Wednesday February 10

1PM Right from the Start – Vote Yes on Bond Questions 3 and 5

3PM House Committee on Education

Scheduled for Hearing and/or Consideration:

• H5069 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION — EQUITABLE ACCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT (Requires all charter public schools actively recruit students from and in every district that the school is chartered to service and receive students from.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 2-10-2021 –H5069–Achievement First
  • 2-10-2021 –H5069–RI League of Charter Schools

• H5071 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION — COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE (Directs school districts experiencing high rates of student absenteeism to establish attendance review teams to address this absenteeism.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 2-10-2021 –H5071–Kids Count

• H5078 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION (Requires that prior to any suspension being issued to a student or pupil in grades K-5, inclusive, the school would implement an individual behavior plan (the “plan”) for the student.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 2-10-2021 –H5078–Kids Count

• H5082 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION – COMPENSATION FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS (Expressly allows college athletes, while they are students, to personally profit from the use of their name, image, and likeness, and prohibits the NCAA from preventing these practices.)

• H5104 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS — STATE PURCHASES (Allows state colleges to sell discarded or surplus technology to their students at discounted prices, using the monies collected to purchase updated electronic equipment or technology.)

• H5157 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION — CURRICULUM (Provides that every superintendent of schools shall create an annual report on the progress and status of academic achievement of foster care youth.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 2-10-2021 –H5157–Adoption Rhode Island
  • 2-10-2021 –H5157–Kids Count

• H5158 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION — RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR INVESTMENT ACT (Requires the children’s cabinet, in conjunction with the department of education, to develop and implement strategies to improve the compensation of early educators.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 2-10-2021 –H5158- Rhode Island Now
  • 2-10-2021 –H5158– TEACH Early Childhood
  • 2-10-2021 –H5158–Connecting for Children and
  • 2-10-2021 –H5158–Kids Count
  • 2-10-2021 –H5158–Meeting Street

• H5159 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION (Designates physical, occupational, speech, and music therapies and behavioral health services as essential special services to be provided to students with disabilities during times of a declared emergency.)
• Written Testimony:
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159– Anthony Kaseoru
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159– Jeniris Garay
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159– Kevin OMalley
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159- Patricia Little
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Abigail Magiera
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Anne Howell
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Beth Katz
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Carol Manglass
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159-Crescentia Brodeur
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Danielle Costa
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Hands in Harmony-
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Joseph Little
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Katherine Little
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Kids Count
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Mary LoPresti
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Nicole OMlley
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Nilda Gonzalez
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Robert Panoff
  • 2-10-2021 –H5159–Sherri McGraw

4PM RI Senate

• Reappointment of Michael Mello (Council on Postsecondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2023.
• Reappointment of Marianne F. Monte (Council on Postsecondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2023.
• Reappointment of Jo Eva Gaines (Council on Elementary and Secondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Reappointment of Colleen A. Callahan, Ed. D. (Council on Elementary and Secondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Reappointment of Lawrence E. Purtill (Council on Elementary and Secondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Appointment of Cornelius M. Kerwin, Ph.D VICE Cecilia Rouse to the University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees for a term expiring February 1, 2022.
• Reappointment of Dr. Jeffrey A. Williams (Council on Postsecondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Reappointment of Rachelle Green (Council on Postsecondary Education) to the Board of Education for a term expiring January 31, 2023.
• Reappointment of Michael Sabitoni to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation for a term expiring July 1, 2024.
• Reappointment of Raymond Coia, Vice Chair (Appointed/Elected Official Representing Coastal Municipality Over 25,000) to the Coastal Resources Management Council for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Reappointment of Donald Gomez (Appointed Representing Coastal Community with Population Less Than 25,000) to the Coastal Resources Management Council for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Reappointment of Jennifer R. Cervenka, Chair (Public Member) to the Coastal Resources Management Council for a term expiring January 31, 2024.
• Appointment of Ernest Almonte VICE Bruce Campbell to the Narragansett Bay Commission for a term expiring April 1, 2024.
• Appointment of Vahid Ownjazayeri as Chair of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank VICE Merrill Sherman of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for a term expiring March 1, 2023.
• Reappointment of Scott Lajoie to the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for a term expiring March 1, 2022.
• Reappointment of Joshua Celeste, Esq. to the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for a term expiring March 1, 2022.
• Reappointment of Susan Leach DeBlasio to the Quonset Development Corporation for a term expiring December 31, 2023.
• Reappointment of Jean Rondeau to the State Retirement Board for a term expiring March 1, 2025.
• Reappointment of Stephen McAllister II to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation for a term expiring July 1, 2025.
• Reappointment of Nicolas P. Retsinas to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation for a term expiring July 1, 2025.
• Reappointment of Maria Barry to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation for a term expiring July 1, 2025.
• Appointment of Peter Mancini VICE Catherine Parente to the Convention Center Authority for a term expiring June 30, 2025.
• Appointment of Marcy Reyes to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Board of Directors for a term expiring April 1, 2024.
• Reappointment of William Facente to the Personnel Appeal Board for a term expiring April 1, 2027.
• Reappointment of Stan Israel (Representing Labor) to the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board for a term expiring August 1, 2027.
• Reappointment of Scott Duhamel (Representing Labor) to the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board for a term expiring August 1, 2027.
• Reappointment of Michael Grey (Employer Representative) to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.
• Reappointment of Robin Coia (Labor Representative) to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.
• Reappointment of George Nee (Labor Representative) to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.
• Appointment of Janet Raymond (Employer Representative) VICE John Gregory to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.
• Appointment of Marc Amato (Chair of Local Workforce Investment Board/designee VICE Janet Raymond to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.
• Appointment of Jordan Boslego (Representing Employer/Disabilities) to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.
• Reappointment of Steven Kitchin (Local Workforce Representative) to the Governor’s Workforce Board for a term expiring January 1, 2024.

