Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the Rhode Island General Assembly this week.
§ House passes O’Brien bill allowing retired teachers to help more in schools
The House of Representatives passed legislation (2023-H 5040aa) sponsored by Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) to permit retired teachers to substitute in a school for up to 120 days in a school year without any loss, forfeiture, or reduction in retirement benefits. The bill now heads to the Senate where Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) has introduced similar legislation (2023-S 0085).
§ Safe firearms storage is bare minimum for safety, sponsors say
Rep. Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) and Sen. Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) have introduced legislation (2022-H 5434, 2023-S 0321) to require that all firearms, when not in use by the owner or another authorized user, be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device properly engaged in order to render the firearm inoperable. Massachusetts and Connecticut already have similar laws.
§ Whip Kazarian introduces bill to reduce power outages across Rhode Island
House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) has introduced a bill (2023-H 5656) that would help reduce power outages and long-term energy system costs through the development of a more holistic, statewide approach toward managing vegetation that threatens electric grid reliability.
§ Fogarty bill would stiffen penalties for attacks on electric grid, cell phone towers
Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) has introduced legislation (2023-H 5364) that would increase the criminal penalties on attacks to electric and cellular communication lines from $3,000 to $50,000; imprisonment from two years to 10 years, or both; and would require restitution for economic harm.
§ Shanley bill would allow nursing home residents to monitor their rooms
Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich) has introduced legislation (2023-H 5355) that would allow nursing home residents to use electronic monitoring devices in their rooms or private living units, provided that the resident, as well as the resident’s roommate, consent to such electronic monitoring in writing.
§ Sen. Kallman, Rep. Shanley hold press conference for retirement savings
Lawmakers and advocates held a press conference in support of legislation (2023-S 0089, 2023-H 5417) introduced by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) and Rep. Evan P. Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich) that would allow workers to contribute up to 8% of their salary to individual savings accounts through payroll deductions, at no cost to their employers.
§ Sen. DiPalma, Rep. Tanzi look to Canada for lower prescription costs
Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton) and Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34 South Kingstown, Narragansett) have introduced legislation to lower prescription drug costs. The first bill (2023-S 0099, 2023-H 5430) would create a wholesale drug importation program to directly import lower-cost drugs from Canada to be sold throughout Rhode Island. A second bill (2023-S 0098, 2023-H 5431) would cap prescription costs for the 250 costliest prescriptions at the level paid in Canada.
§ Rep. Sanchez introduces bill to recruit RIPTA drivers
Rep. Enrique G. Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence) has introduced legislation (2023-H 5525) that would require the Governor’s Workforce Board to work with RIPTA and the Division of Motor Vehicles to recruit and train bus drivers. The board would conduct an outreach campaign in diverse communities throughout the state to recruit applicants.
§ Vella-Wilkinson, Ujifusa introduce bill to make state websites ADA compliant
Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) and Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) have introduced legislation (2023 H-5106, 2023 S-0105) to make the state’s publicly available websites compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
§ Sweet victory: Peanut butter cups win ranked-choice chocolate election
Peanut butter cups won a decisive victory in a “chocolate election” staged by Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) and Sen. Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) as a demonstration of ranked-choice voting. The two legislators are the sponsors of legislation (2023-H 5649, 2023-S 0322) to institute ranked-choice voting for presidential preference primaries, beginning with the 2024 presidential election.
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