Government

Rhode Island State House – Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Wednesday March 10, 2021 1pm Right from the Start 3:30pm House Committee on Education SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION H5354 by O’Brien, Noret, Casimiro ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – ANTI-BULLYING BILL OF RIGHTS ACT (Creates anti-bullying bill of rights to strengthen protection for students who are victims of bullying.) H5355 by O’Brien, Corvese ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO

Rhode Island News: Rhode Island State House – Wednesday, March 10, 2021

March 10, 2021, 11:00 pm

By Uprise RI Staff

Wednesday March 10, 2021

1pm Right from the Start

3:30pm House Committee on Education

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • H5354 by O’Brien, Noret, Casimiro ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – ANTI-BULLYING BILL OF RIGHTS ACT (Creates anti-bullying bill of rights to strengthen protection for students who are victims of bullying.)
  • H5355 by O’Brien, Corvese ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY (Act broadens the definition of “teacher” and create a comprehensive bill of rights for school teachers.)
  • H5521 by Lombardi, Henries ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Requires school committees to provide transportation for any student who resides two or more miles from school.)
  • H5522 by Amore, Lombardi, Potter, Alzate, Giraldo, Morales ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – ACCESS TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT (Establishes a process for CCRI, RIC and URI to accept for college credit an advanced placement subject test score of three (“qualified”) or better in an advanced placement course.)
  • H5625 by Cortvriend, Carson, Ruggiero, Ajello, Kislak, Donovan, Kazarian, Speakman, Ranglin-Vassell, McGaw ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION THE CLIMATE LITERACY ACT (Implements literacy of climate change for all students enrolled in public schools or other schools managed and controlled by the state in K-12.)
  • H5650 by Kislak, Kazarian, Blazejewski, Biah, Williams, Henries, Knight, Ackerman, Ranglin-Vassell, Ajello ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – RHODE ISLAND HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDE EDUCATION COMMISSION (Creates the Holocaust and genocide education commission.)
  • H5697 by Williams, Hull, Alzate, Barros, Henries, Biah, Abney, Morales, Giraldo, Cassar ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – AFRICAN HERITAGE HISTORY EDUCATION (Requires implementation of education courses in African American history in elementary and secondary schools in Rhode Island commencing in the 2022-2023 school year.)
  • H5698 by Giraldo, Alzate, Williams ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT] (Requires all public schools to send out written invitations to all parents, guardians or caretakers of students inviting those parents, guardians or caretakers to an orientation at the school.)
  • H5823 by Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Azzinaro, Filippi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – RESIDENCE OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES (Military personnel ordered to Rhode Island may register their children for school remotely.)
  • H5824 by Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Solomon, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Filippi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE – PURPLE-STAR RHODE ISLAND DEPENDENT EDUCATION ACT (Establishes the “Purple-star Rhode Island Education Act” or “PRIDE” Act.)
  • H5825 by Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Azzinaro, Filippi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – THE STATEWIDE VIRTUAL EDUCATION ACT [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 – THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT] (Children/ Students of military service members transferring to or from Rhode Island may attend by virtual learning.)
  • H5836 by Shanley, McNamara, Shekarchi, Solomon, Bennett, Vella-Wilkinson, Barros, Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS (SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 – THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT) (Amends the career and technical education program laws to provide the process by which students could access career and technical education programs outside of their home school district.)
  • H6021 by Ajello, McNamara, Kislak, Felix, Williams, Barros, Amore, Lima, O’Brien, Morales ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION (Requires district and independent charter schools to use a random selection process to select eligible public school students who would be invited to attend the charter school and allows a parent to decline the invitation.)

3:30pm House Committee on State Government & Elections

SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION

  • H5418 by Amore, Noret ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES – APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATION, AND TENURE OF OFFICERS (Requires that all persons serving on boards and commissions appointed by the governor have a connection to the state through residence or licensure.)

