Throughout my life, I’ve always spoken up for those who don’t have a voice. For children, families, and the elderly. For those struggling to get out of poverty, and those seeking a fresh start in a new country. For child care providers, and small business owners. For victims of natural disasters in my birthplace in the Dominican Republic.
If you ever have any questions about specific legislation, or want to share your perspective on a matter, please reach out to me. You can email me at repgracediaz@gmail.com or call me on my cell at (401) 575-3641. I’m in this role to serve the needs of my community, so let me know how I can help!
Click below to view highlights of my
LEGISLATION THAT BECAME LAW
2023
Sponsor Bills Passed and become law 2023
House Bill No. 5127 SUB A
Chapter 169
BY Diaz, Hull, J. Lombardi, Slater, Edwards, Vella-Wilkinson, Caldwell, Morales, Bennett, Felix
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT-- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT
(Directs the department of corrections to collect information from individuals entering its custody: sex, race, nativity (country of origin), religion, and level of education.)
{LC407/A/1}
House Bill No. 5204 SUB A
Chapter 165
BY Diaz, Slater, Edwards, Perez, Noret, Vella-Wilkinson, Batista, Abney, Biah, Azzinaro
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
(Requires the secretary of housing to create a consumer guide of landlord-tenant laws to be updated annually.)
{LC591/A/1}
House Bill No. 5462 SUB A
Chapter 141
(Secretary of State)
BY Diaz, Slater, Alzate, Edwards, Kennedy, Azzinaro, Perez, DeSimone, McGaw, Giraldo
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS (Designates a liaison position within the secretary of state's office to formulate communication between the department of state and the board of elections and adds accessible voting devices to the equipment maintained by secretary of state.)
House Bill No. 5562
Chapter 228
(Dept. of Corrections)
BY Diaz, Slater, Edwards, Perez, DeSimone, Batista, Voas, Giraldo, Hull, J. Lombardi
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT
(Provides additional earned time for good behavior or program participation or completion for
prisoners not serving a life sentence.)
{LC1615/1}
House Bill No. 5897
Chapter 067
(Judiciary)
BY Diaz, Hull, Slater, DeSimone, Felix, Kennedy, Edwards ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN (Transfers jurisdiction of child endangerment offenses from the family court to the superior court.)
{LC2419/1}
House Bill No. 5906
Chapter 065
(Judiciary)
BY Diaz, Hull, Slater, DeSimone, Morales, Felix, Giraldo, Kennedy, Edwards, Cruz
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- LANGUAGE
INTERPRETERS--USE OF LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Ensures that communications between court-appointed interpreters and limited-English-proficient individuals involved in legal proceedings in the courts are confidential.) LC2412/1}
Co-sponsor Bills Passed and become law 2023
House Bill No. 5074 SUB A
Chapter 175
BY Bennett, Edwards, Solomon, Slater, Diaz, Shanley
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE
PURCHASES (Provides that certain public works renovation projects that include
glazing work would have that work performed by North American contractor
certification certified companies.)
{LC253/A/1}
{LC385/1}
House Bill No. 5099 as amended
Chapter 396
BY McNamara, Diaz, Biah, Donovan, Sanchez, Shallcross Smith, McGaw, Felix
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOPE
SCHOLARSHIP PILOT PROGRAM ACT (Establishes the Rhode Island hope
scholarship pilot program to provide two-year scholarships to junior and seniors
at Rhode Island college.)
{LC60/1}
House Bill No. 5127 SUB A
Chapter 169
BY Diaz, Hull, J. Lombardi, Slater, Edwards, Vella-Wilkinson, Caldwell, Morales,
Bennett, Felix
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT--
CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT (Directs the department of corrections to collect
information from individuals entering its custody: sex, race, nativity (country of
origin), religion, and level of education.)
{LC407/A/1}
House Bill No. 5282 SUB A as amended
BY Vella-Wilkinson, Noret, Morales, Diaz, Lima, Donovan, Ackerman, McNamara,
Bennett, J. Lombardi
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES
(Authorizes a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptives,
provided that the pharmacist has completed a training program approved by the
state board of pharmacy.)
{LC1123/A/4}
House Bill No. 5435 SUB A
Chapter 354
BY Edwards, Diaz, Ackerman, Cortvriend, Kislak, Knight, Kazarian, Alzate, Baginski,
Potter ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DNA DETECTION OF
SEXUAL AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS (Requires the state crime laboratory to
conduct an audit of DNA samples in the DNA databank to ascertain the rate of
compliance with DNA recording requirements.)
