Rhode Island HB 8578: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY CAREGIVERS SUPPORT ACT OF 2013

Bill Text

2026 -- H 8578 
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LC006483 
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S T A T E     O F     R H O D E     I S L A N D 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 
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A N   A C T 
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY CAREGIVERS SUPPORT ACT OF 2013 
Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Dawson, Caldwell, McEntee, Corvese, Slater, 
Diaz, Bennett, Kennedy, and Azzinaro 
Date Introduced: May 22, 2026 
Referred To: House Labor 
 
 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 
SECTION 1.  Chapter  40-8.11  of the  General  Laws  entitled  "Family  Caregivers  Support 1 
Act of 2013" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2 
40-8.11-4. Family caregiver workplace protection.     3 
(a)  It  shall  be  unlawful  and  a  violation  of  fair  employment  practices  pursuant  to  the 4 
provisions of chapter 5 of title 28 for an employer: 5 
(1) To fail or refuse to hire an applicant as an employee of such employer solely because 6 
of the family caregiver responsibilities of the applicant; 7 
(2) To take adverse action against an employee of such employer or otherwise discriminate 8 
against an employee, with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment 9 
because of the family caregiver responsibilities of the employee; or 10 
(3)  To  deny  a  request  by the  family  caregiver  for  flexible  scheduling,  remote  work  or 11 
adjusted  hours  to  accommodate  family  caregiving  therapy,  medical  appointments  or  other 12 
caregiving needs unless the said request causes undue hardship for the employer including, but not 13 
limited to, significant difficulty or expense to the employer's operation or business. 14 
(b) It shall be an affirmative defense to an alleged violation of subsection (a) of this section 15 
for a small employer of less than twenty-five (25) employees, if: 16 
(1) Compliance would cause undue hardship to the employer and the employer has made 17 
a  good  faith  effort  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  subsection  (a)  of  this  section  that  could  be 18 
implemented without causing undue hardship; or 19 

 
 
 
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(2)  The  employer  has  adopted  a  reasonable phased  plan  for  compliance  and  the  alleged 1 
violation and conduct concerns a portion of the plan which had not been implemented at the time 2 
of the alleged violation. 3 
(c) The commission for human rights shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement 4 
and enforce the provisions of this section pursuant to § 28-5-13. 5 
(d) The commission for human rights, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 5 of title 28, 6 
shall conduct investigations  and  hearings  of alleged  violations and  upon a finding of a  violation 7 
may  order  remedies  to  include  reinstatement,  back  pay,  compensation  for  lost  benefits  and 8 
attorneys' fees. 9 
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 10 
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EXPLANATION 
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
OF 
A N   A C T 
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- FAMILY CAREGIVERS SUPPORT ACT OF 2013 
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This  act  would  provide  workplace  protection  for  family caregivers. The act would  also 1 
provide for enforcement and remedies through the human rights commission. 2 
This act would take effect upon passage. 3 
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