Politics & Government

This Week In The General Assembly

A weekly round-up of legislative action in the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly for the week ending May 27, 2011. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/

McNamara bill OKd in House; calls for school food services to provide calorie/nutritional labeling

Legislation to require public school food services to post calorie and nutritional information on menu boards in school cafeterias has been approved by the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, the bill, (2011-H5334), calls for implementation of the calorie/nutritional information posting beginning in January, 2013.

The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Click here to see news release.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Senate OKs career/technical education workforce bill

STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation aimed at ensuring career and technical education programs in the state’s schools address the changing needs of local business and industry and promote workforce development.

Approved and sent to the House of Representatives for consideration was Senate bill (2011-S0957aa), sponsored by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston), Chair of the Senate Committee on Education.

The legislation directs the Board of Regents to establish and maintain ongoing connections with higher education, business and industry, and to promote workforce development through their career and technical educational system.

The bill also requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide annual reports to the General Assembly specifying such things as the number of students attending career and technical schools/programs, the number who have received diplomas and the number of students who obtain employment before or immediately after graduation.

Find out what's happening in Johnstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Click here to see news release.

House approves Serpa bill allowing pharmacists to give injections to young people

The House of Representatives on May 25 approved legislation introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry) allowing pharmacists to administer routine injections to young people in Rhode Island.

The bill (2011-H5211Aaa) expands upon a 2007 law sponsored by Representative Serpa that made Rhode Island the 45th state to permit registered pharmacists to give routine injections to adult patients.

The bill has been referred to the Senate, which recently passed similar legislation (2011-S0480A) sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).

Click here to see news release.

Senate approves creation of redistricting commission

The Senate on May 26 voted to create a reapportionment commission, taking the first step toward constitutionally required redistricting of House, Senate and congressional districts in Rhode Island.

The bill (2011-S 0924), sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), creates an 18-member reapportionment commission that would use the results of the 2010 federal census to redraw district lines to better reflect population shifts in the state.

Click here to see news release.


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