Coming up in Committee: Twenty-One Sets of Bills Scheduled to be Heard by the RI General Assembly, February 26 - February 28, Part 1

Local Impact: Coventry, Foster, Johnston, Middletown, North Kingstown, Woonsocket 2

Anyone know the background on this one? H5322: Prohibits unauthorized use of the emblem of the Attorney General of the state of Rhode Island.

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21. S0341: A potpourri of changes to criminal law, including the decriminalization of a first offense for shoplifting or driving without a license, and an overall change so that "a petty misdemeanor shall not give rise to any disability or legal disadvantage based on conviction of a criminal offense". (S Judiciary; Thu, Feb 28) Would anyone familiar with the legal system care to comment on what the implications of the "petty misdemeanor" change are?

20. S0093: Some changes to the Bristol County Water Authority, the most interesting of which are ones like "All actions taken by the board of directors must be in compliance with the Rhode Island General Laws 'Access to Public Records Act'...and the 'Open Meetings Act'", which basically make clear that the BCWA cannot claim that it has some nebulous not-quite-government status that allows it to evade requirements for conducting business in the open. (S Housing and Muncipal Government; Tue, Feb 26)

19. Proposed Senate Rules for the 2013-2014 session. (S Rules; Wed, Feb 27) If I'm reading this correctly, there is exactly one change from last year: the sentence "In no event shall one (1) calendar day be construed as two (2) legislative days" has been struck from the definition of "Day" in rule 1.2. Further amendments could be proposed in committee.

18. S0173: Prohibits telemarketing (or "telephonic selling") calls to cell phones. Note that this an outright prohibition, not just implementation of a do not call list. (S Corporations; Tue, Feb 26)

17. S0291: Requires a search warrant for the search of any "portable electronic device" in the possession of an individual under arrest. (S Judiciary; Thu, Feb 28) This exact bill was passed by both chambers last year, but vetoed by the Governor.

16. Bud. Art. 8: Moves administration of renewable energy programs, funded via surcharges on ratepayers, away from the Economic Development Corporation and to the state's Office of Energy Resources. (H Finance; Tue, Feb 26)

15. S0305: Makes it illegal for banks to charge daily overdraft fees or overdraft fees greater than the amount overdrawn. (S Corporations; Thu, Feb 28)

14. S0361: Requires prisoners serving non-life sentences for first or second degree murder to serve 50% of their sentence before being eligible for parole. (S Judiciary; Thu, Feb 28)

13. S0225/S0358: Creates a good-conduct certificate that can be awarded by the state parole board to individuals who have served prison sentences, with the intent of helping them "to reestablish themselves as law-abiding members of society". (S Judiciary; Tue, Feb 26)

12. S0041: Extends the current requirement that persons convicted of sexual and violent offenses provide DNA to be logged in a database, to a requirement that persons arrested for "murder, manslaughter, first degree arson, kidnapping with intent to extort, robbery, larceny from the person, first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, first and second degree child molestation, assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to rob, assault with intent to commit first degree sexual assault, burglary, and entering a dwelling house with intent to commit murder, robbery, sexual assault, or larceny" or convicted of any felony do so. (S Judiciary; Thu, Feb 28)

11. H5274: Legalizes "actually and constructively using, obtaining, purchasing, transporting, or possessing one ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana" and various other related activities. (H Finance; Wed, Feb 27)