By Anne McDonald and Emilie Benoit, Co-Chairs, LLNE Government Relations Committee
H 5415, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government – Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, was introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly House of Representatives on February 12, 2015 by Representative Joy Hearn (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) and Representative Michael Marcello (D-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston.) It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
The Act, if passed, would be the first in Rhode Island to regulate the official publication of legal material in an electronic format. It designates Lexis Nexis as the official publisher of all Rhode Island legal materials (Constitution, Public Laws, Acts and Resolves, the General Laws) except for those published by state administrative agencies.
This bill is similar to the one that was introduced last year and later withdrawn. Here is a link to the current bill: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText15/HouseText15/H5415.htm
The LLNE Government Relations Committee is providing this information to you to further its committee charge to keep you apprised of pending legislation which may be of interest to you as an informed law librarian. We will continue to keep the LLNE membership updated on this bill and any others filed in the New England states that impact law libraries and information policy.