2024 -- H 8240

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LC006029

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- PUBLIC BUILDINGS

     Introduced By: Representatives P. Morgan, Quattrocchi, Rea, Roberts, and J. Brien

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2024

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 37-8-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-8 entitled "Public

Buildings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     37-8-10. Hours State House open — Maintenance of good order.

     (a) The department of administration shall fix the hours for opening and closing the State

House, but the hours so fixed shall not prevent access by the public to the offices therein during the

time when it is provided by law that they shall be kept open. It shall be the duty of the department

to maintain good order in the State House and upon the grounds surrounding the State House. The

capitol police, the bureau of police and fire of the city of Providence, and the superintendent of

state police shall assign such number of officers for that purpose as the department may from time

to time request.

     (b) Definitions.

     As used in this section:

     (1) "Public gatherings" refer to organized assemblies or meetings where a group of

individuals come together in a public space to express their views, share information, protest,

celebrate, or engage in collective activities.

     (2) "Violence" means the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual,

against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high

likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment.

     (c) Members of the public have the right to speak outside on state house grounds, as long

as they are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes for

which the property was designed. All groups organizing public gatherings shall be respectful of

each groups’ right to utilize the grounds and shall not interfere, disrupt, intimidate or use violence

towards any other group simultaneously present and shall remain separate and apart from one

another for a distance of at least fifty feet (50').

     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 PROPERTY AND WORKS -- PUBLIC BUILDINGS

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     This act would provide that public gatherings on state house grounds be regulated to protect

the participants and their right to attend public gatherings. All groups organizing public gatherings

would be required to be respectful of each groups’ right to participate in the gathering and not

interfere, disrupt, intimidate or use violence towards each other. All groups would be required to

remain separate and apart for a distance of at least fifty feet (50').

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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