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • H5496 by Roberts, Chippendale ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – VITAL RECORDS (Requires notification of the name and address of the deceased on a death certificate with the office of secretary of state and the chairperson of the board of canvassers for the purpose of removal from the rolls of registered voters.)
  • H5562 by Perez, Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Cardillo, Shanley, Corvese ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – TRAFFIC OFFENSES (Prohibits the department of motor vehicles from placing on a motorist’s driving record, a traffic violation which fine has been paid no longer than thirty days after its issuance. This procedure would only be utilized twice per year)
  • H5565 by Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Azzinaro ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – GAMBLING AND LOTTERIES (Authorizes nonprofit organizations to conduct gambling event fundraisers approved by the city or town in which the event is to be conducted and as authorized by the state police.)
  • H5578 by Tobon, Caldwell, Baginski, Alzate, Edwards, Barros, Corvese, Amore, Craven ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – ELECTRONIC VEHICLE RECOVERY SERVICES (Requires vehicle owners with electronic vehicle recovery systems to submit affidavit attesting to theft prior to law enforcement contact with provider for aid in locating vehicle.)
  • H5602 by O’Brien ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – VIDEO-LOTTERY GAMES, TABLE GAMES AND SPORTS WAGERING (Established player self-exclusion program with winnings collected from self-excluded players going to RICPG for research/education/prevention of teenage gambling addiction.)
  • H5608 by Cardillo, Craven, Fellela, Costantino, Corvese, Kazarian, Batista, Caldwell, Hull, Williams ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Allows Rhode Island titled vehicles to be allowed to be registered online by the division of motor vehicles. Further, this allows all vehicles purchased from a Rhode Island car dealer to be registered online.)
  • H5622 by Noret ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE – EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER HEALTH PRACTITIONERS ACT (Permits medical/vets services by health care volunteers during emergency.)
  • H5623 by Noret, Casimiro, Vella-Wilkinson, Alzate, Corvese, Solomon, Craven, Amore, Casey, Lima ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – ZONING ORDINANCES (Allows occupancy of an accessory dwelling unit of a single-family dwelling by a family member generally, and allows municipalities to establish standards for the construction of accessory dwelling units.)
  • H5624 by McGaw, Henries, Cassar ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS – PRIMARIES (Requires that on all primaries, the candidate’s names would be listed in an order chosen by lot under the direction of the secretary of state.)
  • H5740 by Diaz, Slater, Kazarian, Ackerman, Potter, Tobon, Alzate, Giraldo, Cassar, Barros ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – RESTRICTIVE HOUSING AT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACT (Establishes conditions, policies and procedures for the restrictive housing of inmates at correctional facilities in Rhode Island with the least restrictive conditions possible.)
  • H5746 by Giraldo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS – STATE PURCHASES (Provides an exception to the requirements of competitive sealed bidding for local, minority and woman-owned business enterprises.)
  • H5747 by Giraldo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (Requires the department of administration to provide a list of certified minority and women-owned business enterprises to each prospective contractor of a construction project.)
  • H5752 by Giraldo, Shanley, Alzate, Williams ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION (Requires the Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity (ODEO) to create and for all state and municipal employees to receive annual training in cultural competency.)
  • H5753 by Tobon, Barros, Edwards, Diaz, Fellela, Casey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS – REGISTRATION OF VOTERS (Increases the role of the division of motor vehicles in the voter registration and address verification process, by establishing very specific obligations.)
  • H5887 (University of Rhode Island) by Fogarty, McEntee, Caldwell, Craven, Tanzi, Carson, Amore, McGaw, Lima, Kennedy ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – OPEN MEETINGS (Permits URI Board of Trustees to attend open public board meetings remotely.)
  • H5888 (University of Rhode Island) by Fogarty, McEntee, Craven, Caldwell, Tanzi, Carson, Amore, McGaw, Lima, Kennedy ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (Allows URI board of trustees to make small procurements up to $50,000 for construction/$10,000 for all other purchases with annual increases in the federal CPI.)
  • H5889 (University of Rhode Island) by Fogarty, McEntee, Craven, Caldwell, Tanzi, Carson, Amore, McGaw, Lima, Kennedy ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND (University of Rhode Island board of trustees to be composed of 17 members appointment by the governor.)
  • H5891 (Department of Business and Regulation) by Marszalkowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – OPEN MEETINGS (Amends the “open meetings act” to allow virtual meetings and participation by electronic communication until July 1, 2023.)
  • H5892 by Baginski, Edwards ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – STATE BUILDING CODE – ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT (Eliminates provisions establishing a legislative regulation committee and also repeals the requirement that codes and standards adopted by the state building code standards committee is subject to approval by the legislative regulation committee)
  • H5893 by Shanley, Craven, Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATUTES AND STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – PAYMENT OF STATUTORY FEES (Allows state departments and agencies to implement electronic f iling of applications for licenses, permits, registrations, certificates and functions by allowing a vendor to withhold a commission for implementing the system for electronic filing.)

3:30pm Senate Committee on Education

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • S0032 by Seveney, Lawson, Cano, Pearson, DiMario, Calkin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – STUDENT PRIVACY ON SCHOOL-OWNED TECHNOLOGY (Establishes certain student privacy rights in regard to take-home technology devices from school.)
  • S0089 by Raptakis, Cano, Paolino, Euer, Archambault ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – OFFENSES PERTAINING TO SCHOOLS (SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 – THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT) (Prohibits the use of a school district’s listserv to distribute any political advertisement, invitation, and/or propaganda.)
  • S0151 by Picard ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Allows a school district to conduct instruction through virtual education up to five (5) days when schools have been closed due to inclement weather, emergency or any nonscheduled school closings.)
  • S0289 by Gallo, Goodwin, McCaffrey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LIBRARIES – OFFICE OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES – STATE AID TO LIBRARIES (Amends various sections relating to libraries to remove outdated provisions and update language to reflect current practices affecting library technology.)
  • S0465 by McCaffrey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE – SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 – THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT (Provides that the public schools shall be responsible for attendance data monitoring and detection of emergent truant behavior.)

3:30pm Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • S0051 by DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD LIMITS – MIDDLETOWN (Prohibits the operation of through commercial vehicles on Turner Road in Middletown.)
  • S0175 by DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS – ABANDONMENT BY TOWNS (Allows the town of Middletown to sell an abandoned highway or driftway to the abutting property owner making the abandonment request at fair market value.)
  • S0239 by Cano, Murray, Euer, Quezada, Pearson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION (Exempts from taxation real property acquired or leased by a railroad entity used in the boarding or disembarking of railroad passengers or supporting passenger railroad operations and services.)
  • S0240 by Coyne ENTITLED, AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF BARRINGTON (Ratifies and validates Barrington Home Rule Charter amendments approved by electors at 11/3/20 election.)
  • S0242 by DiMario, Valverde ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION (Exempts from taxation the real property of Ocean State Community Wellness Inc, a qualified tax-exempt corporation under § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, for the property located at 7450 Post Road, North Kingstown, Rhode Island.)
  • S0390 by de la Cruz, Morgan, Paolino ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO THE OAKLAND – MAPLEVILLE NUMBER 4 FIRE DISTRICT
  • H5181 by Azzinaro, Kennedy, Filippi 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 (Authorizes the Town of Westerly to issue bonds and notes in an amount not exceeding $2,000,000 to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities in the town.)

4pm House COVID Task Force

5pm Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • S0036 by Miller, Sosnowski, Quezada, Euer, Valverde, Kallman, Murray, Archambault, Burke, Coyne ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS – DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE CONTAINERS (Prohibits a covered establishment from preparing, selling, processing or providing food or beverages in or on a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam.)
  • S0106 by Calkin, Anderson, Acosta, Mack, Mendes, Bell, Quezada ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT RECYCLING ACT OF 2021 (Creates a refundable four cent deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A ten cent handling fee would be paid by distributors.)
  • S0220 by Valverde, DiMario, Miller, Euer, Coyne, Paolino, Goldin, Lawson, Acosta, Bell ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT RECYCLING ACT OF 2021 (Creates a refundable ten cent deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A four cents handling fee would be paid by distributors.)
  • S0562 by Miller ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – MINIATURE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTAINER ACT OF 2021 (Creates a refundable fifty cent deposit for miniature alcoholic beverage containers, often referred to as “nips.”)

5pm Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • S0069 by Pearson, Seveney, Murray, Acosta, Bell, Coyne, DiMario, Valverde ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – WINE DIRECT SHIPPER LICENSE (Creates a wine direct license for licensed producers to directly ship limited wine to residents of RI over the age of 21.)
  • S0142 by Gallo, Ciccone, Pearson, Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – REGULATION OF SALES (Allows the sale of alcoholic beverages on New Year’s Day by retail Class A licensees.)
  • S0199 by Murray, Cano, Lawson, Goldin, Mendes, Acosta, Burke ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES – BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES (Modifies limitations on quantities of malt beverages and distilled spirits that can be sold at retail by certain licensed breweries and distilleries for off-premises consumption.)
  • S0277 (by request) by Algiere ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – RETAIL LICENSES (Allows the Westerly Town Council to issue a Class B liquor license for premises located at 169 and 177 Main Street, despite its location within proximity to a school church.)
  • S0439 by Murray, Seveney, Raptakis, Morgan, Lawson, Kallman, Mendes, Valverde ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – RETAIL LICENSES (Requires Class B licensees to offer to the public the opportunity to purchase and consume food in conjunction with the sale of alcoholic beverages, at all times while alcohol is consumed on the premises.)
  • S0440 by Ciccone ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – RETAIL LICENSES (Allows the Providence board of licenses to grant an exemption from restrictions with regard to the proximity to schools and churches relating to issuance of a Class BV alcoholic beverage retail license for property located at 601 Hartford Avenue.)
  • S0555 by Gallo, Euer ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – RETAIL LICENSES (Authorizes a holder of a Class B license to sell alcoholic beverages with take-out food orders with a sunset on 12/31/2022.)
  • S0556 by Goodwin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – RETAIL LICENSES (Exempts 203-209 Douglas Avenue, Plat 68, Lots 83 and 646 of the applicable city of Providence tax assessment map from the permitting of alcohol beverages retail licenses within a certain proximity to schools and churches.)

7pm House Committee on Judiciary

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • H5429 by Place, Quattrocchi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – FORM AND EFFECT OF CONVEYANCES (Allows a municipality to publish any public notice in a newspaper within the municipality or any other platform selected by the town or city council of such municipality.)
  • H5472 by Craven ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION RESTRICTIONS ON REAL PROPERTY (Requires conservation and preservation restrictions to be liberally interpreted in favor of the grants awarded.)
  • H5560 by McEntee, Craven, Knight, Shanley, Batista ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE – PROCEDURE ON PARTICULAR ACTIONS – CONTRIBUTION AMONG JOINT TORTFEASORS (Limits credit of tortfeasor to amount paid by released tortfeasor.)
  • H5569 by Lombardi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS – DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION (Permits the family court to award custody of household pets to the plaintiff in a domestic abuse complaint.)
  • H5580 by Lima ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS – DIVORCE AND SEPARATION (Creates a custody procedure for pets in divorce and separation proceedings based on the best interests of the animal. This act would not apply to assistance/service animals.)
  • H5618 by O’Brien ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY – CONTESTED PET OWNERSHIP (Creates a legal process by which formerly cohabitating parties could seek from the district court a determination as to ownership of any pet.)
  • H5570 by Ajello, Kislak, Tanzi, Corvese, Batista, Felix, Handy, Donovan, Speakman, Cassar ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS – SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Requires returns of a marriage certificate to be filed within two business days after the ceremony, and would validate the common practice of filing the return by mail.)
  • H5571 by Diaz, Kazarian, Williams, Ackerman, Tanzi, Perez, Corvese, Noret ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – CHILDREN (Raises the legal age for persons to purchase or be sold or delivered certain tobacco products, electronic nicotine-delivery systems and liquid nicotine containers from 18 years of age to 21 years of age.)
  • H5581 by Noret ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE – PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS – DEATH BY WRONGFUL ACT (Allows recovery of damages for the emotional distress, grief, and loss of enjoyment of life as a result of the wrongful death of a spouse, a parent or a son or daughter.)
  • H5858 (Attorney General) by Shanley, Craven, Barros, Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – COUNTY GRAND JURIES (Permits county and statewide grand juries to issue reports with review/acceptance by superior court with sunset date of July 1, 2026.)
  • H5866 by Filippi, Chippendale, Nardone, Knight, Fenton-Fung ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – PEN REGISTERS AND TRAP AND TRACE DEVICES (Prohibits the use of a stingray cell-site simulator device by any law enforcement agency except upon application for its use and the granting of an order by the presiding justice of the superior court.)
  • H5867 by Craven ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE-PROCEDURE GENERALLY – CAUSES OF ACTION (Products liability defense of subsequent alteration eliminated.)
  • H5987 by Fogarty, Amore, Tanzi, Shallcross Smith, Hull, Messier, Donovan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY (Limits damages to $100,000 in any tort action against the Rhode Island public transit authority, except in cases where the general assembly, by a special act, authorizes a tort action in excess of that amount.)
  • H5988 by Felix, Cassar, Ranglin-Vassell, Alzate, Kazarian, Giraldo, Potter ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE-PROCEDURE GENERALLY – LIENS AGAINST CAUSES OF ACTION (Prohibits a hospital from claiming a lien on any damages recovered by a Medicaid patient as a result of an accident not covered by workers’ compensation.)

7pm House Committee on Labor

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

  • H5475 by Williams, Giraldo, Messier, Vella-Wilkinson, Slater, Felix, Alzate ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – PROMPT PAYMENT BY DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION-SUBCONTRACTOR PAYMENTS (Expedites subcontractor payments for work on state contracts. Establishes new process to help minority business to collect from prime contractors for work on state contracts.)
  • H5722 by Edwards, Baginski, Tobon, Diaz, Serpa, Cassar, Williams, Shanley, Solomon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS – LABOR AND PAYMENT OF DEBTS BY CONTRACTORS (Requires bidders on public school construction contracts of $5,000,000 or more to have an apprenticeships program compliant with chapter and truthful reporting of program data to DLT effective July 1, 2021.)
  • H5723 by Ruggiero, Craven, Handy, Carson, Kislak, Azzinaro, Vella-Wilkinson, Williams ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES (Incorporates the federal affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations of federal contractors and subcontractors regarding individuals with disabilities, utilization goal of 3% for employment of qualified individuals.)
  • H5856 by Hawkins, Costantino, Biah ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS-LABOR AND PAYMENT OF DEBTS BY CONTRACTORS (Relieves regulatory burden by authorizing submission of certified payroll using federal forms for all public works.)
  • H5938 by Ranglin-Vassell, Ajello, Barros, Kislak, Fogarty, Cassar, Alzate, Henries ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -MINIMUM WAGES (Provides increases to the minimum wage in 2021, 2022, and 2023 and implements a permanent formula to provide annual adjustments to the minimum wage thereafter.)
  • H5939 by Ranglin-Vassell, Henries, Shekarchi, Bennett, Ajello, Fogarty, Cassar, Barros ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – WAGES (Increases the minimum wage by using an annual fixed amount until 1/1/25, where it reaches to $15 per hour, then raised annually thereafter by using the CPI-W. Also raises hourly minimum wage for employees receiving gratuities by using similar scale.)
  • H6010 by Casey, Craven, Batista, Noret, Corvese, Solomon, Lima, Edwards, Casimiro, Hull ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS (Extends IOD benefits to police officers/firefighters suffering from post-traumatic stress injuries/provides municipal police/firefighters retiring due to PTSI accidental disability retirement allowance.)
  • H6011 by Batista ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – HEALTHY AND SAFE FAMILIES AND WORKPLACES ACT (Amends the definition of paid sick leave time and paid sick and safe leave time and allow 40 hours of accrual for construction industry employees.)
  • H6012 by Felix, Henries, Potter, Batista, Barros, Cassar, Morales ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE (Gradually increases the tipped minimum wage from the current $3.89 to $14.95 commencing January 1, 2026 and on January 1, 2027 the tipped minimum wage shall be no less than the minimum wage established by the minimum wage law.)
  • H6013 by Diaz, Kazarian, Williams, Kislak, McLaughlin, Cortvriend, Messier, Lima, Alzate, Slater ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS – BUILDING SERVICE WORK (Requires that janitors and security guards employed, pursuant to state contracts worth more than $1,000 of janitorial or security services, be paid a standard compensation rate.)
  • H6089 by Henries, Lombardi, Hull, Amore ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – PERMANENT REPLACEMENT EMPLOYEES (Prohibits an employer from permanently replacing an employee who has participated or honored a union authorized strike.)
  • H6090 by Kazarian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE – BENEFITS (Increases temporary caregiver benefits to six weeks in a benefit year starting January 1, 2022 and would increase temporary caregiver benefits to eight weeks in a benefit year beginning January 1, 2023.)
  • H6091 by Morgan, Nardone ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING (Requires the department of labor and training to provide labor contract negotiations training to municipalities and local school committees.)