Coming up in Committee: Thirteen Sets of Bills Scheduled to be Heard by RI Senate Committees, July 1 (Monday) – July 2

Here is what had been posted as of Sunday afternoon, to be heard by the committees of the Rhode Island Senate. (A flurry of House bills was also posted this morning).

1. S1038: Requires the Rhode Island health benefits exchange to offer alternative plans that do not cover abortions, as a direct complement to every plan offered that does. (S Judiciary; Tue, Jul 2)

2. S0794: Unionizes child-care providers who receive financial assistance from the department of human services,  allows the union to collect dues from qualified providers who choose not to join the union, and provides the union with the same arbitration and mediation options as state employees. (S Labor; Tue, Jul 2)

3. S0768: The title of the bill is “Drivers licenses for foreign nationals”. The text of the bill makes no reference to illegal or legal immigration status, though it’s hard to see why a legal immigrant to Rhode Island would want the second-class driver’s license created by this bill, if he or she is eligible for a regular one. The bill requires “foreign nationals” to “present evidence of pre-paid liability insurance for the term of one year or proof of financial responsibility” and to “submit fingerprints to the Rhode Island state police who shall conduct fingerprint-based criminal background checks” when applying for a license. And when renewing the license, the foreign national must “provide evidence of having filed both state and federal taxes”. (S Judiciary; Mon, Jul 1)

4. S0246: Repeal of the sales tax (though judging by the amended House version, it will probably be replaced by a study commission). (S Finance; Mon, Jul 1)

5. Four bills from the economic development package; H6063 creating the Undergovernor for Commerce; H6069 creating an advisory statewide economic planning council; H6070A creating an advisory council of economic advisors and H6071 renaming the “Economic Development Corporation” the “Commerce Corporation” (and placing the new Undergovernor in charge of it). (S Commerce; Tue, Jul 2)

6. S0821: “An individual or store owner shall not accept direct cash assistance funds held on electronic benefit transfer cards for the purchase of alcoholic beverages, lottery tickets, or tobacco products”. (S Finance; Mon, Jul 1)

7. S0471: Extends the eligibility of anyone nominated by the judicial nominating commission for a judicial post through June 2014, if nominated within the past five years. (Under the current law, a prospective judge has to be renominated each time a vacancy occurs). (S Judiciary; Mon, Jul 1)

8. S1035: For students attending “the East Providence campus of Bradley Hospital”, “the child’s sending district or district where the child resides” and not East Providence “shall be responsible for payment to Bradley Hospital directly”. (S Finance; Mon, Jul 1)

9. S0493/H5255: Establishes a social media privacy policy for public and private educational institutions, mostly placing limits on the institution side. (S Judiciary; Tue, Jul 2)

10. S0908: Allows local inclusionary zoning ordinances to include “off-site construction or rehabilitation, donation of land suitable for development of the required affordable units, and/or the payment of a fee-in-lieu of the construction or provision of affordable housing units” as “alternative methods of production”. (S Housing and Municipal Government; Tue, Jul 2)

11. S0621: Extends the state ban on human cloning until July 7, 2017. (S Judiciary; Mon, Jul 1)

12. S0557/H5493: Removes several phrases from the state’s “false claim act” that apply the law specifically to “an officer or employee of the state”, claims “paid or approved by the state”, etc.; apparently broadening its applicability. According to the official description, these changes are “required by the federal government in order for the state to retain federal funding”. (S Judiciary; Tue, Jul 2)

13. S1011/H5671: “No city or town may enact any rule, regulation or ordinance specific to any breed of dog or cat”, basically legalizing pit bulls everywhere in Rhode Island. (S Environment & Agriculture; Tue, Jul 2)

Not Sure Where to Rank: S0753/H5725: Changes to regulations regarding out-of-state physicians practicing medicine in Rhode Island. (S Health & Human Services; Tue, Jul 2)

Inobvious Priorities: H5445 >> Requires board certification of music therapists; H5162 >> Adds “city and/or town owned manhole covers and bridge placards” to a list of items that precious metals dealers are required to hold for fourteen days before doing whatever they’re planning to do with them next; H5084 >> Government rent seeking, allowing establishments holding a “Class C” liquor license to stay open an extra hour on Fridays, Saturdays and days before holidays for an additional license payment of $200.

Local Impact: Cranston 2, Little Compton, Smithfield, Providence 2.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in The Ocean State Current, including text, graphics, images, and information are solely those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the views and opinions of The Current, the RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity, or its members or staff. The Current cannot be held responsible for information posted or provided by third-party sources. Readers are encouraged to fact check any information on this web site with other sources.

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