Attorney General Guidance

Healthcare

• Guidance to Rhode Island Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, and Other Long-Term Care Residential Facilities: This guidance advises that pandemic stimulus payments provided pursuant to the CARES Act to residents of long-term care facilities are the property of residents only.

Consumer Protection

• Guidance to Rhode Island Student Loan Borrowers: This guidance advises on how the CARES Act and other assistance impacts student loan borrower relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Open Government

• Guidance on Public Bodies Returning to In-Person Meetings and Remote Public Participation in Open Meetings: Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, this guidance clarifies that members of the public body must attend meetings in person, members of the public must be permitted to attend open meetings in person, public bodies may livestream their meetings to the public, and public bodies may permit members of the public to participate remotely in open meetings.
• Guidance for Convening into Executive Session: This guidance advises that public bodies may only enter into executive (closed) session for limited, specific reasons and are subject to certain requirements when they do so. Some of the most common purposes for entering executive session, and the steps necessary to go from an open meeting to an executive session, are explained in the guidance.

Civil and Community Rights

• Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in School Programs: This Guidance addresses the Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision on race-conscious admissions policies at institutions of higher education,3 and clarifies the legal landscape for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and K-12 schools operating in our states as they work to advance educational goals and access to educational opportunities.
• Guidance to Rhode Island Local Education Agencies, School Administrators and Educators: Ensuring a Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment for All Students: This guidance is intended to assist schools, teachers, and administrators in protecting the rights of every student and maintaining inclusive environments and initiatives. Until the legal effect of the aforementioned executive actions is settled, Rhode Island schools should not change current practices and procedures involving the rights of LGBTQ+ students and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs.
• Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiatives: This guidance is intended to help businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations understand the viability and importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies and practices in creating and maintaining legally compliant and thriving workplaces.
• Guidance to Rhode Island Local Education Agencies, School Administrators and Educators: Ensuring a Safe and Secure Learning Environment for All Students: The Office of the Attorney General and the Rhode Island Department of Education are jointly issuing this Guidance to help school officials form practical plans and policies to protect the rights of immigrant students and their families to a safe and secure educational environment.
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• Lead Guidance for Landlords with Properties in Rhode Island: This guidance provides landlords with a practical overview of the package of bills passed in the 2023 legislative session to address lead poisoning and promote healthy housing and provides answers to frequently asked questions.
• Guidance for Law Enforcement Officials: Reporting Hate Crimes: This guidance advises on the steps for law enforcement officers to report hate crimes to ensure that our community and law enforcement are aligned in the shared goal of reducing crime targeted at minorities and other vulnerable groups.
• Know Your Rights: Rhode Island Elections: This guidance explains your rights as a voter and shared important resources prior to Election Day.
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• Guidance for Renters and Property Owners: Source of Income Discrimination: This guidance advises residents and property owners on their rights and legal obligations regarding the use of public assistance programs for rent relief.
• Concealed Carry Permit Guidance: This guidance advises that Rhode Island’s concealed-carry permitting scheme is constitutional and unimpacted by the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision.
• Firearms Permit Guidance for Retired Law Enforcement Officers: This brief guidance ensures that all retired law enforcement officers in Rhode Island understand that the Attorney General does not require permits for retired law enforcement officers who are qualified to carry concealed firearms under LEOSA.

Civil and Community Rights

• Guidance for Law Enforcement Officials: Hate Crimes and Civil Rights Violations: This guidance advises law enforcement officials on ensuring an effective response to hate crimes and civil rights violations to address misconduct motivated by bigotry or hatred of protected groups and improve policing in our State.
• Guidance for Law Enforcement Officials: Landlord-Tenant Disputes and Law Enforcement: This guidance advises law enforcement officials on the landlord-tenant complaints that are most likely to call for police action, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Protocol for the Review of Incidents Involving the Use of Deadly Force, Excessive Force and Custodial Deaths: This Protocol updates and expands upon the Attorney General’s Protocol Regarding The Review Of Incidents Involving The Use of Deadly Force and Custodial Death (last revised in 2007). It is designed to promote greater uniformity, accountability and impartiality in the investigation of police use-of-force incidents where deadly force was employed, where there has been an allegation of excessive use of force by police, and where a custodial death occurs.
• Firearms Permit Guidance for Retired Law Enforcement Officers: This brief guidance ensures that all retired law enforcement officers in Rhode Island understand that the Attorney General does not require permits for retired law enforcement officers who are qualified to carry concealed firearms under LEOSA.

• Concealed Carry Permit Guidance: This guidance advises that Rhode Island’s concealed-carry permitting scheme is constitutional and unimpacted by the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision.
• Protocol for the Review of Incidents Involving the Use of Deadly Force, Excessive Force and Custodial Deaths: This Protocol updates and expands upon the Attorney General’s Protocol Regarding The Review Of Incidents Involving The Use of Deadly Force and Custodial Death (last revised in 2007). It is designed to promote greater uniformity, accountability and impartiality in the investigation of police use-of-force incidents where deadly force was employed, where there has been an allegation of excessive use of force by police, and where a custodial death occurs.
• Firearms Permit Guidance for Retired Law Enforcement Officers: This brief guidance ensures that all retired law enforcement officers in Rhode Island understand that the Attorney General does not require permits for retired law enforcement officers who are qualified to carry concealed firearms under LEOSA.