AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION

SB 821 expands the definition of "public official" under Rhode Island's threat law to explicitly include state government caseworkers and investigators. This means threatening these social workers - who help individuals access government resources like benefits or childcare - will now be treated as a felony under the same law that protects elected officials, judges, and law enforcement. The bill amends existing law by adding caseworkers/investigators to the list of protected individuals and defines "state government caseworker" as a social worker providing such services. The change makes threatening these workers punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.