{LC1435/A/1}
House Bill No. 5506
BY Ackerman, McNamara, Bennett, Shallcross Smith, Diaz, Edwards, Kennedy,
Giraldo, Fogarty ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES (Allows health care facility to conduct research on
patients subject to 21 C.F.R. Pt 50 and/or 45 C.F.R. Pt 46 (relating to the informed
consent in clinical trials)
{Chapter 220
BY Casimiro, Noret, Spears, Roberts, Cotter, Diaz, Chippendale, Morales
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS
INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires insurers to provide coverage to children under
court appointed guardianship of an insured.)
House Bill No. 5560
Chapter 087
(By request)
BY Kennedy, Azzinaro, Edwards, Kazarian, Corvese, Serpa, Diaz
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY
PROVISIONS -- CONSUMER ENFORCEMENT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE
WARRANTIES (Enhances the rights of consumers by adding the requirement that
the vendor or manufacturer maintain records of any reported defects or repairs
of a device, making it easier for a consumer to enforce their rights under the law.)
House Bill No. 5584
Chapter 143
BY Messier, McNamara, Potter, Diaz, Fellela
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- HEALTHY AND
SAFE FAMILIES AND WORKPLACES ACT (Amends the definition of employee to
remove apprenticeships and interns and any other individuals pursuant to the
provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 29 U.S.C. Section 203 et seq.)
House Bill No. 5602 SUB A as amended
BY Slater, Diaz, Potter, Cruz, J. Brien, Solomon, Bennett, Felix, Hull, J. Lombardi
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL
TAXES (Enables all municipalities to offer tax amnesty for two (2) separate sixty
(60) day periods during fiscal years 2024 or 2025 for the waiver of interest and
penalties on overdue tangible tax payments.)
{LC1589/A/1}
House Bill No. 5606
Chapter 149
(Office of Healthy Aging)
BY Messier, McNamara, Potter, Diaz, Fellela
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CITIZENS' COMMISSION
FOR THE SAFETY AND CARE OF THE ELDERLY (Amends several sections of law
relating to safety and care for the elderly.)
{LC1407/1}
House Bill No. 5737 SUB A
BY Kennedy, Azzinaro, Abney, Kazarian, Diaz, Edwards, Vella-Wilkinson
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSE
LICENSURE COMPACT (Amends the interstate nurse licensure compact and adopts
an enhanced and more comprehensive version of the compact, to allow nurses to
hold a multi-state license allowing them to practice across state lines without
having to obtain multiple licenses.)
{LC1983/A/2}
House Bill No. 5780
Chapter 031
(Dept. of Revenue)
BY Alzate, Diaz, Giraldo, Batista, Biah, Henries, Felix, Morales, Abney, Hull
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES -- DRIVER PRIVILEGE CARDS
AND PERMITS (Reduces the fee for an original driver privilege card from fifty
dollars ($50.00) to twenty-five dollars ($25.00).)
{LC1712/1}
House Bill No. 5782 SUB A
(City of Providence)
BY Biah, Hull, J. Lombardi, Morales, DeSimone, Batista, O'Brien, Diaz, Slater
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION
(Subjects to taxation real property owned by nonprofit institutions of higher
education/nonprofit hospitals also amends charters issued by the general
assembly to nonprofit institutions/hospitals.)
{LC1798/A/1}
House Bill No. 5840 SUB A
Chapter 294
(Dept. of Revenue)
BY Kennedy, Azzinaro, Diaz, Ackerman, Casimiro, Bennett
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE
ISLAND COMMERCE CORPORATION (Streamlines tax incentive reporting by
eliminating certain division of taxation reporting requirements and using
alternative methods of reporting such as the tax division website.)
House Bill No. 5855 SUB A
Chapter 342
BY Brien, McEntee, Craven, Caldwell, Dawson, Serpa, Bennett, Diaz, Vella-
Wilkinson, Slater
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS PRACTICES ACT
(Amends the definition of unfair claims settlement practices by insurers & motor
vehicle damage appraisers, and creates a chapter providing for the appraisal of
damaged motor vehicles, when the insurer & the insured cannot agree on the
amount of the loss.)
