This Week at the General Assembly

House, Senate approve Newport Grand casino bills

Legislation asking state voters if they approve the addition of casino-style table games at Newport Grand will now be sent to the governor for his signature after receiving approval from both the House and the Senate. The legislation would place the issue before voters in November, when they will also face a similar question about the Twin River gaming facility. Passage would require approval by a majority of voters statewide and in the host communities. Rep. J. Russell Jackson (D-Dist. 73, Middletown, Newport) sponsored the House bill (2012-H 7543A) and Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) sponsored the Senate bill (2012-S 2695A). Click here to see news release.
 

Senate OKs special plate to support breast cancer foundation

The Senate approved legislation to direct the Division of Motor Vehicles to make available specially designed license plates to support the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. Sponsored by Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), the legislation (2012-S 2776) commits $20 of the $40 registration surcharge to the foundation for use in and for the benefit of Rhode Island. A companion bill (2012-H 7671) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Thomas Winfield (D-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester).
Click here to see news release.                                                  

Senate OKs Crowley bill establishing rules for two-way turning lanes

The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Cumberland) establishing laws governing the use of two-way left-turn lanes. The bill (2012-S 2765) is aimed at creating some order and uniformity to the lanes, and preventing the lanes from being inappropriately used as passing or travel lanes. Similar legislation (2012-H 7550) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence).
Click here to see news release.

Senate approves commission to study ‘Gold Star’ family license plates
The Senate approved legislation (2012-S 2382A) to create a joint legislative commission to study the issuance of “Gold Star” license plates to family members of military servicemen and servicewomen who died while on active duty. The 12-member commission would include representatives of the various military branches and National Guard. It was introduced by Sen. Nicholas D. Kettle (R-Dist. 21, Coventry, Foster, Scituate).

Senate Corporations hears payday lending legislation
The Senate Corporations Committee heard Sen. Juan M. Pichardo’s (D-Dist. 2, Providence) bill (2012-S 2307) to repeal sections of the general law allowing deferred deposit providers, also known as “payday lenders.” The bill would strip the exemption for cash-advance lenders and make them subject to the same usury laws for other lenders, limiting annual interest rates to 36 percent. Rep. Frank G. Ferri (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) introduced the House companion bill (2012-H 7257). Click here to see news release.

Strangulation bill goes in front of House Judiciary

Rep. Roberto DaSilva (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) has submitted legislation (2012-H 7242) that would make domestic assault by strangulation a felony punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment. Sen. Frank A. DeVall Jr. (D-Dist. 18, East Providence) sponsors the bill in the Senate (2012-S 2147).
Click here to see news release.

Ignition interlock bills would hamper drunken driving

The House Judiciary Committee heard two bills that would allow judges to impose bans on those convicted of certain drunken driving offenses from driving any vehicle that isn’t equipped with an ignition interlock system that prevents drunk operators from starting the motor. The bills (2012-H 7332, 2012-H 7849) are sponsored by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) and House Majority Whip J. Patrick O’Neill (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket). Similar legislation (2012-S 2568, 2012-S 2838) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence).

Ethics Commission bill heard

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a bill (2012-H 7603) sponsored by Rep. Michael J. Marcello (D-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston), asking voters to decide whether the Ethics Commission should be allowed an exception to the “speech in debate” clause of the Rhode Island Constitution that shields lawmakers from prosecution or civil suits based on their actions as legislators, such as proposing or voting on a bill. Sen. Edward J. O’Neill (I-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket) is sponsoring companion legislation (2012-S 2369) in the Senate.

Marcello bill would cap interest on litigation lenders

The House Committee on Corporations heard testimony on legislation (2012-H 7521) that would cap the amount of interest litigation lenders can charge plaintiffs by subjecting those lenders to state usury laws, which set the maximum rate of interest at 21 percent or the domestic prime rate plus nine percent. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Michael J. Marcello (D-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston). Similar legislation (2012-S 2517) was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) and is before the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Click here to see news release.