This week at the General Assembly: New House Whip, Civil Unions, Assembly Votes Now Online

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly at the Rhode Island State House this week. For more information on any of these items visit the General Assembly website.

Newberry becomes House minority leader
The House Minority Caucus elected Rep. Brian C. Newberry (R-Dist. 48, North Smithfield, Burrillville) its new leader. Newberry, an attorney who is serving his second term in the House and was previously the minority whip, replaces Rep. Robert A. Watson (R-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), who continues to serve as a representative. Rep. Joseph A. Trillo (R-Dist. 24, Warwick) became minority whip.

House, Senate committee votes now posted online
The House of Representatives and Senate this week began posting committee votes online on the General Assembly website. All legislation that is reported out of House and Senate committees with a recommendation of passage is included on the new “Committee Votes” page, listing the bill, the committee vote total and the way the members of the committee voted on each bill. Posting committee votes was a promise made by Assembly leaders earlier this year as part of a continuing effort to make the legislative process more accessible to the public. Click here to see news release.

Senate OKs bill extending Military Relief Fund benefits to active duty members
The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0824) to extend the benefits of the Rhode Island Military Relief Fund to the state’s active duty service members. Since the program began in 2004, it has been available only to Reserve members and their families who are deployed or called to active duty. The Senate bill was sponsored by Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Bristol, Tiverton, Warren). Identical House legislation (2011-H 6069) has been introduced by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth). Click here to see news release.

Rep. Petrarca introduces bill to recognize civil unions
Rep. Peter J. Petrarca (D-Dist. 44, Lincoln, Johnston, Smithfield) has introduced legislation 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 Sosnowski bills amending ‘good time’ law
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) to amend the law that allows convicted criminals early release for good behavior. The bill (2011-S 0753aa) makes several changes to the existing early release law, specifically prohibiting several offenses from being eligible for time off for good behavior, including murder, kidnapping of a minor, first-degree sexual assault and first- or second-degree child molestation. Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown) has sponsored similar legislation (2011-H 5990) in the House. The Senate also passed another bill (2011-S 0806aa) sponsored by Senator Sosnowski and cosponsored by Sen. Dawson Tucker Hodgson (R-Dist. 35, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Warwick) that would place an immediate moratorium on good behavior and program participation credits for prisoners serving sentences of more than 20 years for second-degree murder. Click here to see news release.

Senate approves ban on youth tanning
The Senate approved legislation that would ban those younger than 18 from using tanning facilities. The legislation (2011-S 0106), sponsored by Sen. Rhoda E. Perry (D-Dist. 3, Providence), is meant as a way to curb the intentional exposure of children to cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation and prevent them from forming habits early in life that have a high cancer risk. Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) is sponsoring similar legislation (2011-H 5627) in the House.
Click here to see news release.

Senate OKs bill creating commission to study employee classification plan
The Senate approved a resolution (2011-S 0702) sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) creating a commission to study the legislative employee classification plan in the state.

Port study commission tours ProvPort, Davisville facilities
The special legislative commission studying the potential economic opportunities in the development of port facilities in the state spent the day on the road Friday, touring the ports and other marine facilities in Providence and Davisville, including the Motiva Terminal and ProMet Marine at ProvPort and the NORAD auto import operation at Davisville.

Senate approves bill limiting restraints on pregnant prisoners
The Senate approved the Healthy Pregnancies for Incarcerated Women Act (2011-S 0165 A) sponsored by Sen. Rhoda E. Perry (D-Dist. 3, Providence) to set standards for the use of restraints – handcuffs, shackles, etc. – for prisoners or detainees in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, calling for the least restrictive restraints when necessary and expressly prohibiting their use during labor unless the prisoner poses an immediate and serious threat of physical harm or a substantial flight risk. Rep. Donna M. Walsh (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) has introduced the bill (2011-H 5257) in the House.
Click here to see news release.