Provides amendments relative to the permitting authority of, and acceptable forms of financial security permissible for construction and/or improvement guarantees relating to the completion of required public improvements.
Provides that upon application, and good cause, the state may waive the bonding requirement for certified minority business enterprises or women owned businesses.
Requires towns and cities to publish a list of abandoned properties and makes various other amendments relative to the sale of abandoned property by a receiver.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates regulations for taxicabs by setting specific limits on how long and how far these vehicles can operate before they must be retired. Under the new rules, a taxicab cannot be used once it reaches 300,000 miles or ten model years, whichever happens first, and it cannot be placed into service if it is already more than eight model years old. The legislation allows for exceptions in rare cases where a vehicle is in extraordinary condition, provided the operator proves the car looks and functions like a newer model to the satisfaction of the public utilities administrator. These changes directly affect taxi companies and drivers by establishing clearer standards for vehicle age and mileage to ensure safety and reliability.
Maddy summaryThis law allows residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities to install electronic monitoring devices, such as cameras or audio recorders, in their private rooms or living units. To use these devices, a resident must provide written consent, or their legal representative can do so on their behalf if the resident lacks decision-making capacity, though the representative must first ask the resident for permission. The bill requires facilities to respect the privacy of all roommates by ensuring they also sign a consent form before monitoring begins, and it mandates that anyone monitoring must remove the device immediately if a new roommate moves in without consent. If a resident wants to monitor their space but a roommate refuses to agree, the facility must try to move the resident to a private room, though they are not required to provide one if the resident cannot pay the extra cost.
Authorizes Providence to issue not more than $400,000,000 general obligation bonds & notes to finance the construction, related demolition, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing and equipping of schools throughout the city.
Maddy summaryHB 7053 expands the ability of individuals with felony convictions to have certain misdemeanor offenses removed from their criminal records. Under this bill, a person convicted of one felony and one or more misdemeanors can apply to expunge the misdemeanor charges, provided they have not committed a crime of violence and have paid all related court fees. Additionally, the legislation allows for the expungement of up to six misdemeanor convictions for those who have not been convicted of a felony. Eligibility requires applicants to wait a specific number of years after completing their sentences, demonstrate good moral character, and show no new arrests or convictions during that waiting period. The court retains discretion to grant or deny the request based on whether the individual has been rehabilitated and if expungement serves the public interest.
Maddy summaryThis 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.
Requires safe storage of firearms/provides civil and criminal penalties for violations/adds rifles and shotguns to the types of firearms requiring a trigger lock to be included with purchase/requires firearms dealers post signs regarding safe storage
Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 12, 2024, as Women Veterans Appreciation Day in Rhode Island to honor the service of women in the U.S. military. The resolution recognizes the historical contributions of female service members, from the American Revolution to modern combat roles, and aims to show appreciation for their sacrifices. It directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to the State of Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services and the Rhode Island Veterans Home.
