Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

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

 

 

§  House passes bill that would compensate the wrongly imprisoned
The House of Representatives passed legislation (2021-H 5470A) introduced by Rep. Patricia Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) that would give compensation to innocent people who have spent time behind bars but were later released when new evidence shows they were not guilty. The measure now moves to the Senate where similar legislation (2021-S 0672) has been introduced by Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate votes to prohibit ‘source of income’ housing discrimination
The Senate approved legislation  (2021-S 0561) sponsored by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) to prohibit discrimination against tenants because of the source of their income. The bill is primarily aimed at preventing landlords from refusing to rent to Rhode Islanders who receive Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers. The bill now heads to the House, which on March 2 approved companion legislation (2021-H 5257aa) sponsored by Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs legislation that protects families with parents that have disabilities

The Senate has passed legislation (2021-S 0056) introduced by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) that precludes the disability of a parent from serving as a basis for denial or restriction in matters involving a child's welfare, foster care, family law, guardianship and adoption. Rep. Terri Cortvriend (Dist. 72, Portsmouth Middletown) has introduced the companion legislation (2021-H 5394) in the House of Representatives.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate passes bill excluding chronic intractable pain from medication guidelines

The Senate has passed legislation (2021-S 0384A) introduced by Sen. Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) that would exclude chronic intractable pain from the definition of “acute pain management” for the purposes of prescribing opioid medication. The legislation acknowledges that every patient and their needs is different, especially those suffering from chronic pain.  The measure now moves to the House, which passed similar legislation (2021-H 5247) introduced by Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) on March 9.

Click here to see news release

 

§  Senate OKs bill that protects children from being left alone in vehicles

The Senate has passed a bill (2021-S 0128) introduced by Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis’ (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich, East Greenwich) that would protect minors left unattended in a motor vehicle. The legislation repeals the requirement that law enforcement issue only verbal warnings of the risks to persons leaving a child under the age of seven unattended in a motor vehicle. Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) has introduced the companion bill (2021-H 5184) in the House of Representatives.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate passes bill requiring cultural competency training for state workers

The Senate approved legislation (2021-S 0428) introduced by Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) that would require the Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity (ODEO) to provide all state and municipal employees annual training in cultural competency. Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls) has introduced the companion legislation (2021-H 5752) in the House of Representatives.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Rep. Batista, Sen. Acosta introduce police reform legislation
Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) and Rep. José F. Batista (D-Dist. 12, Providence) have introduced the Rishod K. Gore Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (2021-S 0597, 2021-H 5993) to institute critical reforms including a statewide mandate for police body cameras, a requirement that police intervene in and report severe misconduct by fellow officers, and personal liability for police officers who engage in willful misconduct.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Sen. Picard bill would have governor, lieutenant governor run as a ticket
With Rhode Island in the midst of transitions in the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices, Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) has once again introduced legislation (2021-S 0274) to ask voters whether they wish to amend the state constitution to elect the governor and lieutenant governor together as one ticket. The bill (2021-H 5742) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Rep. Handy, Sen. Murray legislation would raise RI Works assistance
Backed by a coalition of community, faith and antipoverty advocates, Sen. Melissa A. Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) and Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) have introduced legislation (2021-S 0226, 2021-H 5683) to provide the first rate increase in 30 years, as well as other benefit improvements, for the Rhode Island Works Program, the state’s cash assistance and work-readiness program for low-income children and their families.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  McNamara bill would make school social services Medicaid eligible
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced legislation (2021-H 5067) that would make services provided by school social workers and certified school psychologists eligible for federal Medicaid reimbursement.
Click here to see news release.

 

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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.

 

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The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk can wear regular clothes during his trial. The Utah judge in the case made his ruling today, adding that Tyler Robinson is presumed innocent and potential jurors seeing him in prison attire will be prejudicial. This ruling also applies to any in-person hearings, with the next one set for January. Robinson will also be required to wear constraints while in court, but the media is forbidden to show them.        The Senate is back in session today as the government shutdown rolls into its fourth week. However, no votes to reopen the government are likely with the House out of session until next week. This coming weekend, November 1st, government funding for food assistance will run out for about 42 million people.        President Trump is not ruling out a possible bid for a third term in 2028, but he did dismiss the idea of running for vice president. The president said he "would love to do it," when asked about another bid for president, but also redirected attention to who he referred to as "very good people" in the Republican party. Trump specifically mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio when referencing those "very good" potential candidates.        French police are holding a pair of suspects in the jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Officials say one of the men was arrested on Saturday evening while trying to leave the country. The suspects are believed to have made off with 100-million dollars worth of jewels from the museum last weekend.        Early voting is underway in New York City through Sunday before Election Day. All eyes are on the mayoral race, and after the first two days of early voting over the weekend, more than 164 thousand headed to the polls. The city's board of elections says the turnout on day one was more than quadruple than what was seen in 2021, with Brooklyn and Manhattan dominating the turnout numbers.        Today marks the Sports Equinox. That's when all four major professional sports leagues are in action on the same day. Today will see eleven NBA games and two NHL games played along with Monday Night Football and Game Three of the World Series. This will mark the 32nd Sports Equinox since the first one happened back in 1971.        The anime film "Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc" cut into the competition in its first weekend on the big screen landing in the top spot with 18-million-dollars. Paramount's "Regretting You" took second, earning over 13-point-six-million dollars in its debut. The "Black Phone 2" finished third with nearly 13-million dollars in its second week.       

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