This Week at the General Assembly: June 13 to June 17, 2011

•  Senate approves Jobs Match Program legislation

The Senate passed legislation intended to strengthen statewide interagency collaborations, enhance the current state workforce development and job match system and address skill gaps in a manner that aligns with business and industry needs. The Rhode Island Enhanced Jobs Match Program (2011-S 0971) sponsored by Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown), creates an interagency “Governor’s Workforce Cabinet” to carry out the intent of the bill. Click here to see news release.

• House Finance Committee recommends $7.7 billion budget

The House Finance Committee gave its approval to a budget plan (2011-H 5894A) for 2012 that works to eliminate the structural deficit without major sales tax expansion, maintains the Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Elderly Program and RIte Care, and fully funds the new school funding program. The plan will now go to the full House for a vote.

•  Assembly approves District Court rearrangement

The General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by House Majority Whip J. Patrick O’Neill (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) to ease overcrowding at the J. Joseph Garrahy Judicial Complex in Providence by rearranging the jurisdictions of Rhode Island’s district courts. The bill (2011-H 5131aa, 2011-S 0117A) moves District Court cases from a number of towns in Providence County – Foster, Glocester, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield, Scituate and Smithfield – to the new Gov. Philip W. Noel Judicial Complex in Warwick. Click here to see news release.

• Bill creating redistricting commission heads to governor

Legislation taking the first step toward constitutionally required redistricting of House, Senate and congressional districts in Rhode Island has been approved by the General Assembly and sent to the governor for consideration. Sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29,      Warwick) and Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston), the legislation (2011-S 0924, 2011-H 6096) creates an 18-member reapportionment commission that would use the results of the 2010 federal census to redraw district lines to better reflect population shifts in the state. Click here to see news release.

•  Safe Schools Act, ISP administrative subpoena bills pass Senate

The Senate has passed the Safe Schools Act (2011-S 0732A) directing the Department of Education to establish a model policy on cyberbullying prevention. Also passed was a bill (2011-S 0781A) to give law enforcement agencies administrative subpoena power to obtain information from Internet service providers relative to pornography investigations. Both bills were sponsored by Sen. Beatrice A. Lanzi (D-Dist. 26,Cranston). Identical bills were passed by the House – The Safe Schools Act (2011-H 5941Aaa) by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) and ISP administrative subpoenas (2011-H 5093A) by Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist. 75, Newport). Click here to see news release.

• House, Senate approve renewable energy bills

The House and the Senate each approved bills to encourage the development of renewable energy in Rhode Island. The package includes legislation (2011-S 0457A, 2011-H 5939A) sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Rep. John M. Carnevale (D-Dist. 13, Providence, Johnston) to coordinate Rhode Island’s net-metering law with federal policy; a bill (2011-S 0723Aaa, 2011-H 6104Aaa) sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick) and Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) to promote small to mid-sized renewable energy projects; and a third bill (2011-S 0721A, 2011-H 6222Aaa) sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) and Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence, East Providence) to reduce delays in renewable energy projects by setting timelines for National Grid to complete engineering studies for connecting projects to the grid. Each chamber approved its own version of the bills, and they will now exchange them. Click here to see news release.

•   House OKs bill to require waste cooking oil recycling

The House has approved legislation (2011-H 5203A) that will require the recycling of used cooking oil from commercial facilities, beginning in January 2012. It requires used cooking oil generators to maintain receptacles for the collection of the oil for disposal at approved transfer stations. The House bill was sponsored by Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly); an identical Senate bill (2011-S 0185) was introduced by Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere (R-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown). Click here to see news release.

• House OKs Fellela bill banning fingerprinting at banks

The House approved legislation (2011-H 5026A) sponsored by Rep. Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston) that would prohibit banks from fingerprinting non-customers who are attempting to cash checks. Currently, some banks in the state require a thumbprint to prove the identity of an individual who is there to cash a check. Click here to see news release.

•  Senate votes to create seafood marketing collaborative

The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0997) sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) that would create the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative of 2011. The collaborative would be charged with providing further resources and information to support Rhode Island’s local fishermen and small businesses and create more locally produced seafood. Click here to see news release.

• Senate OKs DiPalma bill to help finance educational ship

 The Senate approved legislation to help enable the construction of the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, a replica of a three-masted 19th century warship that will serve as an innovative ocean-going classroom for Rhode Island’s students. The legislation (2011-S 0859), sponsored by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma, would amend the statutes pertaining to the Industrial Recreational Building Authority (IRBA), a state agency that guarantees the mortgages of industrial and recreational properties that have some public benefit. The bill (2011-H 5835) is sponsored in the House by Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist. 75, Newport). Click here to see news release.

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