Bill > S0945

This bill establishes the Rhode Island Bid Rigging Act, which aims to prevent and penalize unfair practices in competitive bidding for government contracts. The legislation defines bid rigging as a concerted effort by two or more parties to predetermine the winner of a competitive bid, including actions like price fixing, submitting identical bids, rotating bids, sharing profits, or dividing territories to restrict competition. The bill makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly conspire to rig bids for government contracts or subcontracts, and it prohibits government officials from improperly influencing the bidding process by sharing non-public information or deliberately steering contracts to specific bidders. Violations are considered a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million or three times the value of the bid, whichever is greater. The attorney general is empowered to take legal action to prevent and restrain such violations, and offenders may face debarment from state contracting for up to five years. The bill also includes provisions for civil investigative demands and a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest remains in effect, ultimately promoting fairness and competition in government procurement processes.

Justice

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