Signed by Governor Dan McKee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the number of self-service checkout stations and the workload of employees monitoring those stations in grocery stores in Rhode Island.

Highlights:

• Specifies that this act applies to all grocery stores in Rhode Island that offer shoppers the use of self-service checkout stations (Sec. 1).

• Requires grocery stores with self-service checkout stations to have at least one manual checkout station for every three self-service stations, including one manual checkout station that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (Sec. 1).

• Requires employees to be relieved of all other duties when monitoring any self-service checkout station, or operating a manual checkout station (Sec. 1).

• Exempts grocery stores from the required staffing ratio during off-peak hours and during a declared state of emergency or severe weather alert (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a grocery store from requiring any employee to report to or remain at work in conditions the employee reasonably believes pose an imminent threat to their safety due to a severe weather event (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a first violation of this act shall result in a written warning, and subsequent violations shall result in a fine of up to $500 per day of a violation (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits retaliation by any grocery store against an employee who files a complaint alleging a violation of this act (Sec. 1).

• Classifies continued violation of this act for more than 30 days as an unlawful act (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this act takes effect January 1, 2027 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the number of self-service checkout stations and the workload of employees monitoring those stations in grocery stores in Rhode Island.

Highlights:

• Specifies that this act applies to all grocery stores in Rhode Island that offer shoppers the use of self-service checkout stations (Sec. 1).

• Requires grocery stores with self-service checkout stations to have at least one manual checkout station for every three self-service stations, including one manual checkout station that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (Sec. 1).

• Requires employees to be relieved of all other duties when monitoring any self-service checkout station, or operating a manual checkout station (Sec. 1).

• Exempts grocery stores from the required staffing ratio during off-peak hours and during a declared state of emergency or severe weather alert (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits a grocery store from requiring any employee to report to or remain at work in conditions the employee reasonably believes pose an imminent threat to their safety due to a severe weather event (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a first violation of this act shall result in a written warning, and subsequent violations shall result in a fine of up to $500 per day of a violation (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits retaliation by any grocery store against an employee who files a complaint alleging a violation of this act (Sec. 1).

• Classifies continued violation of this act for more than 30 days as an unlawful act (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this act takes effect January 1, 2027 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text