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Readers are reminded the following reports are written by people who work for the legislators......--Ed.

 

 

 

June 21, 2019

Legislative Press Bureau at (401) 528-1743

           

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

 

 

§  Lawmakers pass Rep. Williams’ Reproductive Privacy Act; signed into law

The General Assembly passed and Gov. Gina Raimondo signed into law Rep. Anastasia P. Williams’ (D-Dist. 9, Providence) legislation (2019-H 5125B) to codify in state law the privacy rights and reproductive freedoms guaranteed by the United States Supreme Court in the case Roe v. Wade and its progeny. The bill expressly bans and prohibits all late-term abortions except when necessary for the life or health of the mother.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House poised to vote on 2020 state budget bill
The House was scheduled to take up the $9.97 billion 2020 state budget bill Friday afternoon. The bill (2019-H 5151A) fully funds education aid and the continued phase out of the car tax, while closing a $200 million budget gap. The House proposal rejected nearly all new taxes, increased support for numerous education initiatives including pre-kindergarten and English language learning, and slimmed down the governor’s economic development spending proposals to keep spending within the state’s means. It is expected to go before the Senate in the coming week.

 

§  Lawmakers approve two bills to expand domestic violence protective orders
The General Assembly approved legislation (2019-S 0321A, 2019-H 5489A) sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and House Deputy Majority Whip Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence) to allow domestic violence protective orders sought in Family Court to include any children of the plaintiff who aren’t related to the defendant, so plaintiffs won’t have to get a second order from another court. Lawmakers also approved legislation (2019-S 0225, 2019-H 5023) introduced by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) to allow protective orders to also provide for the safety and welfare of household pets.
Click here to see news release on expansion for children.
Click here to see news release on provision for pets.

 

§  Assembly OKs bill requiring pension fund updates from religious organizations
The General Assembly approved legislation (2019-S 0431Aaa, 2019-H 5287Aaa) sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) to require pension plans managed by religious organizations to send regular updates on the financial health of the pension funds to their participants. The bill is a response to the St. Joseph pension plan, which, unbeknownst to its 2,700 members, was left insolvent when contributions to it ceased following the sale of Fatima and Roger Williams hospitals to Prospect Medical Holdings in 2014.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Lawmakers OK bill allowing gay discharges to be recorded as honorable
The General Assembly has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Camille F.J. Vella-Wilkinson (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) and Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) that would extend veterans’ benefits to gay or transgender members of the armed forces who failed to receive honorable discharges. The bill (2019-H 5443A, 2019-S 0837) provides a petition process to have a discharge from service recorded as honorable for members of the armed services separated from the service with a general or other than honorable discharge due solely to their sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. The measure now moves to the governor.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  General Assembly approves legislation to protect the right to pay with cash
The General Assembly passed legislation (2019-H 5116A, 2019-S 0889) introduced by Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) and Sen. William J. Conley Jr. (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) that would make it unlawful for any retail establishment offering goods or services for sale to discriminate against a prospective customer by requiring the use of credit for purchase of goods or services. The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs bill giving restroom access to those with medical issues
The House of Representatives passed a bill (2019-H 6062A) introduced by Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) that would require retail establishments with three or more employees on the premises without public restroom facilities to allow customers suffering from eligible medical conditions access to their employee restrooms upon presentation of documentation issued by a licensed physician. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Sen. Lawson’s bill that creates the ‘Senior Savings Protection Act’ passes Senate

Sen. Valarie J. Lawson’s (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) legislation (2019-S 0433A) that establishes the “Senior Savings Protection Act” was passed by the Senate.  The act would require certain individuals to report the occurrence or suspected occurrence of financial exploitation of persons who are 60 years of age or older and persons who have a disability between the ages of 18 and 59 years old. It now moves to the House, where similar legislation (2019-H 6091) has been introduced by Rep. Joe R. Serodio (D-Dist. 64, East Providence).

Click here to see news release

 

§  Sen. Lynch Prata’s bill that raises the minimum wage to $11.50 passes Senate

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Erin Lynch Prata’s (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) legislation (2019-S 0174A) that would increase the hourly minimum wage to $11.50 per hour was passed by the Senate.  The current hourly minimum wage is $10.50 per hour and was instituted on Jan. 1, 2019. If the legislation becomes law, the minimum wage would raise to $11.50 per hour starting on Jan. 1, 2020.

Click here to see news release

 

§  House, Senate pass bills regarding pet store sales
The House of Representatives gave its approval to legislation (2019-H 5072) introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) that would ban the sale of dogs and cats at pet shops, except those that have come from an animal shelter, dog pound or animal rescue. The Senate passed legislation (2019-S-699A) sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) that would ensure more humane treatment of dogs and cats sold in pet stores.
Click here to see House release.

Click here to see Senate 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.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former President Trump's criminal hush money trial is back underway in a New York City court. Jurors again heard testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker who has explained this week how he protected Trump from negative stories leading up to the 2016 presidential election.       The Supreme Court is considering whether Donald Trump has presidential immunity in his federal election subversion case. Trump's attorney argued prosecuting a president for official acts "incompatible" with Constitution. The special counsel attorney argued the Constitution does not grant a president absolute immunity.       Severe weather is hitting parts of the Central U.S. Large hail, heavy downpours and isolated tornadoes are forecast today from the Texas Panhandle to southern Nebraska, with wind gusts reaching 85 miles per hour. Forecasters are warning of flash flooding from the heavy rain, and are telling residents across the Central Plains to stay alert for tornadoes.       The abortion issue was front and center on Wednesday. First, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a closely-watched case over whether Idaho's near-total abortion ban conflicts with a federal law requiring hospitals to provide patients emergency care. Later in the day, Arizona's House of Representatives voted to repeal a Civil War-era abortion law that bans nearly all abortions, and the bill now heads to the state Senate.       Southwest Airlines is suspending its operations at four major airports. The airline announced the decision Thursday, citing financial underperformance and Boeing delivery delays. The company reported over 230 million-dollars in losses in the first quarter of 2024, and expects to let two-thousand employees go by the end of the year.       Three teams will look to take commanding three-nothing leads in their NBA Playoffs series tonight. In the first game of the night, the Orlando Magic will look to rebound at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the second game of the night, the Philadelphia 76ers will host the New York Knicks. In the last game of the night, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will look to avoid going down three-games-to-none against the defending champion Denver Nuggets.       

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