Rhode Island General Laws Title 28. Labor and Labor Relations § 28-11.1-1. Statement of policy

(a) The public interest requires that persons engaged in all lawful types of employment be encouraged to serve as elected members of part-time elected bodies. To facilitate this encouragement, it is necessary wherever practical for employers of part-time elected officials to provide flexible work schedules so that those employees serving as part-time elected officials might attend to the business of the people of the state of Rhode Island and its municipalities. The anticipated flexible work schedules shall be within the reasonable operation of the employer's business.

(b) The public interest also requires that all part-time elected officials of elected bodies be free from undue influence or pressure by their employers as it relates to their decisions and relative to legislation which they might consider or introduce.

(c) No employer shall be permitted to either directly or indirectly use any condition of the part-time elected official's employment as a means of influencing the legislator's vote on any legislation or introduction of his or her own legislation.