WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 4 REQUIREMENT TYPES
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1)" means the condition in which an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sexSex"Sex" means and includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, gender identity, intersex status, and sexual orientation.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(8), religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law. (2) "Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing a real or virtual environment.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(2)" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing a real or virtual environment. (3) "Automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3)" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing a real or virtual environment.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(2) and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisionsConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4). (4) "Consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4)" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties. (5) "DeployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5)" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) to make a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4). (6) "DeveloperDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6)" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3), or substantially modifies an artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence"Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing a real or virtual environment.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(2) system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisionsConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4), whether for its own use or for use by a third party. (7) "Impact assessmentImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7)" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12. (8) "SexSex"Sex" means and includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, gender identity, intersex status, and sexual orientation.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(8)" means and includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, gender identity, intersex status, and sexual orientation. (9) "Significant updateSignificant update"Significant update" means a new version, new release, or other update to an automated decision tool that includes changes to its use case, key functionality, or expected outcomes.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(9)" means a new version, new release, or other update to an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that includes changes to its use case, key functionality, or expected outcomes.
This section establishes the defined terms for the chapter, including the core concepts of automated decision tool, consequential decision, deployer, developer, and algorithmic discrimination. The consequential-decision definition is notably broad, covering employment, education, housing, utilities, family planning, healthcare, financial services, criminal justice, legal services, voting, and benefits access. Both deployers and developers expressly include state and local government agencies.
(a) 1 On or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, a deployer of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) shall perform an impact assessmentImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7) for any automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) uses that includes all of the following: (1) A statement of the purpose of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) and its intended benefits, uses, and deployment contexts; (2) A description of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3)'s outputs and how they are used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4); (3) A summary of the type of data collected from natural persons and processed by the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) when it is used to make, or be a controlling factor in making a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4); (4) A statement of the extent to which the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5)'s use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) is consistent with or varies from the statement required of the developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) by § 42-166-4; (5) An analysis of potential adverse impacts on the basis of sexSex"Sex" means and includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, gender identity, intersex status, and sexual orientation.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(8), race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, or genetic information from the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5)'s use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); (6) A description of the safeguards implemented, or that will be implemented, by the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) to address any reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) arising from the use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) known to the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) at the time of the impact assessmentImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7); (7) A description of how the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) will be used by a natural person, or monitored when it is used, to make, or be a controlling factor in making, a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4); and. (8) A description of how the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) has been or will be evaluated for validity or relevance.
(b) 2 On or before January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, a developer of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) shall complete and document an assessment of any automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that it designs, codes, or produces that includes all of the following: (1) A statement of the purpose of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) and its intended benefits, uses, and deployment contexts; (2) A description of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3)'s outputs and how they are used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4); (3) A summary of the type of data collected from natural persons and processed by the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) when it is used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4); (4) An analysis of a potential adverse impact on the basis of sexSex"Sex" means and includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, gender identity, intersex status, and sexual orientation.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(8), race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, or genetic information from the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5)'s use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); (5) A description of the measures taken by the developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) to mitigate the risk known to the developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) of algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) arising from the use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); and (6) A description of how the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) can be used by a natural person, or monitored when it is used, to make, or be a controlling factor in making, a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4).
(c) 3 A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) shall, in addition to the impact assessmentImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7) required by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, perform, as soon as feasible, an impact assessmentImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7) with respect to any significant updateSignificant update"Significant update" means a new version, new release, or other update to an automated decision tool that includes changes to its use case, key functionality, or expected outcomes.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(9).
(d) This section does not apply to a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) with fewer than twenty-five (25) employees unless, as of the end of the prior calendar year, the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) deployed an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that impacted more than nine hundred ninety-nine (999) people per year.
This section imposes annual impact-assessment obligations on both deployers and developers of automated decision tools, with initial assessments due by January 1, 2025. Deployer assessments must cover eight enumerated elements including purpose, outputs, data types, consistency with the developer's intended-use statement, adverse-impact analysis across protected characteristics, safeguards against algorithmic discrimination, human oversight mechanisms, and validity evaluation. Developer assessments cover a similar but distinct six-element set that emphasizes developer-side mitigation measures.
Additional assessments must be performed as soon as feasible following any significant update. A small-deployer exemption applies to deployers with fewer than 25 employees unless the tool affected more than 999 people in the prior calendar year.
(a)(1)–(2) 4 Notifications of consequential decisionsConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4). (1) A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) shall, at or before the time an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) is used to make a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4), notify any natural person that is the subject of the consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4) that an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) is being used to make, or be a controlling factor in making, the consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4). (2) A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) shall provide to a natural person notified pursuant to this subsection all of the following: (i) A statement of the purpose of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); (ii) Contact information for the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5); and (iii) A plain language description of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that includes a description of any human components and how any automated component is used to inform a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4).
