Requires the department of health to amend its rules and regulations that allow for DEA-registered pharmacies to transfer electronic prescriptions at a patient's request (21 CFR Part 1306
Requires written acknowledgment from any buyer of oceanfront or shoreline property that they have been informed of the public's rights and privileges of the shore.
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.
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.
Increases the penalty for violations of the care of dogs statute to a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100) and a maximum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that expresses condolences for the death of Louis M. Pulner, a prominent Rhode Island attorney and former town solicitor. It acknowledges his professional achievements, including his work prosecuting drunk driving cases and his long service as Solicitor for the Town of Barrington, as well as his personal life and family. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the document to Pulner's surviving family members, including his wife, children, and sister.
Under certain circumstances, provides immunity from arrest and prosecution for prostitution, procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, loitering for prostitution and soliciting from motor vehicles for indecent purposes.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for mandatory arbitration in motor vehicle liability claims by raising the minimum claim amount that triggers the process. Specifically, it requires arbitration for disputes involving damages of $50,000 to $100,000 or less, whereas previous thresholds may have been lower. The legislation mandates that insurance contracts include these arbitration provisions and requires drivers to agree to them when applying for or renewing their licenses. If a claim falls within the new monetary range, parties must submit the matter to an arbitrator selected from a court program, though either side can still reserve the right to a jury trial within 60 days of the award.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for handling unclaimed money held in court registries by reducing the waiting period before funds are transferred from five years to two years. It requires court clerks to annually report deposits that have gone unclaimed for at least two years, providing details on the case, the payer, and the potential recipient. If no one claims the money within this two-year window, the funds and any accumulated interest will be moved to the state's general fund or escheated to the state treasurer. The legislation directly affects various courts, including the supreme, superior, family, and district courts, by streamlining how they manage and dispose of dormant financial assets.