{LC1988/A/1}
House Bill No. 5883 SUB A
Chapter 171
BY Kazarian, Donovan, Casimiro, Felix, Diaz, Spears, Caldwell, Craven, McEntee,
Dawson
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS --
ABUSIVE LITIGATION (Prohibits abusive litigation context of domestic violence or
stalking and allow the court to dismiss a case upon finding, by preponderance of
the evidence, that the person who filed the case is abusing the system.)
{LC2110/A/1}
House Bill No. 5922 Chapter 356
(Attorney General)
BY Hull, Phillips, Diaz, Noret, DeSimone, Fogarty, Abney, Biah
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED
SUBSTANCES ACT (Provides that Schedules I through V of the Uniform Controlled
Substances Act consist of drugs and other substances, by whatever official name,
common or usual name, chemical name or name designated by the director of
the department of health.)
House Bill No. 5991 SUB A as amended
BY Slater, Diaz, Cruz, Potter, Voas
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- QUALITY SELF-DIRECTED
SERVICES (Relative to the provision of home and community based services,
provides for the merger of the independent provider program into the personal
choice program so that the state has one self-directed program for direct support
services.)
House Bill No. 6309
BY Kislak, Shekarchi, McNamara, Ackerman, Boylan, Knight, Finkelman, Corvese,
Hull, Diaz
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARIES FOR ELECTION OF
DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE
(Changes the primary date for the election of delegates to national conventions
and for presidential preference from the fourth Tuesday in April to April 2, 2024.)
2022
Sponsor Bills Passed and become law 2022
House Bill No. 7200 SUB A as amended
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- BUILDING SERVICE WORK (Requires that janitors and security guards employed, pursuant to state contracts worth more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) of janitorial or security services, be paid a standard compensation rate.)
House Bill No. 7213 SUB A
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MERIT SYSTEM (Allows a classified employee to seek elected office provided that they resign their position upon being elected.)
House Bill No. 8078 SUB B
AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Allows the district court to designate the date of the hearing in eviction matters filed under the residential landlord and tenant act.)
{LC5625/B/1}
Co-sponsor Bills Passed and become law 2022
2022
House Bill No. 6649 SUB A
AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS (Same as 21H-5827 A-Requires the dept of education in coordination with attorney general to collect & publish data concerning school resource officers in each district, including use of force against students/arrests/referrals to law enforcement or courts.)
House Bill No. 7244 as amended
AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES (Medicare eligible disabled individuals under age 65 eligible for Medicare supplemental policies. Health insurance commissioner may adopt reasonable regulations and standards for Medicare supplemental policies.)
House Bill No. 7277 SUB A
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS-RENEWABLE ENERGY (Increases the percentage of retail electricity sales from renewable energy sources.)
House Bill No. 7323 SUB A as amended
Chapter 005
BY Phillips, Newberry, Kazarian, Corvese, Diaz, Place
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- REDISTRICTING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Sets forth the boundaries of the voting districts for the House of Representatives and the Senate. Also sets forth the territory for the First and Second Congressional Districts in Rhode Island.)
House Bill No. 7499 SUB B
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE TO FINANCE A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITY OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE BY THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $515,000,000 (Authorizes the city of Providence to finance a contribution towards the unfunded pension liability of the employee retirement system of the city of Providence by the issuance of bonds in the principal amount of $515,000,000 therefor.)
{LC4719/B/1}
House Bill No. 7561
AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Provides health care coverage for laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids, including uterine artery embolization intraoperative ultrasound guidance and monitoring and radiofrequency ablation, commencing January 1, 2023.)
House Bill No. 7587 SUB A
AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES -- BIOMARKER TESTING COVERAGE (Requires health insurers, nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations, and health maintenance organizations that issue policies that provide coverage for biomarker testing on or after 1/1/23.)
House Bill No. 7790
AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - STATE LOTTERY - LOTTERY SALES AGENT RENEWAL PERIOD (Extends the renewal period for lottery sales agent's license from one year to two (2) years.)
House Bill No. 7801
AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE (Establishes a plan to improve the promotion of social and emotional well-being of young children as well as screening, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health challenges of infants and young children under the age of six (6).)
