Bill > H5010

This resolution amends the House of Representatives rules to establish a new process for creating equity impact statements, which are documents designed to help legislators understand the potential effects of proposed legislation on various demographic groups. Specifically, the resolution allows both the Speaker and the Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American and Pacific Islander (RIBLIA) Caucus to request up to five equity impact statements per year on proposed public bills. These statements must examine potential impacts across categories such as race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, and ancestral origin. The Legislative Council, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice & Bias and other relevant institutions, will prepare these statements, which must include data on historical disparities, potential demographic and economic impacts, and be made publicly available at least one week before committee hearings or votes. The goal is to provide lawmakers with a more comprehensive understanding of how proposed legislation might affect different communities and potentially perpetuate or reduce existing inequities.

https://status.rilegislature.gov/