Prohibits the use of genetic information for purposes of determining eligibility, setting premium rates, or imposing preexisting condition exclusions for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance.
Bans preferential treatment to a public or private university applicant because of the student's familial relationship to a previous university attendee.
Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.
Expands council on elementary and secondary education and board of education and makes teacher of year and student advisory chair voting members on each.
Makes persons convicted of simple possession of controlled substances, eligible to have their records expunged three (3) years after imposition of their sentence.
Maddy summaryHB 8083 allows individuals convicted of non-violent felonies to have their criminal records cleared (expunged) after 10 years from their conviction date. This applies to people with multiple non-violent felony convictions, not violent offenses. The key provision sets a 10-year waiting period from the date of conviction before expungement becomes possible. The bill directly affects eligible individuals seeking to remove past non-violent felony convictions from their legal records.
Maddy summaryHB 8085 would allow people convicted of petty misdemeanors to have their criminal records permanently removed from public access one year after completing their sentence. This bill directly affects individuals with minor criminal convictions who currently face barriers to employment or housing due to these records. The key provision lowers the waiting period for expungement from longer terms (which may have existed under prior law) to just one year post-sentence. If passed, it would make the expungement process more accessible for this specific group of offenders.
Establishes a commission to promulgate rules, regulations and make recommendations to the governor as to petitions for pardons under Article IX, Section 13 of the Constitution of Rhode Island.
Establishes Rhode Island First Step program requiring DOC to assist offenders with reintegration into society, counseling, medical care, education, early sentence termination or pre-release confinement for elderly and terminally ill offenders.
Prohibits the courts from setting cash or surety bail on any misdemeanor offense but permits the court to set reasonable non-monetary conditions of bail to assure the defendant's presence in court as required and to protect the community.
