Bill > S2607

This bill, known as the Rhode Island Civil Rights Enforcement Act, establishes a new legal pathway for individuals to seek redress when their rights, as guaranteed by the Rhode Island or U.S. Constitutions and laws, are violated by state government entities or their subdivisions. It defines an "aggrieved party" as any resident or individual within Rhode Island whose rights have been deprived and a "governmental entity" broadly to include the State of Rhode Island, its municipalities, quasi-state entities, other U.S. states, the U.S. federal government, and even foreign nations. The act allows aggrieved individuals to sue governmental entities directly for harm caused by violations, even if the individuals who committed the violation have immunity, as sovereign immunity for the state and its subdivisions is expressly waived in these cases. While individuals can seek various remedies including damages, the state and its subdivisions are generally limited to $500,000 in compensatory damages and are not liable for punitive damages, though exceptions exist for intentional, willful, malicious, or reckless conduct, and these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation. The Attorney General is also empowered to bring civil actions to enforce these rights.

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