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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | 2025 -- H 6166 |
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| 6 | 6 | | ======== |
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| 7 | 7 | | LC002649 |
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| 8 | 8 | | ======== |
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| 9 | 9 | | S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D |
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| 10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 |
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| 12 | 12 | | ____________ |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
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| 15 | 15 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- CODE OF ETHICS |
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| 16 | 16 | | Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, and Ajello |
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| 17 | 17 | | Date Introduced: April 02, 2025 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Referred To: House State Government & Elections |
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| 19 | 19 | | |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 36-14 of the General Laws entitled "Code of Ethics" is hereby 1 |
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| 23 | 23 | | amended by adding thereto the following section: 2 |
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| 24 | 24 | | 36-14-22. Prohibiting sexual harassment. 3 |
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| 25 | 25 | | (a) Sexual harassment is prohibited. For purposes of this section, "sexual harassment" 4 |
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| 26 | 26 | | means any sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical 5 |
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| 27 | 27 | | contact of a sexual nature, that a reasonable person would find inappropriate. 6 |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) This section applies to all of the following individuals, while they are actively engaged 7 |
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| 29 | 29 | | in activities that involve legislative business: 8 |
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| 30 | 30 | | (1) Senators and representatives; 9 |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) Regular, full-time, part-time, temporary or contractual employees of the general 10 |
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| 32 | 32 | | assembly; 11 |
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| 33 | 33 | | (3) Volunteers, interns, and pages; and 12 |
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| 34 | 34 | | (4) Lobbyists. 13 |
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| 35 | 35 | | (c) Complaints under this section, shall be made to the Rhode Island ethics commission 14 |
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| 36 | 36 | | established pursuant to the provisions of § 36-14-8, and will be investigated, in accordance with 15 |
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| 37 | 37 | | the provisions of § 36-14-12. To the extent practicable, the investigation shall respect the privacy 16 |
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| 38 | 38 | | of all individuals involved. 17 |
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| 39 | 39 | | (d) If the investigation supports a finding of a violation of the provisions of this section, 18 |
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| 40 | 40 | | the ethics commission shall order prompt and effective remedial action including, but not limited 19 |
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| 41 | 41 | | |
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| 42 | 42 | | |
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| 43 | 43 | | LC002649 - Page 2 of 3 |
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| 44 | 44 | | to, a warning, reprimand, withholding of a promotion or pay increase, reassignment, temporary 1 |
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| 45 | 45 | | suspension without pay, termination or other appropriate punishment the commission deems 2 |
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| 46 | 46 | | appropriate. 3 |
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| 47 | 47 | | (e) Each individual covered by this section shall complete an annual education and training 4 |
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| 48 | 48 | | program on sexual harassment, consistent with the aims and purposes of this section. Program 5 |
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| 49 | 49 | | completion records shall be maintained by the Rhode Island ethics commission and be made 6 |
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| 50 | 50 | | available to the public. Failure to comply, shall result in disciplinary action including, but not 7 |
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| 51 | 51 | | limited to, any penalty available under subsection (d) of this section. 8 |
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| 52 | 52 | | (f) On or before December 1, 2026, the Rhode Island ethics commission shall issue rules 9 |
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| 53 | 53 | | effectuating this section. 10 |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 11 |
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| 55 | 55 | | ======== |
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| 56 | 56 | | LC002649 |
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| 57 | 57 | | ======== |
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| 58 | 58 | | |
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| 59 | 59 | | |
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| 60 | 60 | | LC002649 - Page 3 of 3 |
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| 61 | 61 | | EXPLANATION |
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| 62 | 62 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
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| 63 | 63 | | OF |
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| 64 | 64 | | A N A C T |
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| 65 | 65 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- CODE OF ETHICS |
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| 66 | 66 | | *** |
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| 67 | 67 | | This act would create a new law to address the issue of "sexual harassment" involving those 1 |
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| 68 | 68 | | individuals that are actively involved in legislative business. 2 |
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| 69 | 69 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 3 |
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| 70 | 70 | | ======== |
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| 71 | 71 | | LC002649 |
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| 72 | 72 | | ======== |
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