2014 -- H 7615

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LC004626

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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 CRIMINAL OFFENSES-FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING

     

     Introduced By: Representative Spencer E.Dickinson

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-18 of the General Laws entitled "Fraud and False Dealing" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     11-18-1.4. False statement to any member of the general assembly. -- (a) No person

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shall knowingly give to any member of the general assembly, while acting in their official

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capacity, any statement which is false or erroneous, or defective in any important particular, and

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which, to his or her knowledge, is intended to mislead the member of the general assembly while

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acting in their official capacity.

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     (b) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty

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of a felony, and upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding five (5) years or be

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fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000).

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     (c) The attorney general shall investigate a violation under this section. If the attorney

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general finds that a person has violated or is violating this section the attorney general may bring

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a civil action against the person.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC004626

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES-FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING

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     This act would make it a felony criminal offense to knowingly give to any member of the

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general assembly, acting in their official capacity, any statement which is false or erroneous, or

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defective, and is intended to mislead the member of the general assembly while acting in their

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official capacity. It would also create a civil cause of action by the Attorney General.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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