<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<p class="x_x_x_x_x_x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">
<span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black">The Department has terminated the proposed "direct final" filing of revisions to the OWTS rules prior to the 11/19/20 effective date. As specified in the Administrative Procedures Act, the direct final filing
process does not provide any mechanism for formally receiving comments or incorporating any additional changes to the rule language after public notice has been issued.</span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black"><span class="x_x_x_Apple-converted-space" style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="x_x_x_x_x_x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">
<span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black"> </span></p>
<p class="x_x_x_x_x_x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">
<span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black">During the Public Notice Period, the DEM received comments from stakeholders that require further analysis to ensure the rule language is consistent with the amended RIGL language (</span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black"><span style="margin: 0px; background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">R.I.
Gen. Laws § 5-56.1-4(b))</span></span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black">. In the interest of making sure the proposed rule language is consistent with the revised RIGL statute, the decision was made to terminate the filing. The Department
will redraft the rule language and go out to public notice again in the near future.</span></p>
<p class="x_x_x_x_x_x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">
<br>
</p>
<div class="x_x_x_x_x_x_MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0in 0.00013333333481568843px;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;font-size:11pt;caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">
<span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Note the existing OWTS Rules are still in effect until amended. P.E.s</span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:yellow"><span class="x_x_x_Apple-converted-space" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">will
not need to take the exam for new licensing or meet the CEU requirements for re-licensing. Existing licenses will be administratively extended until the Rule changes effecting</span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:yellow"><span class="x_x_x_Apple-converted-space" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Class
III </span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">re-licensing are addressed.</span><span style="margin:0px;font-size:12pt;color:black;background-color:yellow"><span class="x_x_x_Apple-converted-space" style="margin: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div id="Signature"><br>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>