Mandates the use of a soft-shell helmet cover that adds a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of a traditional football helmet, for students participating in Rhode Island interscholastic league football.
Requires that one third of all Rhode Island teachers, each year for the next 3 years, be trained in the basic emergency and response skills curriculum ("BEARS"), specifically in hand-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation/Heimlich maneuver/bleeding control.
Increases, for persons subject to the Code of Ethics, the maximum value of an acceptable gift to $50.00 from a single interested person, but in no case can the gift have an aggregate value of more than $250 in any calendar year.
Maddy summarySB 821 expands the definition of "public official" under Rhode Island's threat law to explicitly include state government caseworkers and investigators. This means threatening these social workers - who help individuals access government resources like benefits or childcare - will now be treated as a felony under the same law that protects elected officials, judges, and law enforcement. The bill amends existing law by adding caseworkers/investigators to the list of protected individuals and defines "state government caseworker" as a social worker providing such services. The change makes threatening these workers punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts vehicles owned and operated by members of the Rhode Island judiciary from standard windshield and window transparency requirements. It adds a specific exemption to existing law, allowing judiciary-registered vehicles to use nontransparent windows without needing additional permits. The change applies only to judicial personnel vehicles and does not alter transparency rules for other drivers or vehicles.
Provides that the “meetings” requirements from § 34-36.1-3.08 be applicable to condominiums created before July 1, 1982, and would permit remote participation in condominium meetings.
Establishes that Medicaid eligibility in RI can only be determined using state-controlled data, prohibit private entity data in eligibility decisions, and ensure terminations are made by human employees rather than automated systems.
Prohibits individuals from conveying items to or from the training school for youth without prior consent by the executive director of the division of youth development at the department of children, youth and families.
Creates a voluntary program through which registrants of electric and hybrid motor vehicles can request stickers to affix to enclosures housing such vehicles to promote first responders' safety in responding to electrical fires.
Maddy summarySB 362 exempts foster care youth in Rhode Island from paying tuition fees for driver education courses at the Community College of Rhode Island. The bill amends existing law to specifically include individuals receiving foster caregiving in foster and adoptive homes (as defined by state law) under a fee waiver program. This change directly affects foster youth aged 15+ seeking driver's education, removing a financial barrier to obtaining a driver's license. The provision applies to the standard 33-hour classroom driver education program offered through the college.
