AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT--THE RHODE ISLAND CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT ACT

SB 2607 creates a legal remedy for Rhode Island residents harmed by government entities violating their constitutional rights. It allows individuals or the Attorney General to sue state or local governments (including municipalities and quasi-governmental bodies) directly for civil rights violations, waiving sovereign immunity for these cases. Key provisions set a $500,000 cap on compensatory damages (adjusted annually for inflation), prohibit punitive damages against the state, and remove the cap for intentional, willful, or malicious violations. The law provides for remedies like injunctive relief, attorney fees, and a three-year statute of limitations for filing claims.