Rhode Island Senate
Targeted Changes with Statewide Impact (Education Committee) S0181The appointment of the State Education Commissioner by the Board of regents would require Senate confirmation. S0182School districts could count time-in-school in hours, instead of days, and thereby a longer school day to meet minimum requirements. S0183The state will pay 100% of costs for students attending vocational schools…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0185From the official description: “This act would establish procedures and requirements for the recycling of used or waste cooking oil…” Companion to H5203 S0186Changes various exemptions to the “Hazardous Waste Cleanup” law. Companion to H5287 S0188New rules for recycling dry-cell batteries. S0266Prohibits surgical “debarking” or silencing of dogs and cats.…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0204From the official description: “This act would make various changes to the medical marijuana act…” S0268From the official description: “This act would eliminate the state coordinating committee on disability rights”. Targeted Changes with Statewide Impact S0200Physicians are required to screen newborns for conditions including assessment for developmental risk for which…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0271From the official description: “Repeals the section of the Rhode Island General Laws relating to continuation of workers’ compensation benefits for partial incapacity”. S0273Again, from the official description: “This act would change the spendable base wage calculation from seventy-five percent (75%) to eighty-five percent (85%) under the workers’ compensation law.…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0178“No singular entity, company or qualified business” can receive more than 5 million dollars under the Economic Development Corporation Job Creation Guaranty Program. (Would this be related to Curt Schilling deal?) Targeted Changes with Statewide Impact S0179Prohibits a business from asking for any part of a person’s social security number…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0195Provides for biannual budgeting, two new committees in each chamber with budgetary duties, new legislative staff for reviewing the budget, and changes in the Governor’s role in budgeting. Targeted Changes with Statewide Impact S0189Makes an additional 2% bonus, on top of the calculated amount for regional school districts, a permanent…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0045Changes to the “disclosure, transparency, and accountability” requirements for life insurance. S0047Regulates emissions from outdoor wood-burning boilers or outdoor wood boilers (aka “outdoor wood-fired hydronic heaters”). S0050Allows insurance corporations created by town councils or school committees to manage trusts for paying for “other post-employment benefits”.(Comment 1: Is there a good…
Targeted Changes with Statewide Impact S0053Lowers the gas tax from 32 to 28 cents per gallon. S0054No tolls for crossing the Mt. Hope Bridge (Comment: Unless, of course, the legislature approves them in the future by repealing this change.) Companion to H5056 S0055Would impose the state’s sales-tax on clothing items costing more than $500. S0057Applies…
This is the first in what is intended to be a regular series on the legislation submitted to the Senate in the prior week. (An abbreviated introduction to the series is part of the post; the full intro is here.) My hope is that this can become not just a one-way or even a two-way…
Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact S0008Creates an “artificial reef” program for Rhode Island. S0013Authorizes the Rhode Island National Guard to create an academy “for the purpose of providing at-risk youth with a program to help them obtain a GED, and/or high school diploma, increase their employment potential, and enhance their education and life skills. S0014Increases…