Last Week in the General Assembly

Senate Finance hears ‘Moving the Needle’ bills

The Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel Da Ponte (D-Dist. 14, East Providence), held hearings last week on several bills included under the recent "Moving the Needle" recommendations proposed by the General Assembly.

The bills included:

• (2013-S 0734) – Sponsored by Sen. Da Ponte, this bill would create the Rhode Island Economic Development Tax Credit Accountability Act of 2013 to provide an assessment of the state’s tax credit programs.
• (2013-S 0733) – Sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen (D-Dist. 1, Providence) on behalf of Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, this legislation enables the economic development corporation and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission to solicit and accept applications for Historic Tax Credit replacement projects for those that have been abandoned.
• (2013-S 0747) – Also sponsored by Senator Goodwin on behalf of the governor, this bill establishes the reporting requirements for each taxpayer seeking a tax credit for rehabilitating a certified historic structure. It would also make available to the public tax credit agreements and annual reports regarding tax credits.
• (2013-S 0743) – Sponsored by President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), this legislation would supplement the arts district designations with a statewide sales tax exemption for local works of artistic creation.
• (2013-S 0250) – Sponsored by Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence), this bill would provide that if families qualify under income level, child care will be provided on a short-term basis so that the family can participate in training, apprenticeship, internship, on-the-job training and like programs funded through the Human Resource Investment Council.
• (2013-S 0735) – Sponsored by Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), this legislation would require that 20 percent of the renewable energy program development fund administered by the Economic Development Corporation be allocated annually to the Office of Energy Resources for the purposes of developing, promoting and financing renewable energy programs effective Jan. 1, 2014.
• (2013-S 0736) – Sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket), this bill establishes a pilot child care assistance transition program.

Legislation introduced to improve safety in R.I. schools

Three bills addressing school safety issues have been introduced in both chambers. Developed by the legislature and the governor’s office, the bills will, among other things, require schools to perform a safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire and school safety teams; require annual review and certification of school safety and emergency response plans and set specific requirements for school fire drills and lockdown drills. Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) and Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) sponsored two of the bills (2013-S 800, 2013-H 5940 and 2013-S 0801, 2013-H 5941) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) and Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) introduced the other bill (2013-S 0014A, 2013-H 5152).

Click here to see news release.

Edwards, Miller hold news conference for first day of pot decriminalization

Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) and Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) – lead sponsors of last year’s marijuana decriminalization legislation – joined Protect Families First at a State House news conference on the first day the law went into effect. The lawmakers had an in-depth discussion of the new rules in place for possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana, which includes a $150 civil fine to replace the criminal penalties.

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House passes bill to allow voting by all in line when polls close

The House passed legislation (2013-H 5771) sponsored by Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) to change the state elections law to guarantee that all voters who are standing in line to vote when polls close are allowed to cast their ballots. Under current law, if a line of potential voters stretches outside the building where polls are located, those who are outdoors at 8 p.m. could be turned away. Her bill would allow them to vote. Companion legislation (2013-S 626) is being sponsored in the Senate by Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, North Kingstown, Narragansett).

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More than 7,300 signatures in support of plastic bag ban presented as bill heard

Environment Rhode Island presented to lawmakers a petition signed by more than 7,300 people and a letter of support from more than 130 businesses urging the state to enact legislation (2013-H 5403, 2013-S 404) sponsored by Rep. Maria Cimini (D-Dist. 7, Providence) and Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) to ban plastic checkout bags in Rhode Island. The bill, aimed at curbing pollution, would prohibit most plastic bags from being given to customers at stores’ checkouts, effective Jan. 1, 2014, in large stores and one year later for smaller stores, and contains exceptions for some types of bags. The petition was delivered to lawmakers on the same day the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the bill.

[The Bristol Town Council recently decided to put off a decision on a town ban on plastic bags.]

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Bill clears way for gender-specific school events

Schools would no longer need to be concerned that father-daughter or mother-son dances are contrary to the state’s gender discrimination laws as a result of legislation passed by the Senate. Sponsored by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), the bill (2013-S 0012Aaa) will amend state law to provide that activities for students of one sex are permissible if reasonably comparable activities are provided for students of the other sex.

Click here to see news release.