This Week In The General Assembly

Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly for the week ending April 1, 2011. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/

Ucci calls for heightened security at banks

Saying it would speed up the identification of robbers and serve as a deterrent to criminals, Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston) has introduced legislation (2011-H 5147) requiring outdoor security cameras at banks. Under the bill, all financial institutions and credit unions would be required to video tape their customer doors, automatic teller machines (ATMs) and night deposit repositories. Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) is sponsoring the bill (2011-S 0180) in the Senate.

Click here to see news release.

Senate commission begins study of funding of vocational schools

With Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston) serving as its chair, a new Senate commission on the funding of vocational schools in Rhode Island began its study. Created by legislation sponsored by Senator Gallo in the previous legislative session, other members of the panel are Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) and Sen. Glenford J. Shibley (R-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, Warwick, West Warwick).
Click here to see news release.

Serpa, Lynch serve as panelists for follow-up to small business economic summit

Sen. Erin P. Lynch (D-Dist. 31, Warwick), chairwoman of the Senate Small Business Task Force and Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry), chairwoman of the House Committee on Small Business, attended the Small Business Administration’s 5th annual Economic Summit follow-up breakfast to discuss progress on the recommendations of the SBA’s annual Economic Summit and action under consideration in the General Assembly to improve the climate for small business in Rhode Island.

Click here to see news release.

House approves DaSilva measure supporting full-day kindergarten 

The House approved a resolution sponsored by Rep. Roberto DaSilva (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) calling for full-day kindergarten classes. The measure (2011-H 5049 A) requests that kindergarten school days contain at least five and one half hours of actual school work, excluding lunch, recess periods, common planning time, pre- and post- school teacher time, study halls, homeroom periods, student passing time and any other time that is not instructional time.

Click here to see news release.

Health Insurance Exchange gets committee approval
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee recommended the approval of legislation (2011-S 0087 A) sponsored by Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) to create a health insurance exchange through which small businesses and individuals could learn about their health insurance options and available subsidies. Required under the federal health care overhaul, the exchange would help individuals and small businesses compare health plans, and is intended to expand coverage, improve the quality of coverage, increase competition and transparency and reduce costs. Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) is sponsoring the bill (2011-H 5498) in the House.

Click here to see news release.

Ferri, Metts, advocates want end to high-interest payday loans
Backed by a coalition of advocates, Rep. Frank G. Ferri (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) and Sen. Harold M. Metts (D-Dist. 6, Providence) argued for legislation aimed at freeing Rhode Islanders from a cycle of debt caused by ultra-high-interest payday loans. The legislation (2011-H 5562, 2011-S 0288) eliminates a special exemption from the state’s usury law that has allowed payday lenders to charge borrowers triple-digit interest rates, instead subjecting payday lenders to the same 36-percent limit that applies to other lenders.

Click here to see news release.