House Bill No. 7985 SUB A
AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- REBUILD RHODE ISLAND TAX CREDIT (Requires that all entities receiving tax credits from the state pay their workers the prevailing wage or other payments pursuant to § 37-13. This act would also allow the revocation of the tax credits for violation of this act.)
House Bill No. 8121 SUB A
BY Slater, Diaz, Felix
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE (Allows a municipality to impose a debt in favor of the corporate unit against the owner when the municipality relocates the occupant and authorizes the corporate unit to choose the vendors to assist qualifying homeowners with repair costs.)
{LC5691/A/1}
House Bill No. 8138 as amended
AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION (Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of RI Public Health Foundation, and any other entity formed in conjunction with, or to facilitate the acquisition of properties of, Rhode Island Public Health Foundation in Providence.)
House Bill No. 8258
AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (Amends the composition of the Advisory Council on Alzheimers Disease Research and Treatment" to include 6 additional members and renames the council the "Advisory Council on Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders.")
House Bill No. 8353
AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - STATE BUILDING CODE (Amends the Gender Inclusive Restroom Act to have a municipality apply to the state building code standard committee for a waiver in the case of undue burden with compliance.)
{LC6133/1}
2021
House Bill No. 5238
Creates the "Rhode Island Student Success Act" which would identify those students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition at public universities, colleges or community colleges.
House Bill No. 5268
Requires applicants to pass test to include topics on fair housing and requires 24 hours of continuing education.
House Bill No. 5270
Creates the Human Trafficking Reporting and Prevention Act applicable to hotels, requiring them to educate their employees about identifying, reporting and preventing human trafficking, on their premises.)
House Bill No. 5534
Authorizes Providence to issue not more than $140,000,000 bonds to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities throughout the city of Providence.
House Bill No. 5571
Raises the legal age for persons to purchase or be sold or delivered certain tobacco products, electronic nicotine-delivery systems and liquid nicotine containers from eighteen (18) years of age to twenty-one (21) years of age.
Co-Sponsor Bills Passed 2021
House Bill No. 6196
Limits health plans that provide coverage for prescription insulin drugs used to treat diabetes to forty dollars ($40.00) for a copayment for a thirty (30) day supply of medically necessary insulin. Effective date 1/1/2022.
House Bill No. 5210
Requires that Medicare supplement policies be made available to Medicare eligible disabled individuals under the age of sixty-five (65).)
House Bill No. 5826
Allows students who are legally unable to complete the FAFSA to complete a comparable form created by the college.
House Bill No. 5224
AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION (Removes the requirement that the scholarship program cease with the enrollment of the high school graduating class of 2021 at the community college of Rhode Island.)
House Bill No. 5555
Prohibits the possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack on motor vehicles.
House Bill No. 5827
Requires the RIDE in coordination with the department of the attorney general to collect all public data concerning the use of force, arrest, and referrals to law enforcement or courts in different categories with a reasonable explanation.)
House Bill No. 5829
Mandates RIDE to provide regulations to streamline the English Second Language (ESL) and/or English Language Learner (ELL) teaching certificate.
House Bill No. 5929
Provides for medical assistance health care for expectant mothers and would establish medical assistance coverage and reimbursement rates for perinatal doula services. Effective 7/1/22.
House Bill No. 6079
Prohibits discrimination against a potential organ transplant recipient based solely on a physical or mental disability.)
House Bill No. 6095
Removes all references to "and Providence Plantations" in statutes relating to the judiciary, in accordance with the constitutional amendment approved by the voters on November 3, 2020.
House Bill No. 6438
Creates a statewide body-worn camera program for police departments in the state.
2020
House Bill No. 8118
Authorizes City of Providence to issue $140,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance, improvements to school buildings and facilities.
Co-Sponsored Bills Passed 2020
House Bill No. 7947
Creates a new process with standards to be utilized when deciding whether an applicant's past conviction of a crime should disqualify the applicant from receiving an occupational license, permit, certificate, or registration issued by the state.)
House Bill No. 7485
AN ACT TO VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF RITA'S PIZZA, INC.
2019
House Bill No. 5419
Provides conditions to lawfully permit a state employee to be employed as an interpreter or a CART provider outside of the normal working hours.
House Bill No. 6254
Allows a person to make satisfactory arrangements for the payment of motor vehicle fines or costs, and would permit a person to request an ability to pay hearing before a license is suspended for failure to pay such fines or costs.
