Tuesday, March 9, 2021

2:30pm Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island

AGENDA:

1. Welcome
2. Provider and Legislative Updates
3. Child Care Awareness Day Discussion
4. Agency Reports
5. Adjournment

There was be no public testimony allowed at this meeting

4pm Rhode Island House of Representative

IN ORDER:

• H5100 by Solomon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS
• H5164 by Bennett ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
  • House OKs Bennett bill to allow students sunscreen in schools
• H5241 by Vella-Wilkinson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – PHARMACIES
  • House OKs Vella-Wilkinson bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe, dispense birth control
• H5247 by Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS – UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT
• H5477 by McLaughlin ENTITLED, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF CUMBERLAND TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND/OR NOTES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,500,000 TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR AND EQUIPPING OF RECREATIONAL AREAS AND FACILITIES IN THE TOWN
• S0053 by Algiere ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF WESTERLY TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $2,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE TOWN

4pm Rhode Island Senate

IN ORDER:

• Appointment of John C. Revens, Jr. VICE Marion S. Gold, Ph.D to the Public Utilities Commission for a term expiring March 1, 2027.
• S0076 by Gallo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – CURRICULUM
• S0285 by Gallo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL-TO-CAREER TRANSITION ACT OF 1996
  • Senate votes to require civics for high school grads, and create career/academic plans for all
• S0224 by Goodwin ENTITLED, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $140,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, LANDSCAPING, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF STATE HOUSING AID AT A REIMBURSEMENT RATE OR STATE SHARE RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 75% AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE AND PROVIDED THAT THE AUTHORIZATION SHALL BE REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF CERTAIN GRANTS RECEIVED FROM STATE BOND PROCEEDS, FROM THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR FROM THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY
• S0325 by Pearson ENTITLED, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF CUMBERLAND TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND/OR NOTES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,500,000 TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR AND EQUIPPING OF RECREATIONAL AREAS AND FACILITIES IN THE TOWN
• S0374 by Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $85,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, LANDSCAPING, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN, AND ALL ATTENDANT EXPENSES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL COSTS, PROVIDED THAT THE AUTHORIZATION SHALL BE REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF CERTAIN GRANTS RECEIVED FROM STATE BOND PROCEEDS, FROM THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR FROM THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY
• S0196 by Ciccone ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — DIGNITY AT WORK ACT
  • Senator Ciccone’s Dignity at Work Act that combats workplace bullying passes Senate

Consent Calendar:

• S0559 by Paolino ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MARCH 4, 2021, TO BE “NATIONAL HOSPITALIST DAY” IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
• S0560 by Goodwin ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MARCH AS “COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH” IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
• Senator Cano’s resolution celebrating International Women’s Day passes the Senate

5:30pm (Rise) House Committee on Finance

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• H5223 by Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Abney, Ackerman, Shallcross Smith, Kennedy, Corvese ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ENABLING THE STATE LOTTERY DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO CONTRACT WITH IGT GLOBAL SOLUTIONS CORPORATION AND TWIN RIVER {LC1065/1} (Enables the state lottery division of the department of revenue to enter into a contract extension with IGT Global Solutions Corporation and contract extensions with Twin River and affiliates of Twin River.)

5:30pm (Rise) House Committee on Judiciary

SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION

• H5093 by McNamara ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND RULES OF THE ROAD (Provides for specific fines and sanctions to operators of motor vehicles who fail to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a vulnerable road user causing injury, serious injury, or death to the vulnerable road user.)
• H5092 by Fellela ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS – PASSIVE VOLUNTARY ADOPTION MUTUAL CONSENT REGISTRY ACT – ADOPTION OF CHILDREN (Directs the department of health to provide information regarding the passive voluntary adoption reunion registry on the department of health’s website and in the division of vital records.)