• S0013A This act would provide that the council on elementary and secondary education would not grant preliminary or final approval for the creation or expansion of any district, independent, or mayoral academy charter school to begin operation in the 2021-2022, 2022-2023, or 2023-2024 school years. The act would also provide that the state would not approve or appropriate funding to any new charter school or expand an existing charter school that had not been approved by the council prior to July 1, 2020, for the fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• S0063A This act would require that the secretary of the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS), the secretary of commerce of the commerce corporation and the commissioners of elementary and secondary education and postsecondary education be appointed subject to the approval of the senate. Senate approval would also be required for most temporary appointments to these positions.

• S0001A This act would gradually increase the minimum wage from eleven dollars and fifty cents ($11.50) per hour to fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour, over a four (4) year period.

• S0074A This act would allow David Raymond Thibodeau, Jr., to join Staci Rae McCabe and Brendan Edward Curran in marriage on or about June 5, 2021, within the City of Newport, Rhode Island.
• S0050A This act would ratify the town of Jamestown Home Rule Charter amendment to Section 219 of the charter adopted at a November 3, 2020 referendum, concerning the process and procedures by which voter initiative can be activated.
• S0052A 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.
• S0053A This act 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. This act shall constitute an enabling act of the general assembly that is required pursuant to § 16-7-44. Any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under this act for school projects shall not be eligible for state housing aid reimbursement pursuant to § 16-7-44 unless the school projects described herein have been approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

4PM House Committee on State Government and Elections

• H5142 AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS — RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES REPORTING (Requires all candidates for office to file the same number of campaign finance reports, all due at the same times, whether or not they have contested primary elections.)

• H5282 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES — MERIT SYSTEM (Allows a classified employee to seek elected office provided that they resign their position upon being elected.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H 5282 ACLU
  • H5282 AFSCME

• H5286 AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS – PARTY COMMITTEES AND CONVENTIONS (Candidates for GA, filing of endorsement papers by Prov committees and nomination papers for Prov voters filed local board of canvassers.)

• H5287 AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE — EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (Establishes a joint general assembly emergency council 10 members to activate 90 days after declared state emergency to determine status of emergency/restore economy.)

• H5288 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — RHODE ISLAND COMMERCE CORPORATION (Establishes restricted receipts account within commerce corp for fines collected for violations of COVID-19/disaster rules for forgiveable loans/grants to small businesses.)

• H5289 AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS – RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES REPORTING (Permits campaign funds to be used to pay all childcare expenses that are incurred as a direct result of campaign activity.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H5289 Campaign expenses
  • H 5289 ACLU

6PM House Committee on Labor

Scheduled for Hearing and/or Consideration:

• H5178 AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — FIREFIGHTERS’ ARBITRATION (Continues all provisions of expired firefighters’ collective bargaining agreements until a successor agreement is reached between the parties or an interest arbitration award is rendered.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H-5178 testimony 021021
• H5179 AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — MUNICIPAL POLICE ARBITRATION (Extends provisions of an existing collective bargaining agreement for municipal police arbitration purposes until a successor agreement is reached or an interest arbitration award is rendered.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H-5179 testimony 021021

• H5262 AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Makes the fair employment practices act expressly applicable to individuals elected to state public officer or any political subdivision thereof and provides civil liability for person who directly or indirectly violates the chapter.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H-5262 testimony 021021

• H5264 AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – WORKERS’ COMPENSATION – OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES (Classifies as an occupational disease any disability or quarantine resulting from COVID-19 or other viral infection classified by an executive order during a declared state of emergency, subject to certain requirements.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H-5264 testimony 021021

• H5265 AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – PAYMENT OF WAGES (Eliminates repealed statute references and create a mechanism for employees to enforce their existing right to continuation of medical benefits.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H-5265 testimony 021021
• H5266 AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES (Prohibits an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or employee, to commit any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice; individuals would be held personally liable for such conduct.)
• Written Testimony:
  • H-5266 testimony 021021

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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