515 R.I. Code R. 10-00-2 § 515-RICR-10-00-2 § 2.2

A. Function. In addition to such other duties as may from time to time be delegated to it by law, it is the function of the Commission pursuant to the law to enforce R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 28-5, 28-5.1, 34-37, 11-24, 40-9.1, 42-87, and R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 23-6.3-11 and 23-6.3-12, which prohibit discrimination:
1. because of race, color, religion, country of ancestral origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age (at least forty (40) years of age) in the area of employment;
2. because of race, color, association, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, country of ancestral origin, status as a victim of domestic abuse, housing status, military status, disability or age (over eighteen years) in the area of housing;
3. because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, country of ancestral origin, military status, disability or age (over eighteen years) in the area of credit;
4. because of race, color, religion, country of ancestral origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age (over eighteen (18) years) in the area of public accommodations;
5. because of disability with respect to any entity doing business in the state, exclusion from participation in or denial of benefits of any program, activity or service of, or by any person or entity regulated by the state, or having received financial assistance from the state (except for complaints concerning the physical inaccessibility of buildings and structures);
6. because of a positive HIV test result, or perception of same, in the areas of housing, employment, credit, public accommodations, education or delivery of services;
7. because of the presence of a personal assistance animal accompanying a person with disabilities or accompanying a trainer or puppy raiser of a personal assistance animal in the areas of housing, public accommodations, and education;
8. because of the presence or desired presence of a personal assistive animal or emotional support animal for a person with disabilities, in the area of housing;
9. because of making a charge of discrimination, testifying or assisting in any manner in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing under the anti-discrimination laws enforced by the Commission, or otherwise opposing practices prohibited by the laws governing the Commission;
10. in the form of a direct or indirect inquiry as to whether an applicant or employee has been arrested or charged with any crime, absent the exceptions enumerated in the Fair Employment Practices Act.
11. in the form of a direct or indirect inquiry, prior to the first interview, as to whether an applicant has been convicted of a crime, absent the exceptions covered in the Fair Employment Practices Act.
B. Method of Operations. The Commission receives charges of discrimination, investigates the allegations and endeavors to eliminate unlawful practices by informal methods of conciliation. When informal methods do not resolve a charge or complaint, the Commission conducts a hearing on the complaint. When, after said hearing, the Commission finds a violation, it issues a Decision and Order requiring a respondent to cease and desist from any unlawful practices and to take such affirmative or other action as will effectuate the purposes of the law. When, after said hearing, the Commission does not find a violation, it shall dismiss the complaint against the respondent in a Decision and Order served on the parties.
C. Meetings. The Commission shall meet at such times as may be established by the Commission. The Chairperson or any two members of the Commission may call special meetings of the Commission. Subject to the provisions of these Regulations governing hearings, any business of the Commission may be transacted at any meetings, regular or special. Notice of each meeting shall be provided to the members of the Commission not less than three days before the date thereof provided that a lesser notice may be given upon a determination by the Chairperson or any two members of the Commission that urgent need exists for an emergency meeting of the Commission. The Commission may consider only the specific emergency matter that warranted calling the emergency meeting. The Commission shall post written public notice of its meetings at Commission Headquarters and in the manner prescribed by the Rhode Island Open Meetings Act.