Politics & Government

State House News: Sexting, Red Sox Plates, Civil Unions Go Before Lawmakers

Here are highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly at the State House in Providence this week.

House OKs bill to prohibit ‘sexting’ by minors
The House has approved legislation (2011-H 5094aa) to establish a lesser offense (a status offense) for minors who “sext,” or transmit sexually explicit photos and videos electronically. Sponsored by Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist. 75, Newport), the bill is intended to protect minors from being prosecuted under the state child pornography laws and face a possible five-year prison term. A similar Senate bill (2011-S 0733) was introduced by Sen. Beatrice A. Lanzi (D-Dist. 26, Cranston).
Click here to see news release.

Red Sox specialty license plates to be available
Legislation passed by the General Assembly has been signed into law by the governor, offering Rhode Island motorists license plates that bear the official Boston Red Sox insignia. The bills (2011-H 5102, 2011-S 0485) provide for a $40 additional fee for the plates, with $20 of that donated to the Red Sox Foundation to support Rhode Island-based charitable organizations. Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) and Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) sponsored the bills in their respective chambers.
Click here to see news release.

Assembly passes legislation to protect Social Security numbers
Legislation to expand the state’s Social Security privacy laws has been approved by the General Assembly and now goes to the governor. Rhode Island law already prohibits merchants from requiring Social Security numbers on checks or for other transactions. The legislation passed this week (2011-S 0179, 2011-H 5202) would outlaw the use or request for “all or part of” an individual’s number. Sponsoring the bills were Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) and Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly). Click here to see news release.

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Senate Judiciary Committee hears civil unions bill

The Senate Committee on Judiciary heard testimony on legislation sponsored by Rep. Peter J. Petrarca (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Smithfield, Johnston) that would allow civil unions in Rhode Island. The bill (2011-H6103 Aaa) would grant same-sex couples all of the rights afforded to married couples in the state.
Click here to see news release.

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House passes bill to develop policies for recording interrogations
The House approved a bill (2011-H 5366 A) sponsored by Rep. Donna M. Walsh (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, Westerly, South Kingstown) to establish a task force to investigate and develop policies and procedures for electronically recording custodial interrogations. The Senate has approved identical legislation (2011-S 0331 A) sponsored by Sen. Paul V. Jabour (D-Dist. 5, Providence).
Click here to see news release.

Environment committees’ bills encourage renewable energy in Rhode Island
Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee Chairwoman V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) announced legislation to encourage the development of renewable energy in Rhode Island. The package includes legislation (2011-S 0457/2011-H 5939) sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Rep. John M. Carnevale (D-Dist. 13, Providence, Johnston) to coordinate Rhode Island’s net-metering law with federal policy; a bill (2011-S 0723/2011-H 6104) sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick) and Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) to promote small to mid-sized renewable energy projects; and a third bill (2011-S 0721) sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) and Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence, East Providence) to reduce delays in renewable energy projects by setting timelines for National Grid to complete engineering studies for connecting projects to the grid.
Click here to see news release.

Senate OKs hospital efficiency bills
Five bills recommended by a special Senate commission that studied ways to make hospital care more efficient and accessible have been approved by the Senate and will advance to the House. The bills, which are aimed at diverting from hospitals or physicians work that can be completed by others so their time will be used more appropriately for patient care, are part of a legislative package of eight bills recommended by the Special Senate Commission to Study Cost Containment, Efficiency and Transparency in the Delivery of Quality Patient Care and Access by Hospitals, led by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick).
Click here to see news release.

Senate OKs Goodwin bill expanding domestic violence law
The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0334) sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) that expands the state’s current domestic violence statute to include “cyberstalking and cyberharassment.” Although cyberstalking is a crime in Rhode Island, it is not an action punishable under the state’s domestic violence statute. The House recently passed its version of the legislation (2011-H 5264), sponsored by Rep. Elaine A. Coderre (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket). Click here to see news release.

Senate passes rechargeable battery recycling program legislation
The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0188Aaa) to promote the proper recycling and disposal of used rechargeable dry cell batteries, such as those found in cell phones, digital cameras and laptop computers. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence), the bill will require manufacturers to establish a system for the proper collection, transportation and processing of waste batteries. An identical House bill (2011-H 6082) was introduced by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston).
Click here to see news release.

Education Commissioner Gist addresses Joint Session of Assembly

The General Assembly met in a joint session to hear a presentation on the state of education in Rhode Island from Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist. In her address, entitled “How’s School: Transforming Education in Rhode Island,” Gist praised teachers and called for a “culture of responsibility” where parents, teachers, labor leaders, business leaders and elected officials work together to improve education in the state.

House Finance Committee holds hearing on combining education boards
The House Finance Committee took testimony on a bill (2011-H 6177) sponsored by Rep. Frank G. Ferri (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) to combine the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education and the Board of Governors for Higher Education, into one entity called the Board of Regents for Education.

For more information on any of these items visit the General Assembly website.


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