PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The Rhode Island Senate plans to prioritize passing sexual harassment legislation in the new legislative session.
Senate spokesman Greg Pare said Tuesday the chamber will prioritize a bill to improve employee protections in workplaces throughout Rhode Island when the session begins in January. The Senate passed that bill this year. The House didn’t.
A top Rhode Island House Democrat, Rep. Chris Blazejewski, said Monday he will file legislation to create a formal procedure for handling allegations of sexual harassment that occurs specifically in the legislature.
Pare couldn’t yet say whether Senate leaders would support that. He says it’s a complex issue because it deals with officials who are duly elected by their constituents, but any legislation would be thoroughly reviewed.
There have been allegations of sexual harassment in the House.
