Thursday, April 8, 2021

1pm Governor Daniel McKee COVID-19 Press Conference

2:30pm Senate Finance

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• S0351 by Pearson, DiPalma, Seveney, Rogers ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT (Requires department of elementary and secondary education to include amount of state and local share of education funding calculated for each local agency receiving state aid, requires cities and towns to appropriate sufficient funds to meet their share.)
• S0366 by Quezada, Pearson, DiPalma, Seveney ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – STATE AID (Amends the computation of relative wealth of municipalities for the purpose of distributing state aid by eliminating the requirement that certain exemptions include tax treaties that are conditioned on being in force on May 15, 2005.)
• S0373 by Pearson, DiPalma, Seveney, Gallo, Murray ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION (Amends the local share of education funding to be paid to charter public schools based on a comparison of performance data between the specific school from which the student is coming and the specific charter school that will be receiving the student.)
• S0045 by Pearson, Cano, Gallo, Murray, Valverde, Archambault, DiMario, Anderson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – STAY INVESTED IN RI WAVEMAKER FELLOWSHIP (Expand the Wavemaker Fellowship Program to include public school teachers in the high-need fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.)
• S0222 by Felag ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (Allows annual regionalization bonus at 2% of state’s share of foundation education and formula by removing sunset provision.)
• S0292 by Quezada, Cano, Goldin, Mack, Bell, Acosta, Mendes ENTITLED, RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 TO YEAR UP PROVIDENCE
• S0300 by Pearson, Valverde, Seveney ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – STAY INVESTED IN RI WAVEMAKER FELLOWSHIP (Repeals the provisions of the Stay Invested in RI Wavemaker Fellowship, and establish the Stay Invested in RI Tax Credit to provide eligible taxpayers with a tax credit for educational loan repayment expenses.)
• S0359 by Pearson, Cano, Euer, Valverde, Murray, Seveney ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – PERSONAL INCOME TAX (Allows a deduction from federal adjusted gross income for interest payments on outstanding student loans.)
• S0377 by Quezada, Mack, Bell ENTITLED, RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR FUNDING OF A NONPROFIT AGENCY, INSPIRING MINDS, INC., TO BENEFIT PROVIDENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (Allocates $50,000 from the general fund to the nonprofit agency Inspiring Minds, Inc., to train volunteers to provide personalized attention to Providence elementary school students.)
• S0574 by Pearson, Cano, Lawson, Gallo, DiPalma, Quezada, Murray, Seveney, Valverde ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT FUND (Provides for a one-time appropriation of $1,000,000 and an annual appropriation thereafter to Rhode Island College providing to teachers at no costs to them certification and educational programs who teach students who don’t speak English.)
• S0577 by Cano, DiMario, Quezada, Calkin, Anderson, Murray, Pearson, Miller, Euer, DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION (Provides $2,000,000 to support comprehensive and effective afterschool, summer learning and workforce development programs for students in grades K-12.)
• S0582 by Euer, Murray, DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT [SEE TITLE 16 CHAPTER 97 – THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT] (Provides districts with free and reduced lunch populations above 20% have their minimum housing aid share increased to 40% for projects completed after July 1, 2020 and school housing aid ratio increased to 5% if completed by December 30, 2027.)
• S0585 by Raptakis, Rogers, Archambault, Paolino, Morgan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – FOUNDATION LEVEL SCHOOL SUPPORT (Provides that in determining local school aid, the state would annually provide each community no less than an amount equal to the aid given in the preceding fiscal year.)
• S0587 by Pearson, Seveney ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT-LOCAL EDUCATION AID READJUSTING NEEDS AMENDMENT (“LEARN” AMENDMENT) (Readjusts local aid to charter public schools that received relief from the PPP fund.)

3pm House Environment and Natural Resources

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• H5923 by Caldwell, Serpa, Carson, Handy, Morales, Craven, Bennett, Potter, Donovan, Speakman ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY- HIGH-HEAT WASTE FACILITY ACT OF 2021 (Prohibits new high-heat waste processing facilities.)

3pm Senate Judiciary

SCHEDULED FOR ADVICE AND CONSENT

• Appointment of the Honorable Sabina Matos as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island

3:30pm Senate Judiciary

SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION

• H5257 as amended by Williams, Knight, Morales, Biah, Giraldo, Speakman, Henries, Potter, Barros, Batista 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.)

