PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Seven bills resulting from state Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi’s #MeToo moment in the Rhode Island General Assembly are poised to move out of the House Labor Committee after a hearing Thursday.
Tanzi, a Democrat who represents parts of Narragansett and South Kingstown, formed a commission to prevent workplace sexual harassment, educate society about what is and isn’t acceptable, and toughen protections for those whose only choice has been to suffer in silence.
Commission member Wendy Becker, chairwoman of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Rhode Island College, testified for all seven bills Thursday, saying: “Rhode Island laws are not strong enough to provide a deterrence, both for potential harassers and for business practices of companies that may already not be inclined to take this seriously.”
Tanzi and other sponsors said the commission worked hard to find a middle ground between the needs of the business community and those of the workers.
In general terms, the seven bills would:
