Monday, May 20, 2013
Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly last week.
House passes bill for temporary disabled driver placards The House passed legislation (2013 H-5119Aaa) that would allow licensed Rhode Island physicians to issue temporary disabled driver placards to patients they consider qualified to apply for a permanent plate. Under current law, disabled drivers face a waiting period before receiving their full disability placard from the Division of Motor Vehicles. This keeps those most in need of disabled parking privileges from taking full advantage of them as soon as they need them, according to Rep. Jan P. Malik (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren), the bill’s House sponsor. Under the bill, (2013 H-5119Aaa), any person applying for a permanent disability placard would be able to obtain a preliminary…
Monday, May 13, 2013
Here are highlights from the RI General Assembly session last week.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, May 13
Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the RI General Assembly last week. Primary offense for seatbelt violations in Rhode Island remains in place With the 2011 seatbelt law set to expire on June 30, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the sunset provision so that failure to wear seatbelts by adults will remain a primary offense in Rhode Island. The House passed the bill (2013-H 5140), sponsored by Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence). Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) sponsors the Senate companion bill (2013-S 0352). Click here to see news release. Senate OKs Crowley bill to use technology to catch Medicaid waste and fraud The Senate approved legislation (2013-S 29A) …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Same-sex marriage was approved by the House and signed into law by Gov. Lincoln Chafee, East Providence legislator led the commemoration of the Armenian genocide.
Same-sex marriage legislation becomes law On a final House vote of 56 to 15, the General Assembly enacted legislation making Rhode Island the 10th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. The historic signing came amid cheers from advocates and citizens who have pursued passage of the legislation since it was first introduced in 1997. Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed the bill into law about an hour later before hundreds gathered to watch the ceremony on the steps of the State House. The legislation (2013-H 5015B, 2013-S 38 A) was sponsored by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) and Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence). Click here to see news release. Kazarian speaks up in commemoration of the Armenian …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Rhode Island legislators approved same-sex marriage and heard bills on expanded background checks for gun purchases last week.
Senate approves same-sex marriage bill In a 26-12 vote, the Senate approved legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry in Rhode Island, effective Aug. 1. The bills (2013-S 0038A, 2013-H 5015B), sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) and Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), still have to clear an additional House vote before they can be sent to the governor. That vote is tentatively expected Thursday, following a Judiciary Committee vote on Tuesday. Barrington Sen. David Bates voted in favor of the legislation. Click here to see news release. Senate Judiciary holds hearings on gun bills The Senate Judiciary Committee heard seven of the nine bills introduced as part of the General Assembly’…
Monday, April 22, 2013
Last week in the General Assembly, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced it will vote on same-sex marriage legislation tomorrow, April 23.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, April 22
For more information on any of these reports, visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/ Senate Judiciary Committee schedules vote on same-sex marriage bills The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Tuesday, April 23, on three pieces of legislation related to same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. The three pieces of legislation the committee is scheduled to consider are: •(2013-S0038) , sponsored by Senator Donna M. Nesselbush (D – Dist. 15, Pawtucket), to permit same sex marriage in the state and deem those who had entered into civil unions as married; • (2013-S0708), sponsored by Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III (D – Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence), proposing a constitutional change to permit same sex marriage…
Monday, April 8, 2013
Bill by Sen. David Bates of Barrington to increase funding for renewable energy heard by Senate Finance Committee last week.
Senate Finance Committee hears ‘Moving the Needle’ bills The Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel Da Ponte (D-Dist. 14, East Providence), held hearings last week on several bills included under the recent "Moving the Needle" recommendations proposed by the General Assembly. The bills included: • (2013-S 0735) – Sponsored by Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), this legislation would require that 20 percent of the renewable energy program development fund administered by the Economic Development Corporation be allocated annually to the Office of Energy Resources for the purposes of developing, promoting and financing renewable energy programs effective Jan. 1, 2014 • (2013-S 0734…
Monday, April 1, 2013
East Providence Sen. William Conley has sponsored a bill requiring clean chain of title for home sales.
Committees hear bills requiring clean chain of title for residential properties The Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Corporations Committee heard legislation (2013-S 0547, 2013-H 5512), sponsored by Sen. William Conley (District 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) and Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (District 38, Hopkinton, Westerly), that would require all transfers of a mortgage interest on residential property be recorded to provide a clean chain of title. The bills were sponsored on behalf of Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and look to address irregularities with the recording of mortgages and assignments that negatively impact municipalities and consumers. Click here to see news release. Legislators ask for federal waiver to …
Monday, March 25, 2013
Two local legislators joined Gov. Chafee in announcing a set of new bills aimed at helping veterans.
House Finance Committee to hear department budgets The House Finance Committee, including Rep. Joy Hearn and Rep. Jan Malik of Barrington, has scheduled hearings this week on department budgets within the 2014 budget bill (2013-H 5127), as well as an update on the implementation on the health benefits exchange and its budget. All hearings will be held in Room 35 on the basement level of the State House and will be televised live by Capitol Television, which can be seen on Channel 15 by Cox and Full Channel subscribers and Channel 34 by Verizon viewers and streams live at www.rilin.state.ri.us/CapTV. See the full list of hearings here. Felag, Gallison join Chafee in announcing veteran support bills Gov. Lincoln Chafee joined members of …
Monday, March 18, 2013
The House Finance Committee, including Barrington Reps. Joy Hearn and Jan Malik, will hold hearings this week on the proposed 2013-14 state budget.
State budget hearings continue The House Finance Committee, which includes Rep. Joy Hearn of Barrington and Rep. Jan Malik of Barrington, will hold hearings this week on many elements of the 2014 budget bill (2013-H 5127). The committee also will hear a presentation from the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) on economic development, and hold a hearing on a Middletown borrowing bill. Click here for the schedule of hearings. Marshall appointed to shared services commission Rep. Kenneth A. Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) has been appointed to the Joint Commission on Shared Municipal Services, House Speaker Gordon D. Fox announced recently. The permanent panel has been working since last year to help find ways for cities…
Monday, March 11, 2013
Legislators introduced bills to hold a 'storm-preparedness' tax-free weekend, prohibit sales of e-cigarettes to minors, and cut Medicaid fraud, among others.
‘Storm preparedness’ tax-free weekend in August proposed Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) has introduced legislation (2013-H 5647) calling for a sales tax-free weekend for the purchase of emergency storm preparedness supplies. Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) has introduced the same bill in the Senate (2013-S 0526). Proposed for the August Victory Day weekend, tax-free items would include such things as portable generators, self-powered light sources, batteries, coolers or ice chests for food and even non-electric can openers. It is patterned on tax-free programs in several states. Click here to see news release. Legislation introduced to prohibit sale of ‘e-cigarettes’ to…
