reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 28-5-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-18 - Complaint and notice of hearing.

§ 28-5-18. Complaint and notice of hearing.(a) If the commission fails to effect the elimination of the unlawful employment practices and to obtain voluntary compliance with this chapter, or, if the circumstances warrant, in advance of any preliminary investigation or endeavors, the commission shall have the power to issue and cause to be served on any person or respondent a complaint stating the charges in that respect and containing a notice of hearing before the commission, a member of the commission, or a hearing examiner at a place fixed in the complaint to be held not less than ten (10) days after the service of the complaint.(b) Any complaint issued pursuant to this section must be issued within two (2) years after a signed and notarized charge has been filed with the Commission pursuant to § 28-5-17.(c) No proceeding which was pending under this chapter on April 5, 1996 shall be subject to dismissal on the basis of the Commission's failure to issue a complaint within one year after the alleged unfair employment practice occurred or has been applied to affect adversely the person aggrieved, where that charge was filed with the Commission within one year after the alleged unfair employment practice occurred or has been applied to affect adversely the person aggrieved, whichever is later, and the respondent had agreed to extend or waive the one year period of limitations.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-18; P.L. 1991, ch. 135, § 2; P.L. 1991, ch. 343, § 2; P.L. 1996, ch. 159, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 362, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-5-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-19 - Amendment of complaint and answer - Participation by commissioner assigned to preliminary hearing.

§ 28-5-19. Amendment of complaint and answer — Participation by commissioner assigned to preliminary hearing.The commission, member of the commission, or hearing examiner conducting the hearing shall have the power to reasonably and fairly amend any written complaint at any time prior to the issuance of an order based on the complaint. The respondent shall have like power to amend its answer to the original or amended complaint at any time prior to the issuance of an order. The commissioner assigned to the preliminary hearing of any complaint shall take no part in the final hearing except as a witness upon competent matters and will have no part in the determination or decision of the case after hearing.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-19.
RI Gen L § 28-5-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-20 - Answer to complaint - Respondent's rights at hearing.

§ 28-5-20. Answer to complaint — Respondent's rights at hearing.The respondent shall have the right to file an answer to the complaint, and shall appear at the hearing in person, or otherwise, with or without counsel to present evidence and to examine and cross-examine witnesses.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-20.
RI Gen L § 28-5-20.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-20.1 - Proceedings before other state administrative agencies.

§ 28-5-20.1. Proceedings before other state administrative agencies.(a) The commission shall not be precluded from investigating, taking evidence, considering claims or issuing findings on matters which could have been presented to any other state administrative agency, but which were not actually presented and decided in a contested case as defined under the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.(b) To the extent the commission is bound by findings of fact and conclusions of law of another state administrative agency, the commission shall be entitled to grant any relief authorized under this chapter in accordance with those findings to the extent that this relief was not available to, or within the authority of, the other agency to provide.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 284, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-5-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-21 - Rules of evidence.

§ 28-5-21. Rules of evidence.In any proceeding pursuant to this chapter the commission, its member, or its agent shall not be bound by the rules of evidence prevailing in the courts.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-21.
RI Gen L § 28-5-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-22 - Evidence of predetermined pattern.

§ 28-5-22. Evidence of predetermined pattern.The commission shall, in ascertaining the practices followed by the respondent, take into account all evidence, statistical or otherwise, which may tend to prove the existence of a predetermined pattern of employment or membership. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or require any employer or labor organization to employ or admit applicants for employment or membership in the proportion to which their race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin bears to the total population or in accordance with any criterion other than the individual qualifications of the applicant.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-22; P.L. 1973, ch. 132, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 198, § 15; P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 4; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 4; P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 3.
RI Gen L § 28-5-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-23 - Testimony at hearing.

§ 28-5-23. Testimony at hearing.The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and shall be reduced to writing and filed with the commission. Subsequently, in its discretion, the commission upon notice may take further testimony or hear argument.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-23.
RI Gen L § 28-5-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-24 - Injunctive and other remedies - Compliance.

§ 28-5-24. Injunctive and other remedies — Compliance.(a) (1) If upon all the testimony taken the commission determines that the respondent has engaged in or is engaging in unlawful employment practices, the commission shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on the respondent an order requiring the respondent to cease and desist from the unlawful employment practices, and to take any further affirmative or other action that will effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, hiring, reinstatement, or upgrading of employees with or without back pay, or admission or restoration to union membership, including a requirement for reports of the manner of compliance. Back pay shall include the economic value of all benefits and raises to which an employee would have been entitled had an unfair employment practice not been committed, plus interest on those amounts.(2) Where an unlawful employment practice has been established under § 28-5-7.3, the commission need not award hiring, reinstatement or upgrading with back pay if the respondent establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that it would have taken the same action in the absence of any unlawful motivating factor.(3) In appropriate circumstances attorney's fees, including expert fees and other litigation expenses, may be granted to the attorney for the plaintiff if he or she prevails. Upon the submission of reports of compliance the commission, if satisfied with the reports, may issue its finding that the respondent has ceased to engage in unlawful employment practices.(b) If the commission finds that the respondent has engaged in intentional discrimination in violation of this chapter, the commission in addition may award compensatory damages. The complainant shall not be required to prove that he or she has suffered physical harm or physical manifestation of injury in order to be awarded compensatory damages. As used in this section, the term "compensatory damages" does not include back pay or interest on back pay, and the term "intentional discrimination in violation of this chapter" means any unlawful employment practice except one that is solely based on a demonstration of disparate impact.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-24; P.L. 1981, ch. 323, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 135, § 2; P.L. 1991, ch. 343, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 447, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-5-25 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-25 - Order dismissing complaint.

