Bill > H5707

This bill amends Rhode Island's public records law to exempt the city or town of residence for justices, judges, and magistrates of the unified judicial system from public disclosure. Specifically, the bill modifies an existing section of the state's access to public records statute that previously allowed the city or town of residence to be disclosed for certain public employees. The change is intended to protect the privacy and potentially the safety of judicial system personnel by preventing their exact place of residence from being easily accessible to the public. The term "unified judicial system" refers to the state's court system, and this exemption would apply to all levels of judges, from trial court judges to appellate court justices. The bill is straightforward, with a single substantive section making this change and a second section specifying that the law takes effect immediately upon its passage.