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• H5253 by Carson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows the Honorable Justice James D. Gleason to join Julia C. Scott and Brandon T. Elliano in marriage on or about August 28, 2021, within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.)
• H5413 by Casimiro ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows Christine K. Bush to join Jenny Miller and Craig Koehler in marriage on or about August 19, 2021, within the Town of Narragansett, Rhode Island.)
• H5414 by Kislak ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows William Bon Bauer to join Kaitlin Bauer and Gustazo Cabarcas in marriage on or about June 21, 2021, within the City of Providence, Rhode Island.)
• H5481 by Kazarian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows James R. Boyd, Jr., to join Alyssa Lynn LeValley and Andrew James Fleming in marriage on or about July 23, 2021, within the City of East Providence, Rhode Island.)
• H5482 by Shekarchi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows Peter Monopoli to join Gabrielle LaBrie and Lee Stamas in marriage on or about July 9, 2021, within the Town of Exeter, Rhode Island.)
• H5483 by Shekarchi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows the Honorable Scott Avedisian to join Lorna M. Simpson and John V. Kelly in marriage on or about August 21, 2021, within the Town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island.)
• H5952 by Shekarchi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows the honorable John G. Edwards to join Kelsey Kristine Edwards and David M. Coletta in marriage on or about October 23, 2021, within the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island.)
• H6109 by Tanzi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows John Wardle to join Alison Bubly and Adam Feinstein in marriage on or about August 1, 2021, within the Town of Middletown, Rhode Island.)
• H6120 by Casey, Phillips, Newberry, Amore, O’Brien, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Filippi, Hawkins, Marszalkowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows the Honorable Stephen R. Ucci to join Darlene M. Boudreau and the Honorable Michael A. Morin in marriage on or about July 30, 2021, within the City of Warwick, Rhode Island.)
• H6130 by Lombardi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows Adam Olivere to join Alexa Shanahan and Leighton Scott Lobdell in marriage on or about October 9, 2021, within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.)
• S0058 by Seveney, DiPalma, Lombardo, Sosnowski, Archambault, Acosta, Anderson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES (Imposes a $250 substance abuse education assessment for any conviction of driving under the influence or a violation for refusal to submit to a breathalyzer.)
• S0314 by Archambault, Lombardi, Euer, McCaffrey, Burke, Coyne, Goodwin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES (Grants a judge or magistrate the discretion to impose the requirement of blood and/or urine testing or the use of the ignition interlock system.)
• S0403 by Raptakis, Sosnowski, Anderson, Paolino, Morgan, de la Cruz ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES (Extends the “lookback” period for third and subsequent offenses involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs under § 31-27-2 and for offenses related to failure or refusal to submit to chemical tests under state law from 5 years to 10 years.)
• S0685 (Attorney General) by Sosnowski, Archambault, Lombardo, Raptakis, Algiere, Coyne 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 10 years from the current five years.)
• S0409 by Raptakis, Sosnowski, Anderson, Lombardo, Felag ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSES-VIOLATIONS (Requires that the license plates of a vehicle be confiscated by a police officer if the owner was arrested for driving while their license was suspended, revoked or cancelled for refusing to submit to a chemical test or for operating under the influence.)
• S0410 by Morgan, Rogers, Archambault, de la Cruz, Paolino ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS FINES COLLECTED (Prohibits the state, municipalities, or courts from attempting to collect any motor vehicle violation fines or costs, after more than seven years of the fine becoming final.)
• S0596 by Raptakis, Rogers, Paolino, Ciccone, Morgan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES (Increases penalties for a variety of motor vehicle offenses.)
• S064 by Seveney, Sosnowski, Coyne, DiPalma, Euer ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM (Authorizes the use of automated traffic-speed camera-enforcement systems on all state and local roads within the state, not just in school zones)
• S0318 by Archambault, Lombardi, Coyne, Euer, Burke 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.)
• S0401 by Archambault, Ruggerio, Lombardi, McCaffrey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY ADMINISTRATION – SECURITY (Makes changes to the motor vehicles laws by repealing the sections that require the filing of security or bond with the DMV following a motor vehicle accident in which the operator of the vehicle does not have insurance.)
• S0675 (Judiciary) by Coyne ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MOTOR VEHICLE REPARATIONS ACT (Provides that financial security is required for any motor vehicle registered or required to be registered in the state of Rhode Island.)
• S0676 (Judiciary) by Euer ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS OF RENTAL VEHICLES (Provides that violations of state law pertaining to rental vehicles are civil violations subject to the jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal.)
• S0680 (Judiciary) by Lombardi, Archambault, Burke, McCaffrey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES (Removes the $25 limit on tuition for a motorist to attend a driver education course, and would allow a judge or magistrate to delay the imposition of a suspension or revocation of a driver’s license or registration for a period up to 30 days.)
• S0681 (Judiciary) by Lombardi, Archambault, McCaffrey ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS – FREEWAYS (Eliminates the provision a person who solicits a ride in a motor vehicle or backs up a motor vehicle on a freeway is guilty of a misdemeanor. Adds $100 fine for advertising a motor vehicle for sale on a state highway to the schedule of violations.)
• S0682 (Judiciary) by Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MISCELLANEOUS RULES (Provides that the permissive use of a wireless communication device for the purpose of navigation of a motor vehicle shall only be applicable in cases where the device is mounted or otherwise affixed to the vehicle and not held in the motorist’s hand.)
• S0683 (Judiciary) by Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MISCELLANEOUS RULES (Sunsets the provision which allows first-time violators to avoid the fine by presenting proof of acquisition of a hands-free device prior to the imposition of the fine effective September 1, 2021.)
• S0404 by Raptakis, Paolino, Morgan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – DISORDERLY CONDUCT-UNLAWFUL INTERFERENCE WITH TRAFFIC (Criminalizes and sets mandatory minimum sentences for the unlawful i nterference with traffic upon the federal and state highways of this state.)
• S0525 by Lombardi, de la Cruz, Ciccone, Lombardo, Rogers ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – SNOWMOBILES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES (Allows driving and/or operating an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on public lands that are designated trails for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) as provided in the department of environmental management regulations.)
• S0602 (by request) by Algiere ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATED TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES (Authorizes licensed auto body shops to sell or dispose of motor vehicles that have been abandoned and located on their premises.)
• S0190 by Ciccone, Acosta, Valverde, Anderson, Calkin, Goodwin, Mendes, Murray, Bell, DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – OPERATORS’ LICENSE – SAFE ROADS AND MANDATORY INSURANCE (Requires an applicant for a license to provide a valid social security number. This act creates an alternative ID driving license for applicants without a social security number who are able to establish proof of Rhode Island residency.)
• S0776 by Cano, Ciccone, Quezada ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – REGULATION OF SALES – STATE IDENTIFICATION CARDS (Allows the division of motor vehicles (DMV) to issue state ID cards to persons unable to establish lawful presence in the US upon proof of residency and tax ID number effective January 1, 2022.)

