Establishes "The Children's Cardiac Safety Act", and provide for childhood cardiac screening based on modules that incorporate current best practices.
Adds “space force” to the branches of the military included in various sections of general law regarding the veterans home, veterans cemetery and the power of armed forces officers to take acknowledgements.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) congratulating Dr. Aaron Ley and the University of Rhode Island (URI) on achieving NASPAA accreditation for URI's Master of Public Administration program. NASPAA is the global accrediting body for public service education programs, and this accreditation makes URI's program the first in Rhode Island to earn it. The resolution formally recognizes Dr. Ley's leadership as program director and the program's adherence to NASPAA's standards for public service ethics and education. No policy changes or new laws are created by this resolution.
Mandates that a cannabis dispensary display the signage warning that the consumption of marijuana and THC products during pregnancy poses risks to infant development.
Amends current law on controlled substances to permit psilocybin to be cultivated within a person's residence for personal use and contingent on the US FDA's program, mandate that RI department of health establish rules regulations.
Increases the number of state child care licensing inspectors to meet the national recommended average of one inspector for every fifty (50) to sixty (60) child care providers.
Maddy summaryHB 5396 sets specific caseload limits for Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) workers based on Council on Accreditation (COA) standards, directly affecting child welfare staff and the children/families they serve. It limits workers to 12 active investigations (max 8 new monthly), 14 families for in-home services, 12 children in out-of-home care, and 8 children in treatment foster care. The bill also requires DCYF to conduct annual pay reviews to align staff salaries with New England state averages for similar roles. These provisions aim to prevent staff overload and improve service quality by standardizing workloads and compensation.
Establishes a task force managed by the children’s cabinet to develop recommendations to improve access to early intervention and early childhood special education services.
Authorizes and empower the department of transportation to plant pollinator friendly native species of trees, shrubs, grasses and plants within limits of a roadway, including state highways.
Adds school superintendents, central office officials, school principals, and all other school employees, to the definition of a “public official” for purposes of the criminal prohibition against making threats to public officials.