House Bill No. 5160
Serves as the enabling act required by Rhode Island General Laws § 16-7-44 in order for the interest on bonds issued in support of school housing projects to be eligible for state housing aid reimbursement.
House Bill No. 5287
Requires that all defined pension plans, excluding certain governmental plans, which are not covered by the ERISA and have at least two hundred (200) members, comply with ERISA's annual reporting provisions.
House Bill No. 5401
Requires Tricare to pay the healthcare services funding contributions for their contribution enrollees.
House Bill No. 5572
Updates the laws relating to physician assistants to reflect current standards and terminology.
House Bill No. 5573
Makes amendments providing for additional reporting duties and requirements for persons with knowledge of mistreatment or neglect of elders.
House Bill No. 5714
Provides that a voter may use proof of identity which expired no more than six (6) months prior to voting.
House Bill No. 5758
Allows voters making a mark rather than signature to vote with proof of identity by affirming their mark to the electronic pollbook without need for an affidavit by election supervisors.
2018
House Bill No. 7806
Includes behavioral health counseling visits and medication maintenance visits as primary care visits for patient cost-sharing requirements under the provisions of a health plan.
House Bill No. 7079
Requires that vehicles towed because of state or municipal laws be towed to a towing-storage facility closest to where the offense or accident occurred.)
House Bill No. 7081
Limits copays, coinsurance or office deductible for services of a physical therapist to the amount authorized for medical osteopathic physician office visits.
House Bill No. 7097
Amends the fine imposed for a first offense for failure to maintain financial security, to a maximum of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125)
House Bill No. 7137
Creates the "Student Equal Economic Opportunity Act" which would identify those students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition at public universities, colleges or community colleges.
House Bill No. 7138
Provides a tax credit for community service hours provided by state residents to certain not for profit entities and municipal departments that are certified to issue credits for state community service volunteerism hours.
House Bill No. 7148
Establishes a tiered-rate structure for the child care assistance program, with higher rates paid to licensed child care centers and family child care homes that have achieved higher quality ratings in "BrightStars".
House Bill No. 7150
Provides students attending public or private schools enrolled in grades K-12 with a student's bill of rights prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex, gender, economic status or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disabilities.
House Bill No. 7152
Establishes the Rhode Island Early Childhood Innovation Act and funds to support programs designed to narrow the education achievement gap for at-risk children who are entering kindergarten.
House Bill No. 7159
Allows a classified employee, whose position is not fully funded through federal loans and/or grants to seek the nomination of or to be a candidate for elective state office.)
House Bill No. 7194
Requires driver's instruction courses and tests to include instruction information on driver's responsible conduct and rights during a traffic stop.
House Bill No. 7294
Creates the "Neil Fachon Terminally Ill Patient's Right To Try Act of 2018," which establishes the conditions for the use of experimental treatments for terminally ill patients.
2017
House Bill No. 5453
Requires the department of elementary and secondary education to use separate collection categories and tabulations for specified Asian ethnic groups in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of residents.
House Bill No. 5533
Allows for incarceration of an individual to be taken into consideration for the purposes of a motion to modify a child support order.
House Bill No. 5699
Requires at least one precinct count unit in each town.
House Bill No. 6307
Requires health care professionals upon issuance of initial opioid prescription to discuss with patient/parent/guardian risk of developing dependence/addiction/potential of overdose/death/adverse risks of concurrent use of alcohol/other psychoactive drugs
House Bill No. 5699
Requires at least one precinct count unit in each town.
House Bill No. 5117
Makes various changes to the sentencing and execution guidelines for purposes of criminal procedure and would add new conditions of criminal probation.)
House Bill No. 5035
Adds the synthetic opioid U-47700 (3,4-dichloro-N-[2-dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]-N-methylbenzamidem) to the list of Schedule I controlled substances as enumerated in §21-28-2.08 of the general laws.
House Bill No. 5117
Makes various changes to the sentencing and execution guidelines for purposes of criminal procedure and would add new conditions of criminal probation.
House Bill No. 5205
Enables persons with limited exceptions misdemeanor convictions to obtain an expungement of the records of those convictions, as long as the person has not been convicted of any felony.)
2016
House Bill No. 7056
Directs school superintendents to review discipline data to determine unequal impact on students based on race/ethnicity/disability status and respond to any disparity and sets out of school supervision standards.)
