AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION

This bill expands the legal definition of "public official" in Rhode Island to explicitly include election officials and poll workers. By adding these individuals to the existing list, the legislation ensures that anyone who knowingly makes threats against them or their immediate families is charged with a felony. The penalty for such threats remains a prison term of up to five years, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. This change directly affects the legal protections available to those administering elections and aims to cover threats motivated by hostility toward their public duties.