§ 28-5-25. Order dismissing complaint.If the commission finds that no probable cause exists for crediting the charges, or, if upon all the evidence, it finds that a respondent has not engaged in unfair employment practices, the commission shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on the complainant an order dismissing the complaint as to the respondent. A copy of the order shall be delivered in all cases to the attorney general and any other public officers that the commission deems proper.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-25.
RI Gen L § 28-5-26 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-26 - Modification of findings or orders.

§ 28-5-26. Modification of findings or orders.Until a transcript of the record in a case is filed in a court as provided in § 28-5-29, the commission may at any time, upon reasonable notice and in any manner that it deems proper, modify or set aside in whole or in part any of its findings or orders.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-26; P.L. 2004, ch. 6, § 55.
RI Gen L § 28-5-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-27 - Repealed.

§ 28-5-27. [Repealed.]History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 8; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-27; P.L. 1974, ch. 217, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 1992, ch. 276, § 1, effective July 21, 1992.
RI Gen L § 28-5-28 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-28 - Right to judicial review or enforcement.

§ 28-5-28. Right to judicial review or enforcement.Any complainant, intervener, or respondent claiming to be aggrieved by a final order of the commission may obtain judicial review of the order, and the commission or any party may obtain an order of court for enforcement of a final order as described in § 28-5-24, in a proceeding as provided in §§ 28-5-28 — 28-5-36. That proceeding shall be brought in the superior court of the state within any county in which the unlawful employment practices which are the subject of the commission's order were committed or in which any respondent, required in the order to cease and desist from unfair employment practices or to take other affirmative action, resides or transacts business.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-28; P.L. 1983, ch. 57, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 30, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-5-29 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-29 - Initiation of judicial proceedings - Powers of court.

§ 28-5-29. Initiation of judicial proceedings — Powers of court.Judicial proceeding shall be initiated by the filing of a petition in the superior court, together with a transcript of the record upon the hearing before the commission, and the service of a copy of the petition upon the commission and upon all parties who appeared before the commission. Upon the filing, the court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and of the questions determined in it, and shall have the power to grant any temporary relief or restraining order that it deems just and proper, and to make and enter upon the pleadings, testimony, and proceedings set forth in the transcript an order enforcing, modifying and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part the order of the commission.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-29; P.L. 1986, ch. 198, § 15.
RI Gen L § 28-5-29.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-29.1 - Punitive damages.

§ 28-5-29.1. Punitive damages.In addition to the remedies provided in § 28-5-24, where the challenged conduct is shown to be motivated by malice or ill will or when the action involves reckless or callous indifference to the statutorily protected rights of others, the court may award punitive damages; provided, that punitive damages shall not be available against the state or its political subdivisions.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 135, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 343, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-5-30 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-30 - Objections not urged before commission.

§ 28-5-30. Objections not urged before commission.An objection that has not been urged before the commission, its member, or agent shall not be considered by the court, unless the failure or neglect to urge the objection is excused because of extraordinary circumstances.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-30.
RI Gen L § 28-5-31 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-31 - Additional evidence in court.

§ 28-5-31. Additional evidence in court.If either party applies to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shows to the satisfaction of the court that the additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce the evidence in the hearing before the commission, its member, or agent, the court may order the additional evidence to be taken before the commission, its member, or agent and to be made a part of the transcript.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-31.
RI Gen L § 28-5-32 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-32 - Modification of commission's findings and orders on additional evidence.

§ 28-5-32. Modification of commission's findings and orders on additional evidence.The commission may modify its findings as to the facts, or make new findings, by reason of additional evidence so taken and filed. The commission shall file the modified or new findings and its recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of its original order.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-32.
RI Gen L § 28-5-33 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-33 - Exclusive jurisdiction of court - Appeal to supreme court.

§ 28-5-33. Exclusive jurisdiction of court — Appeal to supreme court.The jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and order shall be, when necessary, subject to review by the supreme court as provided by law, to which court an appeal from the judgment and order may be made as provided by law.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-33.
RI Gen L § 28-5-34 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-34 - Commission's copy of testimony - Hearing on transcript.