House Bill No. 7826
AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - TAX SALES (Mandates tax collectors conducting tax sales provide the required notices to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation as well as the department of elderly affairs, and that such notices could be provided electronically.)
House Bill No. 5453
Requires the department of elementary and secondary education to use separate collection categories and tabulations for specified Asian ethnic groups in every demographic report on ancestry or ethnic origins of residents.
House Bill No. 7034 SUB A
Allows the department of children, youth and families to process nationwide criminal record checks.
House Bill No. 7616
Requires comprehensive discharge planning for patients treated for substance use disorders, opioid overdoses and chronic addiction and would require insurers to cover expanded medication-assisted addiction treatment.
House Bill No. 7448
Requires hospital and ambulatory surgical facility operating rooms to have at least one circulating nurse present in each operating room during each surgical procedure.
House Bill No. 7710
Requires all health insurance providers that provide prescription coverage to provide coverage for opioid antagonists (overdose preventive medicine), and all devices and services.
House Bill No. 7846
Defines the group eligible for restoration of electric and/or gas service consistently with the current LIHEAP State Plan for Rhode Island filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
House Bill No. 7847
Authorizes any vendor, agent, contractor, or designee who operates an electronic medical health record (EMR) or clinical management system to have access to the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).)
House Bill No. 8163
Authorizes the department of human services to use low-income energy assistance funds throughout the calendar year, establish an arrearage program and require the PUC to conduct a review of programs impacting low-income ratepayers.
House Bill No. 8178
Establishes a state seal of biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.
House Bill No. 8207
Establishes a formal statement of foster parents' bill of rights, and requires that copies be given to all foster parents upon licensing and at each licensing interval.
House Bill No. 8268
Increases the authority of the board of trustees on career and technical education over career and technical education schools while modifying the formula for state financial aid to them.
House Bill No. 8330
Requires the director of labor and training to consider representatives from industries participating in non-trade apprenticeship programs when making appointments to the apprenticeship council.
2015
House Bill No. 5586
Creates a nondiscriminatory clause under the children's bill of rights for all children who are under the supervision of the department of children, youth, and families.
House Bill No. 6146
Amends and clarifies the definition of the word "building" for purposes of chapter 44 of title 34 relating to abandoned property.)
House Bill No. 5047
Requires all public middle schools, junior high schools and high schools to maintain opioid antagonists on school premises for administration by school personnel in an emergency to pupils or staff suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose.
House Bill No. 5077
Establishes the Complete College RI Act, for purposes of creating a comprehensive compilation of data showing academic progress among students, develop strategies to increase the number of students graduating from state institutions of higher education.
House Bill No. 5364
Raises the minimum wage for tipped workers to three dollars and thirty-nine cents ($3.39) per hour beginning January 1, 2016, and to three dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) per hour, beginning January 1, 2017.
House Bill No. 5819
Requires all police departments to submit annual reports to the office of highway safety regarding racial disparities in traffic stops.)
House Bill No. 6016
Mandates the development of a transition plan by the DCYF and DBHDDH for all children under the jurisdiction of the family court who are developmentally delayed or seriously emotionally disturbed prior to the child turning age 21.
House Bill No. 6072
Removes the requirement that a person convicted of and sentenced for a crime be presently serving an initial term of imprisonment prior to requesting forensic DNA testing.
2014
House Bill No. 7564 SUB A
This act would authorize the department of education to waive fees associated with the high school equivalency test and appropriates the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) each year commencing July 1, 2014 to cover administrative costs.
House Bill No. 7242
Would eliminate the six (6) month limit for adult education work readiness from the requirements for cash assistance
House Bill No. 7361
Would establish and create a fund within the department of elderly affairs to assist the elderly population to remain living in their homes and communities)
House Bill No. 8037
Requires firefighter applicants to undergo state and federal criminal background checks and fingerprinting prior to hire. Fingerprint records would be destroyed after the completion of the background check.
House Bill No. 8327
Encourages school districts to train their school counselors on collaborating with business, industry and other community organizations to help create internships and apprenticeships.
