Amends the terms of the pension plan set forth in the respective collective bargaining agreements in effect on July 1, 2026, between Central Falls and the labor organizations representing members of the Central Falls plan.
Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.
SB 3297 amends the state workers' compensation law to clarify definitions and expand the authority of the workers' compensation court. The bill updates how "earnings capacity" is calculated for injured workers, specifying that courts can consider an employee's ability to work based on their functional impairment without requiring the employer to identify specific job offers. It also clarifies who qualifies as an "employee" and "employer," including state agencies and contractors, while explicitly excluding independent contractors, sole proprietors, and corporate officers. Additionally, the legislation grants the court broader powers to enforce its orders and manage disputes regarding liability, disability status, and medical causation for cases filed after July 1, 2025.
Authorizes the state retirement board to revoke or reduce an individual’s pension benefit if that individual is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to a felony sex crime related to their public office or public employment.
Establishes the healthcare worker platform and would require platforms offering healthcare shifts to register with the department of health by June 1, 2027, while, specifically, exempting them from being classified as nursing service agencies.
Eliminates the "until June 30, 2026" sunset on the increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits.
SB 2735 amends the process for creating and governing project labor agreements (PLAs) used in state public construction projects. It directly affects state contractors and labor unions working on public property and infrastructure projects by changing how these agreements are established and managed. The bill modifies the procedures for developing PLAs, which set wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers on state-funded construction sites. This change aims to streamline the PLA process for state projects without altering the core requirements of the agreements themselves. The bill was introduced to the Senate Labor and Gaming committee on February 27, 2026.
Amends the Rhode Island works program to increases the monthly cash benefit to one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty level effective July 1, 2026.
This bill modifies retirement benefits for Rhode Island State Police members, affecting both current and former officers. It establishes new rules for calculating retirement pay based on years of service and defines how "whole salary" is determined for different retirement periods, including provisions for overtime pay starting in 2026. The legislation also creates a guaranteed annual benefit adjustment of $1,500 for eligible retirees beginning July 1, 2026, and allows certain members to purchase credit for military service at a 10% cost.
This bill expands the definition of "employee" under Rhode Island's Fair Employment Practices law to include individuals working in domestic service, such as nannies, housekeepers, and caregivers employed by private households. By making this change, the bill ensures that domestic workers are protected against discrimination based on age, sex, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity in the same way as other employees. The legislation applies to employers who hire four or more individuals, though it maintains existing exemptions for religious organizations and their employees. This update removes the previous exclusion of domestic workers from state anti-discrimination protections, bringing them under the same legal framework as other workers.
