Requires individual and group health insurance policies that provide pregnancy-related benefits to cover medically necessary expenses for diagnosis and treatment of infertility and standard fertility-preservation services.
Maddy summarySB 21 modifies teacher certification processes in Rhode Island. It automatically extends existing teacher certifications for three or five years, without fees, for those certified by July 1, 2025. To promote recruitment, the bill waives initial teacher certification application and Praxis examination fees for a three-year period starting July 1, 2025. It also allows teachers with at least three years of experience to acquire additional certifications and directs the Department of Education to create more flexible pathways for obtaining teacher and administrator certifications, including recognizing non-traditional experience.
Expands council on elementary and secondary education and board of education and makes teacher of year and student advisory chair voting members on each.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 1032 proclaims the week of May 5th through May 12th of each year as "Composting Awareness Week in the State of Rhode Island." The resolution recognizes the importance of composting for nourishing plants, mitigating climate change, conserving water, preventing pollution, and recycling waste, and encourages its practice by businesses and individuals statewide.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 997 establishes the "Beverage Container Recycling Act," creating a statewide system for recycling certain beverage containers. The bill defines various terms, including which beverages and containers are covered by the program and who is considered a "producer" (brand owner) responsible for compliance. It outlines mechanisms for consumers to return empty containers, such as "express redemption sites" (like reverse vending machines) and "full-service redemption sites," to receive a refund value. This system aims to promote the recycling of drinkable liquids sold in prepackaged containers.
Establishes a prekindergarten seat finder to support families in accessing high quality early childhood education programs for three (3) and four (4) year old children.
Directs the commissioner of postsecondary education to prepare a strategic plan for public higher education which is aligned with the goals of the board of education's strategic plan.
Allows advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and physicians who are and are not licensed in Rhode Island to provide telemedicine services to patients who are in the state when those services are rendered.
Limits the use of certain criminal records and credit history reports in denying housing to prospective applicants, and provides for fines for failure to comply. This act further requires notices of denials to be sent to the prospective tenants.
Would provide children up to age three (3) with continuous coverage eligibility for RIte Track/RIte Care so that they are not at risk of losing coverage at the yearly redetermination due solely to administrative barriers.