2013
House Bill No. 5284
Would provide that in the event of a tax sale of real property, the tax collector would notify RIHMFC not less than forty (40) days prior to the date of sale)
House Bill No. 5817
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - MISCELLANEOUS RULES
House Bill No. 5932
AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - - THE RHODE ISLAND LUPUS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PLAN
House Bill No. 5128
Would reduce the amount a check cashing business can charge for deferred deposit transaction fees from ten percent (10%) to five percent (5%) of the funds advanced
House Bill No. 5383
Would create and establish procedures for issuance of certificates of good conduct by the parole board to certain individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation after conviction of a crime under specific circumstances
House Bill No. 5507
Would prohibit inquiries on employment applications regarding prior criminal convictions except when federal or state law specifically disqualifies a person from employment because of a prior conviction or authorizes such inquiries
House Bill No. 5572
Would provide that court records cannot be sealed if a person has been previously convicted of a felony except in cases of acquittal after trial
House Bill No. 5940
AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION - HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
House Bill No. 5941
Would require all school districts to conduct school safety assessments, and would also require the dept of elementary and secondary education to develop a model school safety plan to be implemented by all school districts.
House Bill No. 5946
Would establish the Quality Family Child Care Act with a parent advisory council and it would provide for the rights of Child Care Assistance Program providers, certification of provider organizations and conflict resolution with provider organizations.
2012
House Bill No. 7061
Would provide that in the event of a tax sale of real property, the tax collector would notify RIHMFC not less than 40 days prior to the date of sale.)
House Bill No. 7287
Would prohibit schools from considering a students truancy or absenteeism as a basis for using an out-of-school suspension as a disciplinary action.
House Bill No. 7834
Would establish the Lupus Education and Awareness Program and an advisory panel to promote this program.
House Bill No. 7126
Would establish the Rhode Island statewide virtual education act, to promote the use of and quality of virtual courses as part of public education in Rhode Island.
House Bill No. 7136
Would provide a tenant of a foreclosed property greater protection against eviction.
House Bill No. 7412
Would provide further regulation of the use of former hazardous waste sites for new construction.
2011
House Bill No. 5212
Would include various forms of cigars, flavored cigars, flavored & unflavored blunt wraps & rolling papers as items subject to the restrictions, which prohibits the sale of certain tobacco products to minors
House Bill No. 5466
Would repeal the sunset provision on high deductible health plans)
House Bill No. 5061
Would require compulsory school attendance until the age of eighteen and would allow the waiver of the compulsory attendance for pupils over the age of sixteen who are involved with an alternative learning plan
2010
House Bill No. 8223
AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT
House Resolution No. 7826
Would amend the membership, establish a membership waiting list, and require updating of said membership every two years
House Bill No.7490
Would include crimes against homeless persons within the definition of "hate crimes" for the purposes of reporting and monitoring by the state police
House Bill No. 7875
Would provide for a statement of rights for foster parents to assist them in the performance of their duties
House Bill No. 7923
AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCE AND EXECUTION
House Bill No. 8172
Would exempt information contained in applications and supporting information under the medical marijuana act from provisions of the Rhode Island access to public information act
House Bill No. 8181
Would amend the statutory purpose of the Rhode Island Community College by placing an emphasis on workforce development
House Bill No. 8220
AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - RHODE ISLAND HUMAN RESOURCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL
House Bill No. 8223
AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT
2009
House Bill No. 5950
AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES
House Resolution No. 6272
JOINT RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HEALTH CARE CONSULTANT PROGRAM FOR LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
House Bill No. 6328
AN ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAWS SECTION 16-7-44 APPROVING THE ISSUANCE OF $22,338,000 LEASE REVENUE BONDS OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS BY THE PROVIDENCE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR "WARM, SAFE AND DRY" PROJECTS IN PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
House Resolution No. 5291
JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH, AND SUBMIT THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (CHANGE THE NAME OF THE STATE) by eliminating “Plantation”
House Bill No. 5359
Would make various changes to the medical marijuana act, including the creation and regulation of compassion centers to aid qualifying patients and their registered primary caregivers with respect to this act.
