2026 -- H 7290 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE

CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Spears, Carson, Donovan, Corvese, Morales,
Read, Kislak, Ajello, and Potter

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 61

RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT

     28-61-1. Short title.

     This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Restrictions on Self-Service Checkout

Stations Act”.

     28-61-2. Applicability.

     This act shall apply to all grocery stores in this state that offer shoppers the use of self-

service checkout stations.

     28-61-3. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases are defined as follows:

     (1) “Department” means the department of labor and training.

     (2) “Groceries” means

     (i) Any raw or processed food or beverage intended for human consumption except

alcoholic beverages and marijuana products; and

     (ii) Miscellaneous household maintenance items including, but not limited to, laundry

detergent and dishwashing soap, when sold by a retailer that also sells food and beverages.

     (3) “Grocery store” means a business that earns the majority of its gross income from the

retail sale of groceries.

     (4) “Manual checkout station” means a checkout station at which a human operator assists

shoppers by scanning, bagging, and accepting payment for purchases.

     (5) “Retail clerk” means an employee whose primary responsibility is assisting shoppers

with scanning, bagging, and receiving payment for purchases.

     (6) “Retail sale” means the sale of groceries to a shopper for personal use or consumption;

provided, such use is not for the purpose of resale.

     (7) “Self-service checkout” means an automated process that enables shoppers to scan, bag,

and pay for their purchases without human assistance.

     28-61-4. Restrictions on self-service checkout stations.

     (a) Grocery stores with self-service checkout stations shall have a minimum of one manual

checkout station in operation for every three (3) self-service checkout stations in operation;

provided further, there shall be a minimum of one manual checkout station in operation that is in

compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

     (b) An employee shall be relieved of all other duties when monitoring any self-service

checkout station including, but not limited to, operating a manual checkout station.

     (c) A grocery store shall be exempt from the required staffing ratio during off-peak hours.

"Off-peak hours" means the period before 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m., local time, on any calendar

day.

     (d) A grocery store shall be exempt from the required staffing ratio during a declared state

of emergency affecting the geographic area in which the establishment is located or when a severe

weather alert is in effect for the geographic area in which the establishment is located, provided

that:

     (1) Active warning. The exemption applies only during the period the severe weather alert

is in effect, as issued or extended by the National Weather Service or applicable state or local

emergency management authority; and

     (2) Employee safety. The establishment shall not require any employee to report to work

or remain at work in conditions the employee reasonably believes pose an imminent threat to their

personal safety due to the severe weather event.

     28-61-5. Rulemaking authority.

     The department shall have the primary authority to promulgate rules, regulations, and

penalties to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

     28-61-6. Violations.

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     (a) A first violation of the provisions of this chapter shall result in a written warning and

no other penalty shall be imposed for such first violation.

     (b) Fines for multiple violations made by the same grocery store at the same location shall

be equal to wages for one four (4) hour shift based on the highest wage for hourly retail clerks for

each day on which there is a violation; provided that, fines shall not exceed five hundred dollars

($500) per day.

     (c) Any employee may file a complaint with the department alleging a violation of this

chapter, free from fear of retaliation. Any employee of a grocery store who alleges retaliation by

their employer for submitting a complaint alleging violation(s) of this chapter may bring a cause of

action in superior court.

     (d) If a grocery store does not comply with the provisions of this chapter after thirty (30)

days of receiving notice of a violation of this chapter, such non-compliance shall be considered an

unlawful act punishable in accordance with §§ 6-13.1-2 and 6-13.1-5.

     (e) A consumer who alleges a violation of this chapter may file a complaint with the

department. Retaliation against a consumer who files a complaint alleging violation of this chapter

shall constitute an unlawful act punishable in accordance with §§ 6-13.1-2 and 6-13.1-5.

     28-61-7. Severability.

     If any part, section, or provision of this chapter is found unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid,

such a finding will affect only that part, section or provision of this chapter and the remaining parts,

sections, or provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE

CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT

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     This act would mandate a minimum ratio of manual checkout stations to self-service

checkout stations and limits the workload and additional duties an employer can assign to an

employee that monitors self-service checkout stations.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

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