Thursday, February 25, 2021

1pm Walmart Foundation grant for RI African Heritage History Education curriculum for public schools

1pm Covid Press briefing

4pm Rhode Island House

• H5077 (See Amendment) AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS – THE NEIL FACHON TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS’ RIGHT TO TRY ACT OF 2021
• H5039 (See Amendment) AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES – EXPLOSIVES, FIREWORKS, AND PYROTECHNICS
• S0070 (See Amendment) AN ACT TO VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF MIGRANT, LLC

4pm Senate Committee on Finance

Scheduled for Hearing and/or Consideration

• S0226 AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES – THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM (Provides for adjustments to the payment standard for cash assistance.)

• S0223 AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES – THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM (Amends the current law so that monthly payments of child support (and payment of any arrearages) be exempt from income in determining an applicant’s qualifications for The Rhode Island Works Program.)

• S0092 AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES – PAYMENTS TO FIRE COMPANIES (Provides for an appropriation of state funds to cities and towns who are members of the Narragansett Bay marine task force (NBMTF) for the maintenance of boats providing services to Narragansett Bay.)

• S0093 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (Defines as “disabled,” persons receiving veterans’ affairs disability benefits paid by the federal government for purposes of property tax relief.)
• S0163 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (Amends the definition of “disabled”, for the purposes of property tax relief, to include veterans who earn less than $30,000 annually and who receive disability benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.)

• S0096 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES (Prohibits cities and towns from performing spot assessments that increase the assessment value of properties that have sold, except in accordance with their revaluation or update schedule.)

• S0102 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION – EXEMPTIONS (Includes the real and tangible personal property of The Providence Community Health Centers, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode Island, on the list of properties exempt from taxation.)

• S0103 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.)

• S0224 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.)

• S0296 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.)

• S0325 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 ND EQUIPPING OF RECREATIONAL AREAS AND FACILITIES IN THE TOWN (Authorizes the town of Cumberland to issue general obligation bonds and notes not to exceed $2,500,000 for the development, improvement, repair, alteration, construction, renovation and equipping of recreational areas and facilities in the town.

4pm Senate Committee on Judiciary

Scheduled for Hearing and/or Consideration

• S0266 AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows the Honorable Maryellen Goodwin to join Katiuska Perez and Brian Parker in marriage on or about September 3, 2021, within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.)

• S0054 AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE – COURTS – FAMILY COURT (Family Court to hear abuse allegations for immigrants up to 21 years of age.)

• S0056 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – PRESERVATION OF FAMILIES WITH DISABLED PARENT ACT (Precludes a parent’s disability from serving as the sole basis for the state to institute an investigation of the disabled parent’s family.)

• S0177 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.)

• S0179 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS – TRAUMA INFORMED SCHOOLS ACT (Establishes the implementation of trauma-informed practices in schools throughout the state.)

• S0186 RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF THE TRAUMA INFLICTED ON CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE (Creates a 13 member commission to study the impact of the trauma inflicted on children exposed to violence, and report back by February 8, 2022, and expire on May 8, 2022.)

• S0250 AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS – ADOPTION OF CHILDREN (Reduces age from 25 to 18.)

• S0264 AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS – THE ELDER ADULT FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION PREVENTION ACT (Requires employees of regulated financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of elder adults to the office of healthy aging and provide authority to the regulated financial institution to place a temporary hold on transactions.)

5pm (Rise) House Committee on Finance

• Budget status update based on all of the information available including the audited FY 2020 closing (report expected by Monday 2/22), expenditures through the second quarter of the current fiscal year: report, additional developments regarding federal assistance and impacts of legislation passed after the FY 2021 budget was adopted.
• Budget Status Closing and Q2 February 25

5pm (Rise) House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing

Scheduled for Consideration

• H5257 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.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5257–BOB COOPER
  • 02-25-2021–H5257–MICHAEL STEPHENS
  • 02-25-2021–H5257–Michael Stevens

• H5217 AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF COVENTRY (This act would validate and ratify amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the town of Coventry, which amendments were adopted and approved by the electors of the town of Coventry on November 3, 2020.)

Scheduled for Hearing and/or Consideration

• H5126 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.)

• H5256 AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES – MISCELLANEOUS RULES (Prohibits any city or town employee, including private contractors, removing trash from leaving trash receptacles in any condition or place so as to constitute a hazard on the street or highways, except private roads or driveways.)

• H5259 AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES (Creates a voluntary mechanism for municipalities to use to dedicate a park, conservation or other land they own as public trust land in perpetuity to protect and preserve its future use.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5259–MEG KERR
  • 02-25-2021–H5259–RUPERT FRIDAY

• H5260 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES (Makes permanent the exemption from taxation for certain residential property developments which have not been completed or, if completed, have not been sold and occupied.)

• H5323 AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – FORM AND EFFECT OF CONVEYANCES (Allows the towns of Burrillville and Glocester to publish notices in any newspaper located within their municipalities. This act would also allow publication in other designated platforms selected by their city or town councils.)