4pm House Finance

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING

• H6122 (Governor) by Abney ENTITLED, AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022
  • Article 13. Human Services
• H5672 by Diaz, Caldwell, McNamara, Ackerman, Blazejewski, Shallcross Smith, Biah, Cassar, Tobon, Edwards ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES (Increases the reimbursement rates to be paid by the department of human services and the department for children, youth, and families, for licensed child care centers and family child care homes.)
• H5683 by Handy, Kazarian, Barros, Williams, Diaz, Felix, Carson, Alzate, Giraldo, Speakman ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES – RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM (Reduces the eligibility requirement for many prospective members of the Rhode Island Works’ Program making it easier for some to qualify for its benefits.)
• H5932 by Ranglin-Vassell, Barros, Fogarty, Hull, Alzate, Henries ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES – CHILD CARE SUBSIDY ELIGIBILITY (Authorizes both parents to seek financial child care benefits for their children rather than restricting it to the custodial parent.)

5pm Senate Commerce

SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION

• S023 by Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY SERVICES – TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM (Provides New Shoreham has the exclusive authority to prescribe rules and regulations pertaining to the operation, licensing, and regulation of transportation network service companies and their services when TNCs are operating in the town of New Shoreham.)

SCHEDULED FOR HEARING AND/OR CONSIDERATION

• S0022 by Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – NET METERING (Amends the maximum allowable capacity for net metering systems in the Block Island Utility District and Pascoag Utility District.)
• S0025 by Seveney, Acosta, Anderson, Calkin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – NONREGULATED POWER PRODUCER CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS (Excludes municipal and government bodies that aggregate electrical loads for residential retail customers from the requirement that a new contract is required when there is a change of terms for electric-generation services.)
• S0084 by Euer, Goodwin, Cano, McCaffrey, Sosnowski, Coyne, Felag, Valverde, Pearson, Gallo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (Establishes the duty of the commission and the division of public utilities to ensure affordability and sustainability for basic care necessities.)
• S0629 by Ruggerio, Euer, Goodwin, McCaffrey, Pearson, Miller, Gallo, DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS-RENEWABLE ENERGY (Increases the percentage of retail electricity sales from renewable energy sources.)
• S0633 by Mack ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – OFFICE OF ENERGY RESOURCES INTERCONNECTION STANDARDS (Transfers from the electric distribution company to the office of energy resources the authority to consider and act upon all applications for approval of interconnection of new renewable energy installation.)
• S0634 by Sosnowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS – PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (Requires the energy efficiency and resources management council to run a triennial competitive bid process to select an entity to propose and administer system reliability and energy efficiency and conservation procurement)
• S0699 by Ciccone ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -DISTRIBUTED GENERATION INTERCONNECTION (Requires the electric distribution company to report interconnection studies and not charge more than actual costs for the studies.)