This Week at the General Assembly

"§         Tanzi and Sosnowski bill amends time-off-for-good-behavior law
Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) announced legislation (2011-S 0753, 2011-H 5990) developed with Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin to ban those convicted of murder, kidnapping of a minor, first-, second- or third-degree sexual assault, first- or second-degree child molestation, child pornography or first-degree child abuse from receiving time off their sentences for good behavior. The move is a response to the news that Michael Woodmansee, convicted of murdering 5-year-old Jason Foreman of South Kingstown in 1975, may be released this summer 12 years before the end of his sentence.

§         Senate hosts economic summit focusing on jobs
The Rhode Island Senate continued its focus on growing jobs in Rhode Island when it hosted another in a series of economic summits. Hosted by Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, the summit, “Jobs for Rhode Islanders,” including presentations by Dr. Paul E. Harrington of Drexel University; Eric Seleznow, state policy director of the National Skills Coalition, and Sophia Koropeckyj, managing director of Moody’s Analytics.

§         Commission’s report highlights inequity in hospital rates
The Special Senate Commission to Study Cost Containment, Efficiency and Transparency in the Delivery of Quality Patient Care and Access by Hospital, led by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick), approved its final report, which recommends that the state enact changes that steer insurance companies away from the current fee-for-service model of payment to different models that promote efficiency, effectiveness and quality of care for patients.

§         ‘Opportunity RI’ proposed to attract employers, make college more affordable
Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski (D-Dist. 2, Providence, East Providence) has introduced legislation (2011-H 5487) known as “Opportunity RI” to allow Rhode Islanders – or their employers, if they opt to help their employees pay back student loans – to receive a tax credit for student loan payments for degrees earned at public or private colleges or universities in Rhode Island, as long as they live and work in the state after graduating.

§         Pichardo aims to reduce gang violence, increase public safety
Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D-Dist. 2, Providence) has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at increasing public safety and addressing the growing problem of gang violence in the state. The first bill (2011-S 0636) would create an Office of Gang and Youth Violence within the Attorney General’s office to study the problem and make recommendations to the legislature as to how to deal with the issue. A second bill (2011-S 0658) would establish a family-based program to assist in the rehabilitation of a minor convicted of a gang-related crime. Under the legislation, if a minor is convicted of a gang-related offense for the first time, Family Court would be permitted to order his or her parents to attend anti-gang violence parenting classes.

§         Defense Economy commission tours EB, Air National Guard facility
The Special Legislative Commission on Defense Economy Planning held a daylong session Friday at the Air National Guard in Quonset. The day included a tour of the Electric Boat facility, a visit to the 143rd Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard and a briefing by the R.I. National Guard. The commission was created to make recommendations on policies to help preserve the state’s current defense economy and provide incentives for new investments.

§         DaSilva bill keeps children under DCYF care in state
Rep. Roberto DaSilva (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) has introduced child-protection legislation to ensure that young people under the care of the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) are kept within the state. The bill (2011-H 5746) would ban Rhode Island Family Court from placing children at out-of-state residences, facilities or treatment centers.

§         Bill opens RIRRC recycling operation to out-of-state materials
Sen. Frank Lombardo III (D-Dist. 25, Johnston) has introduced legislation (2011-S 0454) to allow the Materials Recycling Facility at the Central Landfill in Johnston to accept out-of-state materials for recycling. Any profits from the sale of recycled commodities from out-of-state would be shared, under the bill, by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the Town of Johnston and other cities and towns on a pro-rated basis in accordance with the distribution of in-state recyclable profits to municipalities.

§         Port study commission meets to receive consultant progress report
The special legislative commission studying the potential economic opportunities in the development of port facilities in the state met to review a report from the Martin Associates, a consultant hired by the commission in partnership with the Rhode Island Bays, Rivers and Watersheds Coordination Team. The commission, which began its study two years ago, is chaired this year by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) and Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown).

§         Senate OKs Sosnowski bill to bring CRMC in line with separation of powers
The Senate approved legislation (2011-S 0142) sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) that would change the composition of the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to comply with the separation of powers constitutional amendment."

This information was provided by the Rhode Island General Assembly.