This week at the General Assembly: Civil Unions, Shared Municipal Services and John Gordon's Pardon

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items, click here.

Senate OKs bills setting stage for municipal sharing
The Senate approved bills to put a nonbinding question on the 2012 ballot asking voters their opinion of increased sharing of services among municipalities (2011-S 0075) and to create a permanent legislative commission to continually work on making sharing among municipalities possible (2011-S 0171). Both bills, which will now be forwarded to the House, are sponsored by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton) and recommended by a commission he led that studied the sharing of services among Rhode Island municipalities. Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) is sponsoring the legislation (2011-H 5228, 2011-H 5715) in the House.
Click here to see news release.

House OKs bill to clear name of John Gordon
The House of Representatives approved legislation (2011-H 5068) calling on the governor to pardon John Gordon, an Irish immigrant believed to have been wrongly accused and convicted of the murder of a wealthy mill owner and subsequently executed for the crime in 1845. He was the last person to be executed by the state. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist. 75, Newport). Identical legislation (2011-S 0371) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick). Click here to see news release.

House Judiciary Committee hears Rep. Petrarca civil unions legislation
The House Committee on Judiciary heard testimony on legislation sponsored by Rep. Peter J. Petrarca (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Johnston, Smithfield) to allow civil unions for same-sex couples in Rhode Island. The bill (2011-H 6103), which is modeled after laws recently approved in Illinois, Delaware and Hawaii, would grant same-sex couples all of the state rights afforded to married couples in Rhode Island. Click here to see news release.

Senate passes bill to require proof of ID at polling places
The Senate approved legislation requiring proof of identification for individuals voting in any primary, general or special election in the state. The bill (2011-S 0400A) was sponsored by Sen. Harold M. Metts (D-Dist. 6, Providence) in cooperation with the Secretary of State. Identical legislation (2011-H 5680) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Jon D. Brien (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket).
Click here to see news release.

Bill to close RI polls earlier passes Senate
The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0341A), sponsored by Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol), that will close polling places in Rhode Island at 8 p.m., an hour earlier than the current closing time of 9 p.m., which is an hour or more later than all other New England states. The identical House bill (2011-H 5088) was introduced by Rep. Mary Duffy Messier (D-Dist. 62, Pawtucket, East Providence). Click here to see news release.

Rep. Valencia outlines ‘95/5: A Civic Responsibility Plan’
Rep. Larry Valencia (D-Dist. 39, Charlestown, Exeter, Richmond) held a news conference to outline legislation (2011-H 6095) to adjust the state income tax to require upper income earners to “share in the sacrifice.” Under the plan, the upper five percent of income earners in the state would pay 4.1 cents of income tax on every dollar only on their income above $250,000 for married couples and $200,000 for individuals. Click here to see news release.

Bill lets pharmacists administer routine injections to 9- to 18-year-olds
The Senate has approved legislation (2011-S 0480A) to allow pharmacists to begin administering injections to Rhode Islanders between the ages of 9 and 18, with parental consent. Pharmacists have been allowed to administer routine injections to adults since law was enacted in 2007. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick). A companion House bill (2011-H 5211) has been sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick).
Click here to see news release.

Senate OKs Nesselbush bill requiring insured to identify primary care provider
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket) requiring that, as a condition to receiving health insurance, individuals identify a primary health care provider. Proposed by Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, the bill (2011-S 0874Aaa) is endorsed by the Special Senate Commission to Study Cost Containment, Efficiency and Transparency in the Delivery of Quality Patient Care and Access by Hospitals. Click here to see news release.

Senate approves Crowley’s cardiac screening proposal
The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0060 A) sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cumberland) to establish a cardiovascular disease screening and lifestyle-intervention pilot program for at-risk women in the state’s urban communities. The bill will now be forwarded to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) is sponsoring similar legislation (2011-H 5173). Click here to see news release.

Senate approves O’Neill bill calling for pro-con arguments in voter handbook
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Edward J. O’Neill (I-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket) aimed at helping Rhode Island voters to better understand ballot measures put before them. The bill (2011-S 0349A) would allow for the inclusion of brief written arguments for and against referenda measures to be printed in the voter information handbooks distributed to voters prior to general elections. Rep. Michael J. Marcello (D-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston) is the sponsor of the House version of the bill (2011-H 6084). Click here to see news release.