Provides that evidence of life or work expectancy be based on statistical data using blended statistics and provides a chart with "completed age" and "expectation" which shall be used by courts as evidence and not be based on race, ethnicity or sex.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Life Expectancy Evidence in Courts

This bill changes how Rhode Island courts calculate a person's life expectancy or work expectancy in civil lawsuits — such as personal injury or wrongful death cases. Currently, courts may use statistical tables that factor in a person's race, ethnicity, or sex when estimating how long someone might have lived or worked. This bill would require courts to instead use "blended" statistics — meaning combined, averaged data that does not separate people by race, ethnicity, or sex. The bill also provides a specific chart listing "completed age" and "expectation" values that courts would be required to use as their standard reference.

This bill would primarily affect people involved in civil lawsuits where financial compensation depends on how long someone was expected to live or work. For example, in a wrongful death case, the amount of money awarded to a family often depends on estimates of the deceased person's remaining lifespan or earning years. Under current practices, those estimates can vary based on demographic factors, which can result in different compensation amounts for different groups of people. This bill would apply a single, uniform standard to everyone, regardless of their background.

The practical effect is that this change could increase compensation for groups who historically received lower life expectancy estimates (such as certain racial minorities) and potentially decrease it for groups who received higher estimates (such as women). Supporters of similar laws in other states argue this promotes fairness and equal treatment, while critics have raised questions about statistical accuracy. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study.