RI State Rep's Bill To Legislate Grocery Self-Checkout Stations Passes Senate

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Senate passed a bill to legislate grocery self-checkout stations.

"The legislation would require grocery stores with self-checkouts to have a minimum of one staffed checkout for every three self-checkouts operating, with at least one of the self-checkout stations meeting the accessibility standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act," according to a media release.

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"It would also require that grocery store employees be relieved of all other duties, including operating a manual checkout station, while monitoring self-checkout stations," the release said.

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The bill was introduced by state Senate President Valarie J. Lawson, D-East Providence, and Sens. Matthew L. LaMountain, D-Warwick and Cranston, and Jacob E. Bissaillon, D-Providence.

Lawson said she introduced the bill "out concern for those who work as cashiers, and also for customers who struggle with frustrating self-checkout experiences, particularly elderly customers," according to the release.

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"Overreliance on self-service checkouts is frustrating for customers and the workers who are manually covering self-checkout stations on top of all their other job duties," Lawson said.

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"We’ve all experienced an issue using a self-service checkout and had to wait for an overtaxed employee to come over to resolve it, an experience that can be far more challenging for elderly members of the community,” Lawson said. “This bill would provide options for the consumer by making sure staffed checkout lanes are always available while also improving the store environment for workers and consumers.”

The bill now heads to the state House.

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