This Week in the General Assembly

For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/

Bill to 'protect' state's casino revenue signed into law:

On June 20, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the Revenue Protection Act that was approved by the General Assembly last week. The legislation was adopted to protect state revenue, maintain the competitiveness of the state’s two gaming facilities, and safeguard those employed by Rhode Island gaming facilities.

A recent report examined the potential impact of casino gaming in Massachusetts to Rhode Island. It was determined that a significant portion of the State’s gaming revenue is generated from Massachusetts customers. Casino gaming in Massachusetts will have a significant negative impact on gaming facilities, which will adversely impact state gaming revenue. If the voters approve table gaming in Rhode Island, this legislation will provide the necessary tax and regulatory framework to quickly implement these games to help mitigate the negative impact of Massachusetts casino gaming.

The legislation establishes the state’s share of table game proceeds at 18 percent at both facilities. At Twin River in Lincoln, that rate would be lowered to 16 percent should the facility experience a sustained drop in revenue. Should VLT revenues decline, the Town of Lincoln will receive 1 percent of table game revenue from the facility’s share for a four-year period to help the host community transition during a period of revenue decline. Current projections show that Twin River stands to generate $60 million annually in estimated table game revenue when fully operational.

Chafee signs hike in minimum wage to $7.75:

The governor signed legislation on June 21 raising Rhode Island’s minimum wage to $7.75 beginning January 1, 2013.

It is the first increase since the minimum wage was set at $7.40 in 2007 and represents a hike of about five percent.

Signed into law by Gov. Lincoln Chafee were two bills -- (2012-S2374A), by Sen. Erin P. Lynch (D-Dist. 31, Warwick), and (2012-H7396A), by Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick).

“Individuals who are working minimum wage jobs in the state, jobs that absolutely need to be done to keep many businesses open, need to earn a fair wage,” said Senator Lynch. “I don’t think the intent is to have somebody supporting a family on $7.75. We’re just looking to allow them to make just a little bit more money so they can make ends meet.”

Representative Bennett said that “This minimum wage hike, which is a five percent increase, still represents a significant lag over the increase in inflation during the past five years. But an increase is absolutely necessary to help the people at the bottom of the pay scale, who are doing vital jobs for our economy and are struggling to make ends meet.”

Of the New England states, Rhode Island has gone the longest without a minimum wage increase. During the past five years, the Massachusetts minimum wage has gone from $7.50 to $8, and Connecticut, which was at $7.65 in 2007, is at $8.25 today.

The current minimum wages of the other New England states are: Maine, $7.50; New Hampshire, $7.25; Vermont, $8.46.

'Homeless bill of rights' approved:

On June 21, Chafee also signed the 'Homeless Bill of Rights' into law.

The law will guarantee that no person’s rights, privileges or access to public services will be denied or abridged solely because he or she is homeless. The bill will guarantee that homeless individuals:

• Have the right not to face discrimination while seeking or maintaining employment due to lack of a permanent mailing address or a mailing address that is a shelter or social service provider;
• Have the right to use and move freely in public spaces (sidewalks, public parks, public transportation, public buildings) in the same manner as any other person and without discrimination on the basis of housing status;
• Have the right to emergency medical care free from discrimination based on housing status;
• Have the right to vote, register to vote and receive documentation necessary to prove identity for voting without discrimination due to housing status;
• Have the right to protection from disclosure to law enforcement agencies without appropriate legal authority any records or information provided to homeless shelters and service providers and the right to confidentiality of personal records and information in accordance with limitations on disclosure established by the Federal Homeless Management Information Systems, the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Federal Violence Against Women Act;
• Have the right to a reasonable expectation of privacy of personal property to the same extent as personal property in a permanent residence.
• Have the right to equal treatment by all state and municipal agencies, without discrimination on the basis of housing status.

New laws cut 'red tape' for businesses:

A set of bills, collectively called 'Making It Easy to Do Business in Rhode Island,' also became law on June 21 with Chafee's signature.

In addition to providing flexibility for small businesses in the fire code, the new laws fund a web-based permitting system, put construction projects on a faster track, reform the Regulatory Fairness Act, and make other changes to respond to the concerns of Rhode Island small businesses.

“This package of legislation builds upon the successes we have had in previous years responding to the needs of small businesses with specific action that will make it easy to do business in Rhode Island,” noted Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed in a statement. “Every one of the initiatives we submitted to cut red tape has been enacted, which shows how serious we are about regulatory reform and reducing bureaucratic hurdles for Rhode Island small businesses. I want to thank the senators who worked so hard throughout the session to shepherd these bills into law.”

The new laws are intended to allow:

Web-based permitting; a flexible, less costly fire code which updates the laws put in place after the 2003 Station Nightclub Fire; faster building permits; expiration of the state's requirement that gas stations use gas vapor technology; a streamlining of regulations on agricultural businesses; and other measures related to the fishing industry.