House Bill No. 5393
Would create a center for health professionals for the development of a healthcare workforce
House Bill No. 6073
AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES - REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES - BREAST CANCER SUPPORT LICENSE PLATES
House Bill No. 5607
Would provide that no license or permit to sell cigarettes would be issued or renewed unless the licensee has paid all current, fees, fines or other outstanding charges)
2008
House Bill No. 8423
AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- DONATED FOOD
House Bill No. 7885
Raise ex-officio members of RI emergency management council from 19 to 22/director of Providence emergency management agency/executive director of E-911 telephone system, the federal security director of trans security administration for RI)
House Bill No. 7334
Create a Liberian cultural exchange commission)
House Bill No. 7662
Remove the fine of ($500) that the bureau of licenses of Providence is authorized to impose as a fine upon any person, firm, or Corp for the violation of any law, ordinance, condition, rule, or regulation applicable to the license
House Bill No. 8331
Would permit the City of Providence to grant a tax credit of $250 to taxpayers owning owner-occupied condominium units valued no more than $150,000, single family houses valued no more than $200,000, and/or 2 to 5 unit houses no more than $275,000
House Bill No. 8041
Establish bidding requirements for contractors bidding on certain public works contracts
House Bill No. 7889
Establish the Community College of Rhode Island twenty-first century work force commission
House Bill No. 7350
Cap the maximum tax for cigars at fifty cents ($.50) for each cigar
House Bill No. 7687
Give the RI Housing Resources Commission the power to administer the supportive services program which aids in the prevention of homelessness, and would appropriate $500,000 in 2009 to carry out this provision of this act
House Bill No. 7863
Allow an Internet or computer-based alcohol server training program
2007
House Bill No. 6356
Commemorate the Independence of the Dominican Republic by setting forth February 27th in every year as "Dominican Republic Independence Day"
House Resolution No. 6560
Joint resolution respectfully requesting the Rhode Island Department of Human Services to act in the best interests of persons in need of health insurance by facilitating eligibility and enrollment for the Rhode Island Medical assistance program by requiring only such documentation as is mandated to be provided by relevant federal regulations
House Resolution No. 6561
Joint resolution establishing the family income and asset building commission
House Bill No. 5296
Eliminate Social Security benefits from being considered as "disqualifying income" in the determination of individual eligibility for unemployment benefits
House Bill No. 5351
Created the "Rhode Island High School Dropout Prevention Act of 2007."
House Bill No. 5862
Implement a voluntary quality rating system to increase the quality of early care and education of school-age child care)
House Bill No. 6125
Make changes to the Rhode Island coordinated health planning act of 2006 by establishing a health care planning council, including its powers and funding
House Resolution No. 6144
House resolution urging the Governor to provide meaningful assistance to help identify and enroll children who quality for medicaid and rite care programs.
House Resolution No. 6313
Joint resolution creating a special legislative commission to study transportation for after school and childcare programs.
House Resolution No. 6560
JOINT SOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF PERSONS IN NEED OF HEALTH INSURANCE BY FACILITATING ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT FOR THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BY REQUIRING ONLY SUCH DOCUMENTATION AS IS MANDATED TO BE PROVIDED BY RELEVANT FEDERAL REGULATIONS
House Bill No. 6563
AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMPUTATION OF SCHOOL HOUSING AID IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE OF REFUNDING BONDS BY A LOCAL COMMUNITY OR A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC BUILDINGS AUTHORITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY OR BY THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDING CORPORATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
House Bill No. 6053
Require an employer of fifty (50) employees to annually prepare a public health access beneficiary employee report)
House Bill No. 5296
Eliminate Social Security benefits from being considered as "disqualifying income" in the determination of individual eligibility for unemployment benefits
2006
House Bill No. 7650
Regulate the actions of mortgage foreclosure consultants and mortgage foreclosure purchasers
House Bill No. 7172
Mandate proof of workers' compensation coverage for either a PEO or a client and notification of cancellation.
House Bill No. 7772
Allow dental hygienists/to treat residents of nursing facilities whether or not such residents are established patients of the dentists who employ such dental hygienists, to ensure that residents of nursing facilities receive the regular treatment
House Bill No. 8166
Make changes in the reporting requirements under the long-term health care ombudsperson act
House Bill No. 7938
Provide that a person who has lost the right to vote upon a felony conviction would have that right restored when that person is discharged from incarceration
House Bill No. 7424
Established a statewide health planning program
2005
House Bill No. 5715
Create the office of civil rights advocate within the department of attorney general)
House Bill No. 5420
Increased minimum wage
House Bill No. 5569
Helped Nursing pool licensure
House Bill No. 5649
It requires a sufficient opportunity for eating lunch for workers.
House Bill No. 5650
Increase fines for unlawful unemployment of women & children in the workplace.