2014 -- H 7450

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LC003806

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - LABOR RELATIONS AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Almeida, and Carnevale

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-5-7.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-5 entitled "Fair

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Employment Practices" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-5-7.3. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor. -- An unlawful

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employment practice may be established in an action or proceeding under this chapter when the

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complainant demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or

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expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin, or any activity protected by § 28.5-5-

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7(5) was a motivating factor for any employment practice, even though the practice was also

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motivated by other factors. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as requiring direct

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evidence of unlawful intent or as limiting the methods of proof of unlawful employment practices

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under section 28-5-7.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 11-24 of the General Laws entitled "Hotels And Public Places" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     11-24-2.4. Interference, coercion, or intimidation. -- It shall be unlawful to coerce,

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intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of

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his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged

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any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this chapter.

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No person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent, or employee of

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any place of public accommodation, resort, or amusement shall discriminate in any manner

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against any individual because he or she has opposed any practice forbidden by this chapter, or

 

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because he or she has made a charge, testified, or assisted in any manner in any investigation,

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proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.

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     11-24-2.5. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor. -- An unlawful

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practice may be established in an action or proceeding under this chapter when the complainant

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demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,

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disability, age or country of ancestral origin, or any activity protected by § 11-24-2.4, was a

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motivating factor for any public accommodations practice, even though the practice was also

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motivated by other factors. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as requiring direct

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evidence of unlawful intent or as limiting the methods of proof of unlawful practices under this

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chapter.

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     SECTION 3. Chapter 23-6.3 of the General Laws entitled "Prevention and Suppression

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of Contagious Diseases - HIV/AIDS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

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sections:

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     23-6.3-11.1. Interference, coercion, or intimidation. -- It shall be unlawful to coerce,

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intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of

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his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged

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any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this section or

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§§ 23-6.3-11 or 23-6.3-12 of this chapter. No person or entity shall discriminate in any manner

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against any individual because he or she has opposed any practice forbidden by this section or §

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23-6.3-11, or because he or she has made a charge, testified, or assisted in any manner in any

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investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this section or §§ 23-6.3-11 or 23-6.3-12.

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     23-6.3-11.2. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor. -- An

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unlawful practice may be established in an action or proceeding under §§ 23-6.3-11, 23-6.3-11.1

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or 23-6.3-12 when the complainant demonstrates that a positive HIV test result, or perception of a

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positive test or any activity protected by § 23-6.3-11.1, was a motivating factor for any practice,

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even though the practice was also motivated by other factors. Nothing contained in this section

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shall be construed as requiring direct evidence of unlawful intent or as limiting the methods of

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proof of unlawful practices under §§ 23-6.3-11, 23-6.3-11.1 or 23-6.3-12.

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     SECTION 4. Chapter 34-37 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Fair Housing

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Practices Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     34-37-5.5. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor. -- An unlawful

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practice may be established in an action or proceeding under this chapter when the complainant

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demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex. sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,

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disability, age, country of ancestral origin, familial status, marital status, status as a victim of

 

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domestic abuse, housing status, or any activity protected by § 34-37-5.1, was a motivating factor

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for any housing or credit practice, even though the practice was also motivated by other factors.

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Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as requiring direct evidence of unlawful

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intent or as limiting the methods of proof of unlawful practices under this chapter.

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     SECTION 5. Chapter 40-9.1 of the General Laws entitled "Equal Rights of Blind and

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Deaf Persons to Public Facilities" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     40-9.1-7. Interference, coercion, or intimidation. -- It shall be unlawful to coerce,

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intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of

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his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged

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any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this chapter.

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No person or entity shall discriminate in any manner against any individual because he or she has

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opposed any practice forbidden by this chapter, or because he or she has made a charge, testified,

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or assisted in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.

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     40-9.1-8. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor. -- An unlawful

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practice may be established in an action or proceeding under this chapter when the complainant

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demonstrates that disability or any activity protected by this chapter, was a motivating factor for

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any practice, even though the practice was also motivated by other factors. Nothing contained in

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this section shall be construed as requiring direct evidence of unlawful intent or as limiting the

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methods of proof of unlawful practices under this chapter.

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     SECTION 6. Chapter 42-87 of the General Laws entitled "Civil Rights of People With

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Disabilities" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

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     42-87-3.1. Interference, coercion, or intimidation. -- It shall be unlawful to coerce,

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intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of

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his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged

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any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this chapter.

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No person or entity shall discriminate in any manner against any individual because he or she has

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opposed any practice forbidden by this chapter, or because he or she has made a charge, testified,

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or assisted in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter.

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     42-87-3.2. Discriminatory practice need not be sole motivating factor. -- An unlawful

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practice may be established in an action or proceeding under this chapter when the complainant

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demonstrates that disability, or any activity protected by § 42-87-3.1, was a motivating factor for

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any practice, even though the practice was also motivated by other factors. Nothing contained in

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this section shall be construed as requiring direct evidence of unlawful intent or as limiting the

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methods of proof of unlawful practices under this chapter.

 

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     SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - LABOR RELATIONS AND HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

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     This act would clarify that it is unlawful, under all the laws enforced by the Commission

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for Human Rights, to retaliate against individuals because they have filed charges of

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discrimination, testified or assisted in any investigation or hearing relating to discrimination or

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opposed unlawful discriminatory practices. The act would also ensure that the cases of those who

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allege retaliation are treated under the same standards as those alleging other forms of

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discrimination and would establish a uniform standard for all the laws enforced by the

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Commission for Human Rights.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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