State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
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State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations JANUARY SESSION of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the First day of January in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Nineteen. Volume 146, No.23 Thursday, March 14, 2019 Twenty Third Legislative Day The Senate meets pursuant to adjournment and is called to order by the Honorable Dominick J. Ruggerio, President of the Senate, at 4:15 o’clock P.M. ROLL CALL The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 36 Senators present and 2 Senators absent as follows: PRESENT –36: The Honorable President Dominick Ruggerio, and Senators Algiere, Archambault, Bell, Cano, Ciccone, Conley, Coyne, Crowley, de la Cruz, DiPalma, Euer, Felag, Gallo, Goldin, Goodwin, Lombardi, Lombardo, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, McKenney, Metts, Miller, Morgan, Murray, Nesselbush, Paolino, Pearson, Picard, Quezada, Rogers, Satchell, Seveney, Sheehan, Sosnowski, and Valverde. ABSENT – 2: Senators Lawson, Raptakis. INVOCATION The Honorable President, by unanimous consent, presents Reverend Giacomo Capoverdi, to deliver the invocation. (See Appendix for Invocation) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG The Honorable President, by unanimous consent, presents Senator Crowley, to lead the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. S.J. -- 2 JOURNAL Thursday, March 14, 2019 APPROVAL OF RECORD The Senate Journal of the Twenty Second Legislative Day of the 2019 proceedings is read in part. Upon suggestion of Senator Crowley and by unanimous consent, further reading of the Journal is dispensed with and the Journal approved as recorded. GUESTS Upon the suggestion of Senator Paolino and by Unanimous consent, The Honorable President of the Senate, welcomes to the Chamber Bill Lebron. Upon the suggestion of Senator Morgan and by Unanimous consent, The Honorable President of the Senate, welcomes to the Chamber her mother, Joy B. Eaton. S.J. -- 3 JOURNAL Thursday, March 14, 2019 COMMUNICATION The Honorable President of the Senate presents the following communication: State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Senate Chamber March 14, 2019 The Honorable Dominick J. Ruggerio President of the Senate Rhode Island State House 82 Smith Street, 3rd Floor, Room 318 Providence, RI 02903 Dear President Ruggerio: Please be advised and let the record reflect that I will be absent from the Chamber Thursday, March 14, 2019. I would appreciate your recording my letter in the appropriate Senate Journal. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely yours, Valarie J. Lawson Senator District #14 Read and ordered to be placed on file. ] S.J. -- 4 JOURNAL Thursday, March 14, 2019 FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A message from the House of Representatives transmits with announcement of passage, of the following measures: House Bill No. 5187 BY Cassar, Alzate, Walsh, Knight, Tanzi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO THE TOWN OF BARRINGTON - VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER (Ratifies and validates the amendments to the Barrington Home Rule Charter which were approved by the electors of the town of Barrington at the polls on November 6, 2018.) {LC840/1} From the House of Representative to the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government. House Bill No. 5096 BY Maldonado, Tobon, Solomon, Casimiro, Slater ENTITLED, AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS (Validates and ratify amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the city of Central Falls which were adopted and approved by the electors of the city on November 6, 2018.) {LC503/1} From the House of Representative to the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government. House Bill No. 5117 BY Ruggiero, Cortvriend, Abney ENTITLED, AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN (Validates and ratify amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the town of Middletown, which amendments were adopted and approved by the electors of the town of Middletown on November 6, 2018.) {LC504/1} From the House of Representative to the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government. House Bill No. 5132 BY Newberry ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO THE TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD (Ratifies the Home Rule Charter amendments adopted and approved by the electors of North Smithfield on November 6, 2018.) {LC681/1} From the House of Representative to the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government. S.J. -- 5 JOURNAL Thursday, March 14, 2019 NEW BUSINESS Senate Resolution No. 535 BY Paolino, Ruggerio, Algiere, Lombardi, Lombardo ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE CELEBRATION OF ST. JOSEPH'S DAY {LC2149/1} Recommended for Immediate Consideration. Senator Paolino requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration. Unanimous consent for immediate consideration is granted. Senator Paolino moves passage, seconded by Senators, Algiere, Archambault, Bell, Cano, Ciccone, Conley, Coyne, Crowley, de la Cruz, DiPalma, Euer, Felag, Gallo, Goldin, Goodwin, Lawson, Lombardi, Lombardo, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, McKenney, Metts, Miller, Morgan, Murray, Nesselbush, Pearson, Picard, Quezada, Raptakis, Rogers, Satchell, Seveney, Sheehan, Sosnowski, and Valverde. The resolution is read and passed upon a voice vote. Senate Resolution No. 534 BY Crowley, Goodwin, Lynch Prata, Conley, McKenney ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE CELEBRATION OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY {LC2150/1} Recommended for Immediate Consideration. Senator Crowley requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration. Unanimous consent for immediate consideration is granted. Senator Crowley moves passage, seconded by Senators, Algiere, Archambault, Bell, Cano, Ciccone, Conley, Coyne, de la Cruz, DiPalma, Euer, Felag, Gallo, Goldin, Goodwin, Lawson, Lombardi, Lombardo, Lynch Prata, McCaffrey, McKenney, Metts, Miller, Morgan, Murray, Nesselbush, Paolino, Pearson, Picard, Quezada, Raptakis, Rogers, Satchell, Seveney, Sheehan, Sosnowski, and Valverde. The resolution is read and passed upon a voice vote. S.J. -- 6 JOURNAL Thursday, March 14, 2019 Senate Bill No. 536 BY Picard ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE (Allows disability insurance with a benefit limit in excess of a benefit limit available from an admitted insurer to be written in the surplus lines market.) {LC1775/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce. Senate Bill No. 537 BY DiPalma, Seveney, Coyne, Valverde, McKenney ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS - INTERNET PRIVACY AND SECURITY (Establishes that manufacturers of devices capable of connecting to the Internet equip the devices with reasonable security features.) {LC1768/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce. Senate Bill No. 538 (Division of Public Utilities and Carriers) BY Euer, DiPalma, Murray, Seveney, Coyne ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - ENGINEERS (Requires that plans for natural gas infrastructure be built to a set of design standards approved by a certified engineer if the work poses a material public safety risk.) {LC1875/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce. Senate Bill No. 539 BY Lombardo, Ciccone, Lombardi, Gallo, Conley ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - EXCAVATION NEAR UNDERGROUND UTILITY FACILITIES (Requires any public utility or its contractor to reimburse an excavator for lost time expense incurred, including manpower and equipment from the utilities incorrect marking of underground utilities.) {LC2035/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce. Senate Bill No. 540 (Secretary of State) BY Quezada ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS (Amends the registration requirements for persons who transact business using a trade name.) {LC1539/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce. S.J. -- 7 JOURNAL Thursday, March 14, 2019 Senate Bill No. 541 BY Pearson, Seveney, Gallo, Quezada, Satchell ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- STATE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (Authorizes the council on elementary and secondary education to waive certain provisions of the laws on elementary and secondary education for public schools but would prohibit the waiver of other listed provisions.) {LC958/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Education. Senate Bill No. 542 BY Cano, Satchell, Crowley, Metts, Quezada ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION - THE EDUCATION EQUALITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT (Furnishes financial support for planning/implementation of effective community schools that would provide students with equitable access to high-quality education.) {LC1280/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Education. Senate Bill No. 543 BY Seveney, Coyne, DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION - SCREENING AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DYSLEXIA AND RELATED DISORDERS (Requires public schools to provide screening for dyslexia/related disorders/establish approp. treatment and/or education plan for students starting in school year 2020-2021/creates study comm. for 2 schools dedicated to instruction of dyslexic children.) {LC1746/1} Introduced, referred to Senate Education. Senate Bill No. 544 BY Pearson, Seveney, Gallo, Satchell, Picard ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Requires charter school populations to reflect the combined demographics of the sending district(s) in terms of special education, English language learners, and students who qualify for free and reduced price lunch.) {LC957/1} Introduced, referred to Senate