Central Falls Receivership (H 5922, S 619)

A law passed last year allowing the state to appoint receivers to take over fiscally-distressed municipalities was strengthened this year over objections from the ACLU and lawmakers from Central Falls. The new law essentially codifies a R.I. Supreme Court decision allowing the receiver to supersede the actions of elected officials even on matters unrelated to the municipality's finances. The ACLU considers the law to be a complete undermining of the electoral process in distressed communities.