990WBOB
  • WBOB Radio
  • Crush Cancer
  • Past Casts
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA

This Week at the General Assembly: Remodeling the Lobby

6/3/2016

Comments

 
Picture
​Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. ​
§  General Assembly passes lobbying reform act
The General Assembly passed legislation (2016-H 7388A, 2016-S 2361A) sponsored by Rep. Robert B. Jacquard (D-Dist. 17, Cranston) and Sen. Erin Lynch Prata (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) that reforms the state’s general laws on lobbying. The bill will simplify and clarify the rules governing lobbying to maximize transparency without imposing unnecessary burdens on the process, promote a more user-friendly registration and reporting system, and strengthen the investigation and enforcement scheme of the state’s lobbying rules and regulations.  Representative Jacquard’s bill passed the Senate and heads to the governor’s office for action, while Senator Lynch Prata’s bill awaits consideration in the House.
 
§  House, Senate approve bills to create biliteracy seal for high school diplomas
The House and the Senate each approved separate bills (2016-H 8178, 2016-S 2735) sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) and Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D-Dist. 2, Providence) to create a “biliteracy seal” that school districts could affix to the diplomas and transcripts of high school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in another language in addition to English. Each bill will now proceed to the other chamber.

Click here to see news release.

§  Senate OKs Gallo bill allowing Student Loan Authority to refinance loans
The Senate passed legislation (2016-S 2453) sponsored by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) that would empower the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority to refinance and consolidate existing eligible loans as well as purchase and invest in its own bonds and notes. Similar legislation (2016-H 7370) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Michael J. Marcello (D-Dist. 41, Scituate, Cranston).

Click here to see news release.
 
§  Senate approves Pichardo bill authorizing YouthBuild Academy
The Senate has passed legislation (2016-S 2867A) introduced by Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D-Dist. 2, Providence) that would authorize the creation of a YouthBuild Preparatory Academy in Pawtucket and Central Falls. Similar legislation (2016-H 8113) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Jean Philippe Barros (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket).

Click here to see news release.
 
§  House approves Kennedy bill authorizing GAP waivers for car dealers
The House passed legislation (2016-H 7712A) introduced by Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) that would authorize motor vehicle dealers to issue guaranteed asset protection waivers to consumers while providing consumer protections. A GAP waiver is a contractual agreement wherein a creditor agrees to a separate charge to cancel or waive all or part of amounts due on a borrower’s finance agreement in the event of a total physical damage loss or unrecovered theft of the motor vehicle. Similar legislation (2016-S 2424) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland).

Click here to see news release.
 
§  Rep. Ucci bill to regulate drones passes House
The House has passed legislation (2016-H 7511A) sponsored by Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston) to give the Rhode Island Airport Corporation the exclusive legal authority to regulate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, also called drones, in Rhode Island.

Click here to see news release.

§  Senate OKs bill to let students make up lost school days at home
Schools may have the opportunity to make up lost school days through the use of at-home learning plans under a bill sponsored by Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) that has been approved by the Senate. The legislation (2016-S 2018) would require the Department of Education to create a policy to allow school districts to submit plans to provide students with lessons they can complete at home to replace a school day canceled due to inclement weather or an emergency. 

Click here to see news release.


§  House approves legislation to allow limited retail sales by breweries
The House approved legislation (2016-H 8100Aaa) sponsored by Rep. Michael A. Morin (D-Dist. 49, Woonsocket) to allow breweries, distilleries and wineries to sell limited amounts of their products to visitors for sampling and off-site consumption. The bill is meant to assist microbreweries, in particular, which are banned entirely from selling their products at retail at their plants under current law, but would like to do so to be part of the growing “beer tourism” industry. Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski has introduced similar legislation (2016-S 3053) in the Senate.

Click here to see news release.

§  Rep. Corvese bill approved by House would aid resolution of condo disputes
The House approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence) to create a less-costly process for resolving minor disputes involving condominium associations and owners. The bill (2016-H 7204) would allow the parties in such disputes to use the existing court annexed arbitration program in Superior Court to come to a legally binding resolution, with some caveats.

Click here to see news release.
 
§  Senate Finance hears testimony on ProvPort bond legislation
​

The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony on legislation (2016-S 3043) sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) that would create a bond referendum which would authorize the issuance of bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes of the state in the aggregate amount of $20 million to fund the acquisition, expansion and infrastructure improvement of up to 25 acres of land and facilities located between Allens Avenue in Providence and the Providence River by ProvPort Inc. at the general election on Nov. 8.
Comments

    WBOB
    Original
    ​Reads

    Picture

    Unbiased, Unfiltered. WBOB's Original Reads feature our brightest and boldest personalities, offering their two-cents on the goings on of news, sports, politics, entertainment, and business. -- Are our opinions always PC? Nope. Are they always perfect? Nah. But, are they always 100% authentic? Absolutely!


    LISTEN
    ​TO WBOB ORIGINAL PODCASTS

    Picture
    Listen to
    ​Past BOBCasts

    WBOB 
    Best Reads
    Brought To You By
    TripAdvisor.com

    Picture

    Celebrating David Clyde: A Wild Passionate Friend To All


    Picture

    Search 
    The Archives


    Reads From Our Friends

    Picture

    The Best Game Development Tools: How to Make Your Own Game


    Contact Us
    [email protected]


    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

Search For Your Favorite WBOB Author,
​or BobCast

990WBOB 
An Independent Media Outlet.

The views opinions and thoughts expressed do not  reflect those of 990WBOB, its management or its staff. All Rights Reserved 990WBOB.com 2007-2020
​
Contact WBOB HERE
Photo from nzhamstar
  • WBOB Radio
  • Crush Cancer
  • Past Casts
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA