Thursday, March 11, 2021

10am House Committee on Oversight

Agenda

• Department of Children Youth and Families
  • Presentation on system transformation initiative by Kevin Aucoin, Acting Director.

3:30pm Senate Committee on Commerce

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• S0346 by Morgan, Rogers, Paolino, Picard, Coyne ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES – INSPECTIONS (Authorizes the Exeter town sergeant or designees to conduct division of motor vehicles vehicle identifying number and odometer inspections.)
• S0343 by Quezada, Calkin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW – GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS – FILING OF ASSUMED NAME (Makes amendments necessary to use the term “trade name” rather than “assumed name”, for purposes of the commercial law chapter on filing an assumed name, and provides for the administration and regulation of the use of trade names.)
• S024 by Bell, Murray, Picard, Ciccone, Quezada, Mack ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS – RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT – NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT – LIMITED-LIABILITY COMPANY ACT (Removes the 10 year period within which time the secretary of state’s office is authorized to withdraw a certificate of revocation for all Rhode Island business corporations, foreign corporations, nonprofit corporations and limited liability companies.)
• S0279 by Quezada, Picard, Calkin, Cano ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW-GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS – FILING OF ASSUMED NAME (Requires a person or persons who transact business under a trade name to register with a municipality, provides more extensive information when filing and to notify the municipality when the trade name is changed or discontinued.)
• S0337 by Raptakis, Anderson, Paolino, Morgan, de la Cruz ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS – RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT (Suspends minimum tax imposition upon corporations/limited-liability companies in tax years where corporate charter/certificate of organization is revoked by secretary of state until tax year of reinstatement in good standing.)

4pm House Committee on Conduct

Prevention of Sexual Harassment Training

• Presentation by:
  • Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson, Chair
  • Tina Christy, Senior Compliance Officer, Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights
• Opportunity for questions and discussion.

4pm Senate Committee on Judiciary

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• S0443 by McCaffrey, Ruggerio, Goodwin, Miller, Coyne, Bell, Gallo, Lombardo, Cano, Archambault ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – THE HOSPITAL CONVERSIONS ACT (Requires the transacting parties/new hospital seeking conversion to supply additional information in application for review by the DOH/DAG relating to staffing levels/pension plans/community impact.)
• S0131 by Bell, Calkin, Mendes, Lombardo, Mack, Anderson, Ciccone, DiMario, Murray, Cano ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Permits those other residents of a residential dwelling unit to extend the term of the rental agreement for a period not to exceed three months after the death of the lessee.)
• S0183 by Euer, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Cano, Mack, Kallman, Lombardo, Valverde, DiMario ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Imposes a moratorium on non-essential evictions/mortgage foreclosures during a state of emergency declared by the governor relating to residential property and establishes an eviction diversion program to resolve landlord-tenant eviction disputes.)
• S0265 by Kallman, Lawson, Acosta, Murray, Euer, Quezada, Cano, Seveney, DiPalma, Lombardo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSING (Provides for increases in the amount of foundation level school support that a community would receive, based upon a community’s ability to meet and surpass its minimum low- and moderate-income housing requirements.)
• S0413 by Quezada, Calkin, Murray, Lawson, Bell ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND SALESPERSONS (Requires applicants to pass test to include topics on fair housing and requires 24 hours of continuing education.)
• S0420 by Kallman, Quezada, Acosta, Murray, Euer, Calkin, Lawson, DiMario, Cano, Mendes ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Requires the sealing of any district court file, where a resolution of a trespass and eviction complaint results in a verdict for the tenant and no appeal is taken.)
• S0421 by Quezada, Murray, Cano, Lawson, Kallman ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – IMMIGRATION STATUS (Prohibits a landlord from asking about the immigration status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property.)
• S0523 by Paolino, Raptakis, Seveney, Felag, Archambault ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – COLLECTION OF TAXES GENERALLY (Prohibits the tax sale of properties when litigation is pending disputing the amount owed.)
• S0524 by Kallman, Lawson, DiMario ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – ZONING ORDINANCES (Increases the per-unit fee for affordable single family homes to $75,000 and allow municipalities to transfer in-lieu payments upon receipt or within ten years.)
• S0528 by Mack, Acosta, Mendes, Anderson, Calkin, Bell, Kallman, DiMario, Quezada, Cano ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Provides for the sealing and unsealing of court files in residential eviction proceedings.)
• S0561 by Kallman, Quezada, Ciccone, Goodwin, Mack, Acosta, Euer, Murray ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT (Prohibits discrimination in housing against those persons who have a lawful source of income.)
• S0563 by Kallman, Mack, Seveney, Cano, Valverde, DiMario, Goldin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT (Amends the definition of sexual orientation. Allows cases in superior court. Allows mediation prior to superior court case. Prohibits court order unless attorney fee waiver is signed. Repeals exemptions to sexual discrimination.)
• S0501 by Euer, DiPalma, McCaffrey, Goodwin, DiMario ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT (Requires third-party hosting platform to register short-term rental units for rent with dept. Of regulation or cannot conduct business in the state and imposes fines for listing unregistered units. DBR to create database for registered short term rentals.)
• S0504 by Euer, McCaffrey, DiPalma, Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – HOTELS – UNLICENSED RENTALS ACT (Establishes rules and regulations concerning rentals of residences for less than 30 days.)

5pm Senate Committee on Finance

SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION

• S0103 by Coyne, Valverde, Seveney, DiMario, DiPalma, Euer ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES (Authorizes cities/towns to establish a property tax credit program in exchange for volunteer service by persons over age 60 up to $1,500 calculated by multiplying service hours by the state minimum wage per hour.)
• S0296 by DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES-MIDDLETOWN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT (Allows the town of Middletown to enroll its full-time police officers hired on or after July 1, 2021, in a defined contribution plan established by the town and prevents newly hired police officers from becoming members of the retirement system.)
• S0363 by Murray, de la Cruz, Paolino ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – NORTH SMITHFIELD – HISTORIC RESIDENCE TAX CREDIT (Allows North Smithfield historic residence owners to become eligible for state historic residence tax credits.)

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• S0042 by Seveney, DiPalma, Lombardo, Coyne, Archambault, McCaffrey, Bell, DiMario, Acosta, Anderson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION (Defines light duty, non-emergency and zero emission vehicles and requires the state to convert its fleet of vehicles to no less than 50% of vehicles in those categories by the year 2029.)
• S0164 by Raptakis ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES-LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under 6000 lbs gross weight, used exclusively for personal use, from sales tax.)
• S0165 by Raptakis ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES-LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under 8,100 lbs gross weight, used exclusively for personal use, from sales tax.)
• S0227 by Felag, Cano, DiPalma, Coyne, Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Eliminates the sales tax on taxi services and pet care services.)
• S0298 by Gallo, Lombardo, Ciccone, Picard, McCaffrey, Goodwin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts from sales tax the trade-in values of motorcycles.)
• S0299 by Gallo, Lombardo, Picard ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks weighing 14,000 lbs or less from sales and use tax.)
• S0301 by Gallo, Euer, Coyne ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES-LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Increases the amount of exemption from sales tax for clothing including footwear from $250 to $1,000.)
• S0368 by Gallo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts certain equipment procured or rented by a contractor performing construction work for the state, any city or town or any quasi-public entity from the sales and use tax.)
• S0476 by Paolino, Rogers, DiPalma, Raptakis, Pearson, Seveney, Felag, Archambault, Algiere ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts from the sales and use tax that portion of a motor vehicle lease payment collected for tangible personal property tax, municipal property tax, excise or any other similar tax.)

5:30pm House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• H5358 by McEntee, Cortvriend, Bennett, Knight, Carson, Blazejewski, Speakman, Phillips, Donovan, Craven ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION ACT (Creates the “Plastic Waste Reduction Act” designed to reduce the use of plastic bags by retail establishments by offering recyclable bag options and providing penalties for violations.)
• House Resolution No. 5524 by Carson, Ruggiero, Kislak, Cortvriend, McGaw ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DIVISION OF STATEWIDE PLANNING TO PROVIDE AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET (OR EQUIVALENT) AND GIS MAP LAYER SHOWING COMMERCIAL SCALE SOLAR DEVELOPMENT IN RHODE ISLAND’S CITIES AND TOWNS, AND THE SITES IDENTIFIED IN THE AUGUST 2020 OFFICE OF ENERGY RESOURCES REPORT ENTITLED “SOLAR SITING OPPORTUNITIES IN RHODE ISLAND”H5525 by Kennedy, Azzinaro, Edwards, Casimiro, Filippi, Chippendale ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – PHOTOVOLTAIC TAKEBACK ACT OF 2021 (Requires that any manufacturer or installer of solar module systems in Rhode Island establish a program as set up by the department of environmental management, for the safe disposal of those systems.)
• H5627 by Tobon, Carson, Edwards, Lima, Barros, Corvese, Craven ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (Creates a low emission diesel standard used to power a diesel fueled compression-ignition internal combustion engine and would take effect December 1, 2021.)
• H5759 by Solomon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – DRY DOCK FACILITIES (Amends the lien and notice procedures for facility operators of dry dock facilities.)
• H5760 by Speakman, Cortvriend, Donovan, Caldwell, Carson, Handy, Tanzi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY (Creates a forest conservation commission, to be coordinated with the department of environmental management, to seek new funding and identify incentives for landowners to maintain their land as forest.)
• H5761 by Potter, Kazarian, Kislak, Morales, Cortvriend, Henries, Ajello, Felix ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY – FAMILY FARM PROTECTION ACT (Prohibits industrial sized factory farming.)
• H5762 by Ruggiero, Handy, Potter, Carson, Cortvriend, Kislak, Shanley ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD (Sets forth new renewable energy standards.)
• H5920 by Cortvriend, Knight, Potter, Carson, Cassar, Speakman, Fogarty ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – COASTAL HAZARDS (Authorizes the state’s twenty-one coastal communities to adopt the CRMC’s coastal hazard application process applicable to a local overlay district.)
• H5921 by Price, Filippi, Quattrocchi, Place, Nardone ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE – COMMERCIAL FISHERIES (Permits the dockside sale of allowable finfish, live lobsters, crabs and live whelk upon issuance of a temporary direct sale dealer license by the department of environmental management to a commercial fishing license holder.)
• H5924 by Carson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOCUS AREAS (Establishes environmental justice focus areas/coastal zones/ establishes procedures for investigation/ remediation of contaminated sites within coastal zones by DEM with increased community participation.)

5:30pm House Committee on Finance

SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION

• H5534 by Diaz, Slater, Williams, Batista, Perez 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 (Authorizes Providence to issue not more than $140,000,000 bonds to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities throughout the city of Providence.)

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• H5026 by McNamara ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES – RETIREMENT SYSTEM – MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS (Allows teachers, who are at the top step maximum salary, to retire early.)
• H5359 by Messier, Barros, Kazarian, Solomon, McNamara, Fellela, Lima, Donovan, McLaughlin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES – RETIREMENT SYSTEM – CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS (This act would award all members of the pension system a 3% (COLA) if certain conditions are met.)
• H5362 by O’Brien ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (Provides state employee public safety professionals with parity to municipal public safety employees in the state/municipal retirement systems. eff. 7/1/21 with 10% contribution.)
• H5671 by Baginski, Potter, Ruggiero 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.)
• H5732 by Giraldo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE-PROCEDURE GENERALLY – FEES (Raises the juror’s fees for each day’s attendance on the superior court from $15.00 per day to $25.00 per day commencing July 1, 2022, and increases to $35.00 per day commencing July 1, 2023, and thereafter.)
• H5795 by Nardone, Chippendale, Place, Quattrocchi, Price ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL (Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.)
• H5802 by Lombardi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS – PAYDAY LOANS (Caps the APR for payday loans at 28%. Requires 90 day maturity date. Prohibits fees/interest payments in excess of 60% of principal. Requires monthly payments of no more than 25% of original principal amount.)
• H6026 by Morales, Henries ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE – DIVESTMENT OF STATE PENSION FUNDS FROM MILITARY CONTRACTORS (Requires the state investment commission to identify and divest pension fund investments in military weapon manufacturers whether held directly and indirectly.)
• H6071 (General Treasurer) by McEntee, Cortvriend, Caldwell, Carson, Costantino, Phillips, McNamara ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO A TAXATION – BUSINESS CORPORATION TAX (Provides for the creation of a taxpayer services division to assist taxpayers in the proper recordkeeping, reporting and remitting of income taxes.)
• H6077 by McLaughlin, Giraldo, Potter ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES – RETIREMENT SYSTEM – MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS (Exempts active members of the retirement system employed as state public safety professionals from the cost to purchase credit for military service and interest charges.)
• H6102 by McLaughlin, Fellela, Casey, Morales ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – CENTRAL FALLS RETIREE PENSION BENEFITS (Provides increases in the pension benefit to persons covered by the Central Falls retirees’ settlement agreement.)
• H5927 by Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Solomon, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Filippi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE – RHODE ISLAND VETERANS HOME (Vet home residents overcharged reimbursed or overcharge to Chaplain Fund.)
• H5814 by Quattrocchi, Place, Filippi, Nardone, Price ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE – RHODE ISLAND VETERANS’ HOME (Reorganizes the Rhode Island Veterans’ Home into a quasi-public corporation of the state operated by a board of directors consisting of 11 members.)
• H5682 by Cardillo, O’Brien, Vella-Wilkinson, Costantino, Azzinaro, Corvese, Chippendale, Potter, Fellela, Craven ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE – RHODE ISLAND VETERANS’ HOME (Requires 12% interest per year on improperly billed maintenance fees reimbursed to veterans.)
• H5533 by Casimiro, Noret, Alzate, Fenton-Fung, Solomon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS (Limits the application fee for pharmacists to $200 annually.)
• H5065 by Knight ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS, COSMETICIANS, MANICURISTS AND ESTHETICIANS (Repeals requirement a person licensed as barber be a citizen of United States and be of good moral character. Also repeals requirement that a person so licensed pay a license fee for the business.)
• H5696 by McEntee, Tanzi, Fogarty 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 (Authorizes the town of South Kingstown to issue not more than $85,000,000 bonds and notes to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities.)