2019 -- H 5176

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LC000880

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES' -- "THE FEDERAL

FURLOUGHED EMPLOYEES PROTECTION ACT"

     Introduced By: Representatives Amore, Tobon, Blazejewski, Alzate, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2019

     Referred To: House Special Legislation

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 36 of the General Laws entitled "PUBLIC OFFICERS AND

EMPLOYEES" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 17

THE FEDERAL FURLOUGHED EMPLOYEES' PROTECTION ACT

     36-17-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Federal Furloughed Employees'

Protection Act."

     36-17-2. Application.

     During periods when the federal government ceases the operation of government

functions, in whole or in part, as a result of the United States Congress failing to pass adequate

appropriations bills or continuing resolutions to fund federal government operations and agencies

or as a result of the President of the United States failing to sign into law an appropriations bill or

resolution, the state residents employed by the federal government, during periods when the

federal government ceases operation, not receiving their usual and customary employment pay,

shall be afforded all protections and rights provided in this chapter.

     36-17-3. Furloughed employees' protection.

     All furloughed federal employees as provided in § 36-17-2 shall be entitled to the rights,

protections, privileges and immunities specified to include, but not limited to:

     (1) Suspension of the obligation to make payments under credit contract to include credit

card accounts;

     (2) Suspension of the obligation to make payments on a lease for an apartment or

residence which constitutes the primary residence of the furloughed employee;

     (3) Suspension of any obligation to make payments on residential loans for the

furloughed employee's primary residence;

     (4) Suspension of the obligation to make payments under installment contracts including,

but not limited to, motor vehicles and insurance premiums;

     (5) A stay or postponement of all civil proceedings in district or superior court.

     36-17-4. Municipal tax relief.

     During periods when the federal government ceases the operation of governmental

functions, in whole or in part, the city or town council may, by ordinance, provide relief from the

payment of any tax due or payable to the city or town previously or hereafter assessed upon real

estate or tangible property, to any resident of this state employed by the federal government.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES' -- "THE FEDERAL

FURLOUGHED EMPLOYEES PROTECTION ACT"

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     This act would provide protections to residents of this state furloughed by the federal

government relating to civil proceedings, credit card transactions, payments relating to

mortgages, leases and installment contracts.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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