§ 28-5-34. Commission's copy of testimony — Hearing on transcript.The commission's copy of the testimony shall be available at all reasonable times to all parties without cost for examination and for the purposes of judicial review of the order of the commission. The petition shall be heard on the transcript of the record without requirement of printing.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-34.
RI Gen L § 28-5-35 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-35 - Commission's attorneys.

§ 28-5-35. Commission's attorneys.The commission may appear in court by its own attorneys.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-35.
RI Gen L § 28-5-36 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-36 - Decree for enforcement of commission's order.

§ 28-5-36. Decree for enforcement of commission's order.If no proceeding to obtain judicial review is instituted by a complainant, intervener, or respondent within thirty (30) days from the service of an order of the commission pursuant to § 28-5-24, the commission, or the complainant, may obtain a decree of the court for the enforcement of the order upon showing that respondent is subject to the commission's jurisdiction, and resides or transacts business within the county in which the petition for enforcement is brought.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-36; P.L. 2004, ch. 381, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-5-37 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-37 - Posting of statutory provisions.

§ 28-5-37. Posting of statutory provisions.Every employer, employment agency, and labor union subject to this chapter shall post in a conspicuous place or places on his or her premises a notice to be prepared or approved by the commission, which shall set forth excerpts of this chapter and any other relevant information which the commission deems necessary to explain the chapter. Any employer, employment agency, or labor union refusing to comply with the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500).History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 10; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-37.
RI Gen L § 28-5-38 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-38 - Liberal construction.

§ 28-5-38. Liberal construction.(a) The provisions of this chapter shall be construed liberally for the accomplishment of the purposes of it, and any law inconsistent with any provision of this chapter shall not apply.(b) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to repeal any of the provisions of any law of this state relating to discrimination because of race or color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age or country of ancestral origin.(c) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to repeal any of the provisions of any law of this state relating to parental leave.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 11; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-38; P.L. 1973, ch. 132, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 310, § 3; P.L. 1991, ch. 149, § 3; P.L. 1991, ch. 323, § 3; P.L. 1991, ch. 149, § 3; P.L. 1991, ch. 323, § 3; P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 4; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 4; P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 3.
RI Gen L § 28-5-39 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-39 - Severability.

§ 28-5-39. Severability.If any clause, sentence, paragraph, or part of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance, is, for any reason, adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this chapter or its application to other persons or circumstances.History of Section.P.L. 1949, ch. 2181, § 12; G.L. 1956, § 28-5-39.
RI Gen L § 28-5-40 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-40 - Affirmative action report.

§ 28-5-40. Affirmative action report.(a) On February 1 of each year the governor shall, in conjunction with the state equal opportunity office, submit to the general assembly a report documenting the status of affirmative action programs for women, persons with disabilities, and minorities in each department and state agency.(b) At a minimum, the report shall include statistics for each department and state agency, indicating the employment by race, disability, and sex of workers in each job category in the department or agency, and containing a comparison of those statistics with those of the previous year, and shall include the plans each department or state agency has adopted for the forthcoming year to correct any continuing deficiencies in the employment of women, persons with disabilities, and minorities in the workforce.History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 536, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 151 § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 149, § 3; P.L. 1991, ch. 323, § 3; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 4.
RI Gen L § 28-5-41 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-41 - Right to fair employment practices.

§ 28-5-41. Right to fair employment practices.Whenever in this chapter there appears the terms, "race or color, religion, sex, disability, age or country of ancestral origin" there shall be inserted immediately thereafter the words "sexual orientation."History of Section.P.L. 1995, ch. 32, § 5; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 4.
RI Gen L § 28-5-41.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-41.1 - Right to fair employment practices - Gender identity or expression.

§ 28-5-41.1. Right to fair employment practices — Gender identity or expression.Whenever in this chapter there appears the terms "race or color, religion, sex, disability, age, country of ancestral origin, or sexual orientation" there shall be inserted immediately thereafter the words "gender identity or expression."History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 340, § 4.
RI Gen L § 28-5-42 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-42 - Receipt of assistance - No estoppel effect.

§ 28-5-42. Receipt of assistance — No estoppel effect.The fact that an individual has applied for, received or continues to receive private insurance or government assistance on the basis of a physical or mental impairment shall not, by itself, relieve or excuse any employer, employment agency or labor organization from its obligations under this chapter, but may be considered as evidence by the commission or court in its determination, nor does such a fact serve as an estoppel or otherwise preclude an individual with a disability from obtaining the protections of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1996, ch. 280, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 4.
RI Gen L § 28-5-43 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-5 - Fair Employment Practices|Section 28-5-43 - Repealed.

§ 28-5-43. [Repealed.]History of Section.P.L. 2015, ch. 244, § 1; P.L. 2015, ch. 273, § 1; Repealed by P.L. 2016, ch. 114, § 2, effective June 22, 2016; P.L. 2016, ch. 119, § 2, effective June 22, 2016.