Provides any police report involving a railroad fatality and all communications between railroad employees not be made public. Additionally, it makes a violation of this section a misdemeanor.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would make certain records related to railroad fatalities — specifically police reports and communications between railroad employees — off-limits to the general public. Under current public records laws, many government documents can be requested and reviewed by citizens, journalists, or researchers. This bill would create an exception, shielding these particular railroad-related records from that kind of public access.

The bill also makes it a misdemeanor criminal offense to violate this secrecy requirement, meaning someone who improperly releases or discloses these protected records could face criminal charges. A misdemeanor in Rhode Island can carry penalties such as fines or jail time, making this a legally significant consequence for anyone who shares the covered information.

The bill would most directly affect railroad companies, their employees, law enforcement agencies that investigate railroad incidents, and members of the public — including victims' families, journalists, and safety advocates — who might otherwise seek access to these records. Railroad employees and companies would have their internal communications protected, while the public and press would have less ability to independently review what happened in fatal railroad incidents.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee and recommended for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced or been voted on. No final action has been taken.