(b)(1)–(2) 5 Request to not be subject to the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3). (1) If a consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4) is made solely based on the output of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3), a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) shall, if technically feasible, accommodate a natural person's request to not be subject to the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) and to be subject to an alternative selection process or accommodation. (2) After a request pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section, a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) may reasonably request, collect, and process information from a natural person for the purposes of identifying the person and the associated consequential decisionConsequential decision"Consequential decision" means a decision or judgment that has a legal, material, or similarly significant effect on an individual's life relating to the impact of, access to, or the cost, terms, or availability of, any of the following: (i) Employment, workers management, or self-employment including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pay or promotion; (B) Hiring or termination; or (C) Automated task allocation. (ii) Education and vocational training including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Assessment including, but not limited to, detecting student cheating or plagiarism; (B) Accreditation; (C) Certification; (D) Admissions; or (E) Financial aid or scholarships. (iii) Housing or lodging, including rental or short-term housing or lodging. (iv) Essential utilities, including electricity, heat, water, Internet or telecommunications access, or transportation. (v) Family planning, including adoption services or reproductive services, as well as assessments related to child protective services. (vi) Health care or health insurance, including mental health care, dental, or vision. (vii) Financial services, including a financial service provided by a mortgage company, mortgage broker, or creditor. (viii) The criminal justice system including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Risk assessments for pretrial hearings; (B) Sentencing; or (C) Parole. (ix) Legal services, including private arbitration or mediation. (x) Voting. (xi) Access to benefits or services or assignment of penalties.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(4). If the person does not provide that information, the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) shall not be obligated to provide an alternative selection process or accommodation.
This section creates two distinct individual rights when automated decision tools are used for consequential decisions. First, deployers must notify individuals at or before the time the tool is used, providing a statement of purpose, deployer contact information, and a plain-language description of the tool including its human and automated components. Second, when a consequential decision is made solely by the tool's output, the deployer must accommodate a request to opt out and be subject to an alternative process, if technically feasible.
(a) 6 A developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) shall provide a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) with a statement regarding the intended uses of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) and documentation regarding all of the following: (1) The known limitations of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3), including any reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) arising from its intended use; (2) A description of the type of data used to program or train the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); and (3) A description of how the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) was evaluated for validity and explainability before sale or licensing.
(b) This section does not require the disclosure of trade secrets, as defined in chapter 41 of title 6 ("uniform trade secrets act").
This section requires developers to furnish deployers with a statement regarding the intended uses of the automated decision tool, along with documentation covering known limitations (including foreseeable algorithmic discrimination risks), training data types, and pre-sale validity and explainability evaluations. A trade-secret carve-out exempts developers from disclosing information that qualifies as a trade secret under the Rhode Island Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
(a)(1)–(2) 7 Administrative and technical safeguards. (1) A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) shall establish, document, implement, and maintain a governance program that contains reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to map, measure, manage, and govern the reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) associated with the use or intended use of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3). (2) The safeguards required by this subsection shall be appropriate to all of the following: (i) The use or intended use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); (ii) The deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5)'s or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6)'s role as a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6); (iii) The size, complexity, and resources of the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6); (iv) The nature, context, and scope of the activities of the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) in connection with the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3); and (v) The technical feasibility and cost of available tools, assessments, and other means used by a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) to map, measure, manage, and govern the risks associated with an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3).
(b)(1) 8 The governance program required by this section shall be designed to do all of the following: (1) Employee designates: (i) Designation of at least one employee to be responsible for overseeing and maintaining the governance program and compliance with this chapter. (ii) An employee designated pursuant to this section shall have the authority to assert to the employee's employer a good faith belief that the design, production, or use of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter. (iii) An employer of an employee designated pursuant to this section shall conduct a prompt and complete assessment of any compliance issue raised by that employee.
(b)(2)–(7) 9 Identify and implement safeguards to address reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) resulting from the use or intended use of an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3). (3) If established by a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5), provide for the performance of impact assessmentsImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7) as required by § 42-166-2. (4) If established by a developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6), provide for compliance with §§ 42-166-3 and 42-166-4. (5) Conduct an annual and comprehensive review of policies, practices, and procedures to ensure compliance with this chapter. (6) Maintain for two (2) years after completion the results of an impact assessmentImpact assessment"Impact assessment" means a documented risk-based evaluation of an automated decision tool that meets the criteria of § 42-166-12.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(7). (7) Evaluate and make reasonable adjustments to administrative and technical safeguards in light of material changes in technology, the risks associated with the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3), the state of technical standards, and changes in business arrangements or operations of the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6).