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• H5185 by Serpa ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW – GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS – PURCHASE AND SALE OF PRECIOUS METALS (Requires a licensed buyer of certain precious metals or articles, tools, and electronics to take a digital photograph of their purchase and upload it to the attorney general’s license sales tracking system database.)
• H5384 by Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Kazarian, Shanley, Casimiro ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS – UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT (Reclassifies certain simple possession of drugs as misdemeanor instead of a felony.)
• H5393 by Cortvriend, Tanzi, Noret, Hawkins, Bennett, Hull, Cassar, Fogarty, Craven, Casey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING (Requires training/instructions for police officers/trainees to identify persons with cognitive/communication disabilities and to develop law enforcement responses and training for police investigating such complaints.)
• H5467 by Williams, Messier, Ajello, Slater, Felix, Alzate ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY (Grants immunity to commercial sexual activity persons if they are victims/witnesses of crime.)
• H5470 by Serpa, Amore, Ackerman, Nardone, McEntee, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (Creates an action authorizing any person who has been sentenced to imprisonment greater than one year subsequent to being wrongfully convicted of a criminal offense to petition court for an award of compensation and damages, including attorney’s fees.)
• H5563 by Casimiro, Noret, Alzate ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS – SOCIAL HOST REGULATIONS (Authorizes the imposition of civil and criminal penalties against any person(s) who purchase, furnish, procure marijuana or permit marijuana to be used by others.)
• H5575 by Lombardi, Henries, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (Establishes Rhode Island First Step requiring corrections to assist offenders with reintegration into society, counseling, medical care, education, early termination to pre-release confinement for elderly and terminally ill offenders.)
• H5649 by Knight, Craven, McEntee, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – BAIL HEARINGS (Entitles criminal defendants charged with enumerated serious criminal offenses to a bail hearing within 14 calendar days of their initial court appearance.)
• H5724 (Attorney General) by McEntee, Craven, Caldwell ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – INTERCEPTION OF WIRE AND ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (Authorizes wire tap application for Human Trafficking offense investigations.)
• H5736 by Fellela, Serpa, Fenton-Fung, Messier, Lima ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY – CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (Provides as a violation for any person leaving a dog outside and unattended in temperatures of thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit or below, or ninety degrees Fahrenheit or above, would be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000.)
• H5871 (Attorney General) by Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSE (Extends the “look back” period for a third and subsequent driving under the influence (DUI) and a refusal to submit to a chemical test to ten years from the current five years.)
• H5878 by Lombardi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – IDENTIFICATION AND APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS (Allows expungement of multiple felony convictions for non-violent felonies 20 years after sentence completed.)
• H5880 by Kislak, McEntee, Ranglin-Vassell, Knight, Newberry, Felix, Batista, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN – PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT (Prohibits any questioning of a juvenile who is suspected of delinquent or criminal behavior, unless the parent of guardian of the juvenile is present, or unless an attorney is present or the juvenile and their parents have waived their presence.)
• H5881 by Marszalkowski, Casimiro ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – SEXUAL ASSAULTS (Provides that a school teacher or employee that engages in sexual penetration of a student over fourteen and less than eighteen shall be guilty of third degree sexual assault.)
• H5982 by Felix, Kazarian, Morales, Henries, Giraldo, Batista, Lombardi, Caldwell, Barros, Knight ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE-IDENTIFICATION AND APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS (Repeals requirement of one hundred dollar fee for expungements and requires court administrator advise general treasurer and/or the registry of the court that any bail money on deposit be returned to the defendant or surety.)
• H5986 by Fogarty, Carson, Donovan, McGaw, Vella-Wilkinson, Cortvriend, Ruggiero, Tanzi, Ajello, Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – PUBLIC UTILITIES (Increases penalties for damages to electric/cellular communication lines from $3,000 to $50,000/imprisonment from 2 to10 years, or both/requires restitution for economic harm/increases water supply systems imprisonment to 10 years plus restitution.)
• H5991 by Chippendale, Quattrocchi, Lima, Corvese, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES BURGLARY AND BREAKING AND ENTERING (Adds a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing robbery of the owner, lessor, or occupant of a motor vehicle and that the owner or occupant of the vehicle acted in self defense.)
• H5992 by Chippendale, Quattrocchi, Cardillo, Lima, Corvese, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – BURGLARY AND BREAKING AND ENTERING (Provides a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing any violent criminal offense that individual is lawfully in a place they have a right to be, and acted in self-defense and reasonable belief of harm.)
• H5994 by Batista, Williams, Felix, Morales, Alzate, Place ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS – UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT (Reduces drug dealer sentence from life to 20 yrs./ makes simple possession of controlled substance a civil violation including drug counseling/community service and not cause to support motor vehicle/premises search.)
• H6049 by Henries, Felix, Hull, Lombardi, Kazarian, Cassar, Batista ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – SEXUAL ASSAULT (Establishes criteria for the criminal offense of sexual assault when the victim is in the custody of a peace officer/provides that a person convicted of custodial sexual assault would face imprisonment for not more than 3 years.)
• H6083(Attorney General) BY Slater ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS – UNIFORMED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT (Reclassifies simple possession of ten grams (10g) or less of a controlled substance classified in Schedules I, II, III, IV, V of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to a 2 year misdemeanor instead of a felony.)
• H5870 (Attorney General) by Marszalkowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – PAYMENT OF WAGES (Includes misclassification of employees as a violation of this section and would provide for increase penalties including a felony where the wages due to the employee because of the misclassification is greater than $1,500.)