This Week at the General Assembly: Vocational School Funding, Health Insurance Exchange and More

Here's a round-up of what happened at the General Assembly this week, with highlights of what our local senators and representatives were up to and other interesting piece of legislation from around the state:

DiPalma and Commission Study Vocational School Funding
With Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston) serving as its chair, a new Senate commission on the funding of vocational schools in Rhode Island began its study this week.

Created by legislation sponsored by Senator Gallo in the previous legislative session, other members of the panel are Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) and Sen. Glenford J. Shibley (R-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, Warwick, West Warwick).

Paiva Weed's Health Insurance Exchange Approved
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee recommended the approval of legislation (2011-S 0087 A) sponsored by Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) to create a health insurance exchange through which small businesses and individuals could learn about their health insurance options and available subsidies. Required under the federal health care overhaul, the exchange would help individuals and small businesses compare health plans, and is intended to expand coverage, improve the quality of coverage, increase competition and transparency and reduce costs. Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) is sponsoring the bill (2011-H 5498) in the House.

Martin Named to Community Mental Health Center Board
Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist. 75, Newport) has been named to the Board of Directors of the Newport County Community Mental Health Center. Representative Martin, who is serving his second term in the House of Representatives, is the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Municipal Government and a member of the House Committee on Judiciary and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The Newport County Community Mental Health Center, located on Johnny Cake Hill Road in Middletown, provides professional behavioral health services to individuals, families and the community at large. The NCCMHC is financed by federal, state and municipal funds as well as grants, client fees and insurance and has a staff of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, mental health counselors, substance abuse specialists and rehabilitation counselors. The Board of Directors of the NCCMHC is responsible for identifying the mission, maintaining fiduciary responsibility, and setting policy for the organization.

Rep. Martin worked for many years in the social services field, and now in retirement, he has been able to return to working with persons with psychiatric and addiction problems. In addition to his legislative duties, he was also recently named to the Advisory Board of Community Leaders of the Rhode Island College Institute for Addiction Recovery, established to strengthen Rhode Island’s capacity to assist individuals, families and communities in their recovery from addiction.