Bill > H7497

This bill amends Rhode Island's "Fair Employment Practices" law to establish a definition of antisemitism for state agencies to use when investigating potential discrimination. "Antisemitism" is defined by referencing the working definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which includes contemporary examples, and has also been incorporated by Presidential Executive Order. This definition will be considered by government entities, including state agencies and political subdivisions, when reviewing, investigating, or determining if discriminatory acts, including those based on race, religion, and ancestral origin, have occurred. The bill also mandates that courts and other authorities apply the same legal standards to claims of discrimination due to antisemitism as they do for other civil rights claims, and it will serve as an educational tool for state personnel in anti-bias training. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not diminish First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal or state anti-discrimination laws.

Government Affairs

https://status.rilegislature.gov/