Rhode Island Bills

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 13, 2024

HR 8363: HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA ANN FENTON-FUNG FOR HER SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

This bill is a House resolution honoring Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung for her service to the people of Rhode Island. It recognizes her legislative work, including her committee memberships and sponsorship of various bills related to healthcare, education, and consumer protection. The resolution formally acknowledges her achievements and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the document to her.

Joe Shekarchi (D) Mike Chippendale (R) Bob Quattrocchi (R) Brian Newberry (R) Brian Rea (R)

passed both · Rhode Island · House Jun 13, 2024

HB 7099: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-- POLICE RELATIONSHIP ACT OF 2015

This bill amends the Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act to require state and municipal police departments in Rhode Island to collect detailed data on every routine traffic stop and vehicle search. Officers must record specific information for each stop, including the driver's perceived race and ethnicity, the reason for the stop, whether a search occurred, and the outcome such as citations or arrests. An outside agency chosen by the Department of Transportation will conduct an annual study of this data to analyze potential racial disparities in enforcement, with the first report due within 18 months of data collection beginning. The bill also mandates that quarterly summary reports be made public while keeping individual officer identities confidential, and it allows civil rights organizations to sue police departments that fail to comply with these data collection requirements.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 13, 2024

SR 3167: SENATE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR ESTABLISHING A SINGLE UNIFIED SYSTEM OF INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR ACROSS THE LIFE-CYCLE

This Senate resolution asks the Rhode Island Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a plan for merging the state's separate child and adult mental health systems into one unified network. The proposed system would be managed by the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals to ensure consistent, high-quality care for people of all ages. The plan must be developed by July 2026 and include a detailed report by April 2025 that outlines how to transfer staff, budgets, and responsibilities between agencies. Additionally, the resolution authorizes the Secretary to sign agreements allowing the sharing of confidential information needed to run the new system and requires other state departments to cooperate with the planning process.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 13, 2024

SR 3166: SENATE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND BEYOND

This Senate resolution formally condemns antisemitism and affirms Rhode Island's commitment to protecting people of all religions and identities. It acknowledges the persistent nature of hate crimes against Jewish communities and references recent events, including the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and the October 7 attacks in Israel. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, serving as an official statement of support rather than a law with enforceable penalties.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 13, 2024

SR 3163: SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING SENATOR ROGER A. PICARD FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

This Senate resolution honors Senator Roger A. Picard for his long-term service to the people of Rhode Island. It recognizes his legislative achievements, including bills that assist small businesses, support truck drivers, and promote clean-energy job training. The document also highlights his personal dedication to his community and family, noting his background as a social worker and his education. Finally, it directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to Senator Picard as a formal acknowledgment of his contributions.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 13, 2024

SR 3165: SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING AND RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND ESTABLISHING A STATE MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

This Senate resolution creates a 21-member commission to study Rhode Island's shortage of primary care physicians and the feasibility of establishing a state medical school at the University of Rhode Island. The commission, appointed by the Senate President, will gather information from state agencies and submit its findings and recommendations by January 2, 2026. Members of the commission serve without pay, and the group will dissolve on January 31, 2026, after completing its report.

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 13, 2024

HB 7492: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

This bill updates vehicle registration rules to allow cars leased for 36 months to be registered for an additional year that aligns with the end of their lease term. It also adjusts registration fees for these longer-term leases to reflect the reduced time the vehicle will be on the road. The legislation applies specifically to vehicle owners and dealerships handling long-term lease agreements.

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 13, 2024

HR 8364: HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING AND THANKING REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA MORGAN FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

This resolution honors Representative Patricia Morgan for her twelve years of dedicated service to the people of Rhode Island. It recognizes her legislative work, including sponsoring bills on homebuyer assistance, tax credits for manufacturing, and supply chain relocation, as well as her roles as House Minority Leader and member of various committees. The document formally thanks her for her contributions to the state and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to her.

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 13, 2024

HB 7724: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- OFFENSES PERTAINING TO SCHOOLS

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 13, 2024

SB 2979: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT -- PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Reduces the number of years from five (5) to three (3), when calculating for retirement purposes, the average of the highest consecutive years of compensation, for teachers, and state and municipal employees.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 13, 2024

SB 2125: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES

Provides employees with civil administrative remedies against contractors, subcontractors involved in the contract with joint/severable liability imposed on contractors or subcontractors. Effective 9/1/2024.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 12, 2024

SR 3160: SENATE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

This Senate resolution asks the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services to study creating a new, separate Department of Hospitals. The request is based on a 2022 legislative commission recommendation that splitting hospital services from behavioral health and developmental disability agencies would allow for more specialized leadership. The bill directs the state agency to review this structural change and submit its findings and recommendations to the Senate by September 1, 2024.

Bill results