Establishes a bureau of public protection within the department of attorney general.
Impact
The establishment of the Bureau of Public Protection is expected to strengthen the existing legal framework regarding the management and enforcement of laws pertaining to consumer rights, health care access, and environmental protections. By allowing the Attorney General to investigate and act against businesses or government entities engaging in repeated illegal acts, the bill creates a system that empowers the state to protect its citizens actively. It potentially broadens the scope of enforcement actions that can be taken to ensure compliance with existing laws and regulations.
Summary
Bill S0956 establishes a Bureau of Public Protection within the Department of Attorney General in Rhode Island. This bureau will focus on multiple key areas including consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, health care regulation, environmental regulation, and civil rights protection. The Attorney General is tasked with overseeing the bureau and appointing necessary personnel to fulfill its mandate. This initiative aims to enhance public safety and oversight in relation to governmental and business activities that may involve persistent illegality.
Contention
Points of contention may arise regarding the extent of authority granted to the Bureau and the Attorney General, particularly concerning the interpretation of 'persistent illegality' and 'repeated illegal acts.' Concerns may also be raised about the resources needed to support this bureau's operations and whether the increased oversight could be perceived as governmental overreach by businesses. Additionally, the delineation of enforcement responsibilities between this new bureau and existing regulatory bodies could lead to debates about jurisdiction and effectiveness.
Allows the attorney general to investigate and bring an enforcement action against persistent fraud or illegality in the carrying on, conducting, or transaction of business or governmental activity.
Allows the attorney general to investigate and bring an enforcement action against persistent fraud or illegality in the carrying on, conducting, or transaction of business or governmental activity.
Establishes an agricultural restricted receipt account within the department of environmental management. An advisory committee would be established to determine suggested uses of the funds in said account.
Requires grocery stores to specifically limit the number of self-service checkout units to six (6) units per location. The consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general would have authority to enforce these restrictions.
Requires grocery stores to specifically limit the number of self-service checkout units to six (6) units per location. The consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general would have authority to enforce these restrictions.
Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.
Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.
Establishes office of inspector general which would be charged with preventing fraud and mismanagement of public funds, regardless of their source and would oversee all state programs and operations.