Woonsocket Radio News Room

Readers are reminded that the following stories were written by people who work for the legislators.  --Ed.
   
 

           

 

 

This week at the

General Assembly

 

STATE HOUSE — Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease

 

 

§  General Assembly approves 2020 state budget bill
The General Assembly has approved a $9.97 billion budget (2019-H 5151Aaa) for the 2020 fiscal year that largely avoids new taxes while strengthening education, continuing the car-tax phase-out, maintaining municipal aid and closing a $200 million budget gap. The bill, which now goes to the governor, expands pre-kindergarten programs, authorizes the creation of Special Economic Development District on the former Route 195 land in Providence and provides raises for direct care workers for the developmentally disabled.
Click here to see news release.

§  General Assembly passes education reform legislation
 The General Assembly approved two bills intended to reform education in Rhode Island. The first (2019-S 0863B, 2019-H 5008B), introduced by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) and Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), would require the Commissioner of Education to align statewide academic standards with curriculum and the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System. The second bill (2019-S 0869A, 2019-H 6085Aaa), sponsored by Sen. Harold M. Metts (D-Dist. 6, Providence) and Rep. Jean Philippe Barros (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket), would require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish a fast-track program to certify new principals. Both measures now move to the governor’s office.
Click here to see news release.

 

·         Legislature OKs bill to extend civil statute of limitations for sexual abuse

The General Assembly passed legislation (2019-H 5171B) sponsored by Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett) and Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) that amends the state’s civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse. The legislation extends the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse claims to 35 years. The legislation would also extend to 35 years the statute of limitations for entities, individuals or organizations that caused or contributed to childhood sexual abuse through negligent supervision, conduct, concealment or other factors that enabled the abuse to occur.

Click here to see news release

 

§  Budget eliminates ‘tampon tax’ in RI
The budget bill approved by the Assembly includes the proposal submitted earlier this session as separate legislation (2019-H 5307, 2019-S 0049) by Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma  (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Tiverton, Newport) to exempt menstrual products from Rhode Island’s 7-percent sales tax.
Click here to see news release.

§  Proposal for separate URI board included in budget bill 
The budget bill includes the creation of a Board of Trustees for the University of Rhode Island. The provision, initially proposed in separate legislation (2019-H 6180, 2019-S 0942) sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) and Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham), would move the state’s sole university out from under the auspices of the Council on Post-Secondary Education.
Click here to see news release.

§  Lawmakers OK bill creating teams to prevent violence at schools
The General Assembly approved legislation  (2019-H 5538, 2019-S 0818) sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) and Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) to increase school safety by creating threat assessment teams in schools to serve as the “boots on the ground” in identifying potentially threatening behavior by those in the school community.
Click here to see news release.

§  Assembly passes several bills targeting opioid epidemic
Lawmakers approved two bills sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) to place limits on first-time opioid prescriptions (2019-H 5537A, 2019-S 0981) and expand the Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act to include law enforcement and emergency medical personnel (2019-H 5536, 2019-S 0953). They also both sponsored the creation of the Opioid Stewardship Fund (2019-S 0798A, 2019-H 6189), later added to the budget bill, to assess a fee on pharmaceutical companies that sell opioids to pay for addiction prevention and treatment programs. With Rep. Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), President Ruggerio also sponsored a bill passed (2019-S 0799Aaa, 2019-H 6184Aaa) to prevent insurers from denying life insurance to people who fill a prescription for the anti-overdose drug naloxone. Another bill (2019-H 5184, 2019-S 0291aa) sponsored by Representative Caldwell and Sen. Bridget G. Valverde to require signs at pharmacies warning customers about dangers associated with opioids also passed.
Click here to see news release on multiple opioid bills.
Click here for release on warning signs bill.

§  Alzheimer’s care, elder abuse bills approved
The Assembly approved four bills to better support Rhode Islanders affected by Alzheimer’s disease and to protect against elder abuse. The bills are all sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), who led a task force that studied elder abuse and released its final report this week. One bill (2019-S 0223, 2019-H 5178), sponsored in the House by House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), would establish a program within the Department of Health dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease. Another bill (2019-S 0302A, 2019-H 5141), sponsored in the House by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), allows the spouses or partners of patients residing in Alzheimer’s or dementia special care units or programs to live with them. A third bill (2019-S 0603A, 2019-H 5573), sponsored in the House by Rep. David E. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), expands a law that requires people to report elder abuse. The final bill (2019-S 0845A, 2019-H 6114), sponsored in the House by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick), requires those who serve as guardians for other adults to pass nationwide background checks.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Assembly OKs bill establishing ‘supported decision making’
The General Assembly approved legislation   (2019-S 0031A, 2019-H 5909) sponsored by Sen. Adam J. Satchell (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick) and Rep. Robert E. Craven  (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown) to establish a formal process recognizing “supported decision making,” a structure of support for disabled or aging individuals that is less restrictive than guardianship. Supported decision making helps individuals maintain independence while receiving assistance in making and communicating important life decisions.
Click here to see news release.

§  Assembly passes bill aimed at preventing service animal misrepresentation
The General Assembly approved legislation (2019-S 0308A, 2019-H 5299aa) sponsored by Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) and Rep. Bernard A. Hawkins (D-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester) to prevent owners from misrepresenting a pet as a service animal in order to gain access to rights or privileges reserved for disabled individuals with service animals.
Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

-30-

 

For an electronic version of this and all press releases published by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau, please visit our Web site at www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former President Trump is complaining that he can't be on the campaign trail because of what he calls a ridiculous trial in New York City. Speaking right after the 12 jurors were selected on Thursday, Trump said the "whole world is watching this scam" and went on to read news articles criticizing the case. The judge hopes to have the six alternates selected by Friday.        House Speaker Mike Johnson needs the help of Democrats to get his foreign aid package across the finish line. Johnson is moving forward with a plan to vote on separate bills to send military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific, as well as a bill that includes border security measures. However, several conservatives quickly came out against the plan, arguing border policy changes should be directly tied to any additional funding for Ukraine.        The United States plans to veto a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member of the United Nations. The State Department calls the Palestinian Authority's effort to gain member status premature. The department said the Security Council's 15 members do not fully agree that the Palestinian Authority met the membership criteria, including standing questions about who governs the Gaza Strip.       The FBI is concerned about threats to Jewish communities in the U.S. as Passover approaches. FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke during an event on Wednesday hosted by a Jewish community nonprofit safety and training organization called Secure Community Network. Wray told the group of security officials the FBI looks for "lone actors" who might target high profile events or religious locations for violence.        Attorneys for Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger filed their client's alibi defense just ahead of the deadline. The 29-year-old Kohberger is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022, and has pleaded not guilty. Late Wednesday, Kohberger's lawyers submitted a ten-page filing that claimed he was out driving in the early morning hours of November 13th, "as he often did to hike and run and/or see the moon and stars."        Allman Brothers Band singer-guitarist Dickey Betts has died at the age of 80. They said Betts passed away peacefully Thursday at his home in Osprey, Florida surrounded by his family. Betts wrote and sung on the Allman Brothers Band hit "Ramblin' Man" which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.        

Old News Archives