Exempts individual retirement accounts as a countable resource for public assistance. This act also prohibits the state as a creditor against an ABLE account in the event of death of a beneficiary.
Provides $4,000,000 to support comprehensive and effective afterschool, school vacation, summer learning and workforce development programs for students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12).
Provides funding to establish a dual language program within the department of elementary and secondary education. It also describe how to implement he Support and Access to Bilingual Education “SABE Act” for all Local Education Agencies “LEA” recipients.
Authorizes the office of postsecondary commissioner to expand bilingual and dual language teacher certificates in urban schools through two scholarship programs for students and teachers, with eligibility requirements and donations.
Maddy summarySB 104 establishes a permanent Compost Fund funded by a $2-per-ton surcharge on solid waste disposal in Rhode Island. This surcharge, collected quarterly from waste haulers and landfill operators, will support grants for projects that reduce landfill use - such as composting programs, food rescue initiatives, and shell recovery. The bill directly affects waste disposal companies (who pay the surcharge) and will fund communities and organizations developing composting infrastructure, organic waste diversion, and soil health projects. It aims to address Rhode Island's landfill capacity concerns (projected to fill by 2043) while supporting climate and environmental goals outlined in the state's 2021 Climate Act.
Provides that services provided by graduate student interns who work under a supervisory protocol would be eligible to be paid from Medicaid reimbursement.
Extends time for a party to apply for stay of arbitration to180 days; invalidates any provision that penalizes a party for seeking legal representation; requires arbitrator to provide notice of default to a party for failure to pay fees.
Makes changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public.
Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.
Provides that minor subdivisions would include oversized lot subdivisions under certain circumstances and relative to zoning ordinances, permit a modification to allow "neighborhood character-based modifications" under certain circumstances.
