| Chapter 061 |
| 2021 -- H 5830 Enacted 06/25/2021 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- OFFENSES PERTAINING TO SCHOOLS [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 - THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT] |
Introduced By: Representative Patricia A. Serpa |
| Date Introduced: February 24, 2021 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 16-38 of the General Laws entitled "Offenses Pertaining to Schools |
| [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding |
| thereto the following section: |
| 16-38-14. Use of school district listservs. |
| (a) Each school district shall adopt a policy governing the use of any listserv to distribute |
| information to the parents or guardians of the students enrolled in the school district. |
| (b) It shall be unlawful for any person or institution, educational or otherwise, to knowingly |
| circulate, or permit to be circulated, on any such listserv information: |
| (1) Related to any activity directed at the success or failure of a political party or candidate |
| for federal, state, or municipal office; or |
| (2) Promoting the solicitation or receipt of political contributions, including invitations to |
| fundraising events, for any such political party or candidate; provided, however, this section shall |
| not prohibit the distribution of information about a candidate public forum that is open on an equal |
| basis to all candidates for that office. |
| (c) Any person or institution that is found guilty of a violation of this section shall be |
| punished by a civil fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00). |
| (d) For purposes of this section, "listserv" means a computer software application that |
| allows a sender to send one email to a list, and then transparently send it on to the addresses of all |
| subscribers to the list. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001403 |
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