ver=1.13.2" id="jquery-effects-core-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/effect-slide.min.js?ver=1.13.2" id="jquery-effects-slide-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/admin/jquery.c00kie.js?ver=1.0" id="cookies-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/jquery.floating_popup.1.3.min.js?ver=1.0" id="banner-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/theme-scripts.js?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7" id="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/-scripts-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/jquery.event.move.js?ver=1.3.1" id="move-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/jquery.event.swipe.js?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7" id="swipe-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/js_composer/assets/lib/bower/isotope/dist/isotope.pkgd.min.js?ver=7.5" id="isotope-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/js/imagesloaded.min.js?ver=5.0.0" id="imagesloaded-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-includes/js/masonry.min.js?ver=4.2.2" id="masonry-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/jquery.infinitescroll.min.js?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7" id="infinitescroll-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/lightbox.js?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7" id="lightbox-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/iscroll.js?ver=a5641cd4dc387370aaa12d48da898bd7" id="iscroll-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/ot_gallery.js?ver=1.0" id="ot-gallery-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/scripts.js?ver=1.0" id="ot-scripts-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/themes/legatus/js/legatus.js?ver=1.0.0" id="scripts-wp-js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" id="toc-front-js-extra">
/* <![CDATA[ */
var tocplus = {"visibility_show":"show","visibility_hide":"hide","width":"Auto"};
var tocplus = {"visibility_show":"show","visibility_hide":"hide","width":"Auto"};
var tocplus = {"visibility_show":"show","visibility_hide":"hide","width":"Auto"};
/* ]]]]><![CDATA[> */
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://statutes.laws.com/wp-content/plugins/table-of-contents-plus/front.min.js?ver=2309" id="toc-front-js"></script>
<script></script>
<!-- END body -->
</body>
<!-- END html -->
</html>]]>