(c) This section does not apply to a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) with fewer than twenty-five (25) employees unless, as of the end of the prior calendar year, the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) deployed an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that impacted more than nine hundred ninety-nine (999) people per year.
This section requires deployers and developers to establish, document, implement, and maintain a governance program with reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to map, measure, manage, and govern algorithmic discrimination risks. The safeguards must be proportionate to the tool's use, the entity's role, size, complexity, resources, and the technical feasibility and cost of available measures.
The governance program must include designation of at least one compliance employee with authority to raise good-faith compliance concerns (with an obligation on the employer to promptly assess those concerns), safeguards against algorithmic discrimination, integration with impact-assessment obligations, annual comprehensive compliance reviews, two-year retention of impact-assessment results, and periodic adjustments in response to material changes. The same small-deployer exemption from § 42-166-2 applies.
10 A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) shall make publicly available, in a readily accessible manner, a clear policy that provides a summary of both of the following: (1) The types of automated decision toolsAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) currently in use or made available to others by the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6); and (2) How the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) manages the reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) that may arise from the use of the automated decision toolsAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) it currently uses or makes available to others.
This section requires both deployers and developers to make publicly available, in a readily accessible manner, a clear policy summarizing the types of automated decision tools they currently use or make available and how they manage the reasonably foreseeable risks of algorithmic discrimination arising from those tools. This is a public-facing transparency obligation distinct from the internal governance program and the impact assessments.
(a) 11 A deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) shall not use an automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) that results in algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1).
(b)–(c) 11 Civil actions for algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1). (1) On and after January 1, 2026, a person may bring a civil action against a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) for violation of this section. (2) In an action brought pursuant to this section and § 42-166-8, the plaintiff shall have the burden of proof to demonstrate that the deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5)'s use of the automated decision toolAutomated decision tool"Automated decision tool" means a system or service that uses artificial intelligence and has been specifically developed and marketed to, or specifically modified to, make or be a controlling factor in making consequential decisions.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(3) resulted in algorithmic discriminationAlgorithmic discrimination"Algorithmic discrimination" means the condition in which an automated decision tool contributes to unjustified differential treatment or impacts disfavoring people based on their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, national origin, limited English proficiency, disability, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health, or any other classification protected by state law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(1) that caused actual harm to the person bringing the civil action. (c) In addition to any other remedy at law, a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) that violates this section shall be liable to a prevailing plaintiff for any of the following: (1) Compensatory damages; (2) Declaratory relief; and (3) Reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
This section establishes a substantive prohibition: deployers may not use an automated decision tool that results in algorithmic discrimination. It creates a private right of action effective January 1, 2026, requiring the plaintiff to prove that the deployer's use of the tool resulted in algorithmic discrimination causing actual harm. Prevailing plaintiffs may recover compensatory damages, declaratory relief, and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
(a) Parties authorized to bring civil actions. (1) Any of the following public entities may bring a civil action against a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) for a violation of this chapter: (i) The attorney general; or (ii) A city or town solicitor with the consent of the attorney general. (2) A court may award in an action brought pursuant to this subsection all of the following: (i) Injunctive relief; (ii) Declaratory relief; and (iii) Reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation costs.
(b)–(c) Written notice. An authorized party, before commencing an action pursuant to this section for injunctive relief, shall provide forty-five (45) days written notice to a deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) or developer of the alleged violations of this chapter. (c) Ability to cure. (1) The developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) or deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) may cure, within forty-five (45) days of receiving the written notice described in this section, the noticed violation and provide the person who gave the notice an express written statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the violation has been cured and that no further violations shall occur. (2) If the developerDeveloper"Developer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that designs, codes, or produces an automated decision tool, or substantially modifies an artificial intelligence system or service for the intended purpose of making, or being a controlling factor in making, consequential decisions, whether for its own use or for use by a third party.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(6) or deployerDeployer"Deployer" means a person, partnership, state or local government agency, or corporation that uses an automated decision tool to make a consequential decision.R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-166-1(5) cures the noticed violation and provides the express written statement pursuant to this section, a claim for injunctive relief shall not be maintained for the noticed violation.
This section establishes the public enforcement mechanism for the entire chapter. The attorney general or a city or town solicitor (with AG consent) may bring civil actions against deployers or developers for any violation. Available remedies include injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation costs. A 45-day written notice and cure period applies before injunctive relief actions can proceed; if the violation is cured within that period and the entity provides a sworn written statement, the injunctive relief claim is extinguished for that noticed violation.