• H5361 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT (Includes East Providence in the Northern Rhode Island regional tourism district.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5361–Robert Billington

• H5477 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 (Authorizes the town of Cumberland to issue general obligation bonds and notes not to exceed $2,500,000 for the development, improvement, repair, alteration, construction, renovation and equipping of recreational areas and facilities in the town.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5477–KERRIE BENNETT

During the RI House of Representatives Municipal Government and Housing Committee hearing Chair Ray Hull asks Representative Justin Price to leave because he isn’t wearing his mask.

7pm House Committee on Health and Human Services

Scheduled for Consideration

• H5075 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS (Requires at least one oral and maxillofacial surgeon on the Rhode Island board of examiners in dentistry.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–5075–Dr. Martin Elson
  • 02-25-2021–H5075– Mo Banki
  • 02-25-2021–H5075–Dante Gulino
  • 02-25-2021–H5075–E Joseph Domingo
  • 02-25-2021–H5075–Frederick Hartman
  • 02-25-2021–H5075–Ray English III
• H5164 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION — HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS (Allows students in public schools to possess and use a topical sunscreen product. Children enrolled in grades K-5 would need a note from a parent or guardian in order to possess sunscreen on school property.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–h5164–James Caney.RIAPA
• H5241 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS — PHARMACIES (Authorizes a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptive patches and self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives, provided that the pharmacist has completed a training program approved by the state board of pharmacy.)
• Written testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5241–Rhode Island Medical Society

Scheduled for Hearing and/or Consideration

• H5153 AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES — RHODE ISLAND PATHWAYS PROJECT (Requires the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to conduct a study to assess the impact of using Medicaid funds to provide coverage for the treatment of the chronically homeless.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5153–Bob Cooper

• H5162 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS – PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (Expands the rights of physician assistants with regard to their practice and prohibits non-compete clauses that exceed five years with regard to the purchase and sale of a practice.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5162–Ariana Africo
  • 02-25-2021–H5162–Christopher Ferreira
  • 02-25-2021–H5162–Craig Baillie
  • 02-25-2021–H5162–Marc Bialek
  • 02-25-2021–H5162–RI Physician Asst Academy

• H5163 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – LICENSING OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES – THE HOSPITAL CONVERSION ACT (Expands the health services council from twelve 12 to 24 members and amends the hospital conversion act relative to disclosure.)

• H5210 AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE — MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires that Medicare supplement policies be made available to Medicare eligible disabled individuals under the age of 65.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5210–American Kidney Fund
  • 02-25-2021–H5210–Dialysis Patient Citizens

• H5250 A RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY ENSURING RACIAL EQUITY AND OPTIMIZING HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS AFFECTING MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS (Creates 13 member special legislative commission to study health/safety impact of optimizing health/safety laws affecting marginalized individuals with report date of 5/31/22, expiring on 6/30/22.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Laurel Leake
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–ACLU Hannah Stern
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Angie
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Barbara Brents
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Barbara Gianola
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Bella Robinson
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–C.A. Denisevich
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Coyote RI
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Desire Alliance
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Erica MacDonald
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Espler Project Inc
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Glad Legal Advocates
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Health Insurance Commissioner
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Jay Kopita
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Jennifer Lima
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Jessica Avizinis
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Jordan Root
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Katherine Preston
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Kaytlin Bailey
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Marianne Verrone
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Marisa Day
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Melissa Broudo
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Nina Wolff Landau
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Norma Jean
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Now Rhode Islan
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Placdina Fico
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Ramona Flour
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–RI Academy of Physicians
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Ronald Weitzer
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Ryan Holt
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Savannah Sly
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Shanna Wells
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Swop Behind Bars Ms Dante
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Swop Behind Bars–Alex Andrews
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Terra Burn
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–The Ishtar Collective
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–The Womxn Project
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–UCLA Manisha Shah
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Urban Justice Center
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–US PROS
  • 02-25-2021–H5250–Woodhull Freedom Foundation

• H5283 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT – LICENSING AND MONITORING OF CHILD PLACING AGENCIES, CHILD CARING AGENCIES, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES, AND CHILDREN’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS (Requires all foster parents to undergo sensitivity training regarding the culture of their foster child.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 02-25-2021–H5283-Office of Child Advocate
  • 02-25-2021–H5283–RI DCYF

---

2021 Rhode Island State house Video:

• Rhode Island State House Monday, January 11, 2021 – Thursday January 14, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Monday, January 18, 2021 – Thursday January 21, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Monday, January 25, 2021 – Thursday January 28, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Monday, February 01, 2021 – Thursday, February 04, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Monday, February 08, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Tuesday, February 09, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Wednesday, February 10, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Thursday, February 11, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Friday, February 12, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Tuesday, February 16, 2021 – Thursday, February 18, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Monday, February 22, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Tuesday, February 23, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Wednesday, February 24, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Thursday, February 25, 2021
• Rhode Island State House Friday, February 26, 2021