State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
JOURNAL -OF THE- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY SESSION of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the third day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and seventeen.
Volume 144, No. 4 Tuesday, January 10, 2017 Fourth Day
The House of Representatives meets at the State House in Providence, Tuesday, January 10, 2017 and is called to order at 4:33 o’clock P.M., by the Honorable Nicholas A. Mattiello, Speaker.
The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 74 members present and 1 member absent as follows:
PRESENT – 74 The Honorable Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Abney, Ackerman, Ajello, Almeida, Amore, Azzinaro, Barros, Bennett, Canario, Carson, Casey, Casimiro, Chippendale, Corvese, Costantino, Coughlin, Craven, Cunha, Diaz, Donovan, Edwards, Fellela, Filippi, Fogarty, Giarrusso, Handy. Hearn, Hull, Jacquard, Johnston, Kazarian, Keable, Kennedy, Knight, Lancia, Lima, Lombardi, Maldonado, Marshall, Marszalkowski, McEntee, McKiernan, McLaughlin, McNamara, Mendonca, Messier, Morgan, Morin, Nardolillo, Newberry, Nunes, O’Brien, O'Grady, Perez, Phillips, Price, Quattrocchi, Ranglin-Vassell, Regunberg, Roberts, Ruggiero, Serpa, Shanley, Shekarchi, Slater, Solomon, Tanzi, Tobon, Ucci, Vella-Wilkinson, Walsh, Williams, Winfield
ABSENT – 1: Representative Blazejewski.
INVOCATION
The Honorable Speaker presents Representative Ucci who delivers the Invocation and leads the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
(For Invocation, see Appendix, this Journal.)
APPROVAL OF RECORD
By unanimous consent, the House Journal of Thursday, January 5, 2017 is approved. H.J. -- 2 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
COMMUNICATION
The Honorable Speaker announces the receipt of the following communication:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CHAMBER
January 10, 2017
The Honorable House of Representatives:
I have the honor to inform you that I administered on this tenth day of January, A.D. 2017 the oath of office to Arthur Handy of Cranston as Representative of District 18.
Respectfully yours,
Nellie M. Gorbea Secretary of State
Received and placed on file.
APPOINTMENTS
January 10, 2017
Speaker Nicholas Mattiello announces the following appointments:
Representative Charlene Lima, Deputy Speaker Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy, Speaker Pro Tempore Representative Grace Diaz, Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Representative Kenneth Marshall, Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Deputy Majority Leaders
Representative Mia Ackerman Representative Gregg Amore Representative Dennis Canario Representative Stephen Casey Representative Arthur Corvese Representative Gregory Costantino Representative Deborah Fellela Representative Raymond Johnston Representative Mary Messier Representative Michael Morin Representative William O’Brien
H.J. -- 3 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Representative Jeremiah O’Grady Representative Scott Slater
House Committee on Finance
Representative Marvin Abney, Chairman Representative Kenneth Marshall, First Vice-Chairman Representative Teresa Tanzi, Second Vice-Chairwoman Representative Gregg Amore Representative Jean-Philippe Barros Representative Grace Diaz Representative Antonio Giarrusso Representative Joy Hearn Representative Alex Marszalkowski Representative James McLaughlin Representative Kenneth Mendonça Representative Michael Morin Representative William O’Brien Representative Robert Quattrocchi Representative Deborah Ruggiero Representative Patricia Serpa Representative Scott Slater Representative Carlos Tobon
House Committee on Finance Subcommittees
Education
Representative Gregg Amore, Chairman Representative Antonio Giarrusso Representative Joy Hearn Representative William O’Brien Representative Patricia Serpa Representative Carlos Tobon
General Government
Representative Scott Slater, Chairman Representative Gregg Amore Representative Jean-Philippe Barros Representative Kenneth Marshall Representative Alex Marszalkowski Representative Kenneth Mendonça
H.J. -- 4 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Public Safety
Representative Michael Morin, Chairman Representative Jean-Philippe Barros Representative Grace Diaz Representative Alex Marszalkowski Representative Robert Quattrocchi Representative Carlos Tobon
Human Services
Representative Teresa Tanzi, Chairwoman Representative Grace Diaz Representative Antonio Giarrusso Representative James McLaughlin Representative Scott Slater Representative Carlos Tobon
Environment/Transportation
Representative Deborah Ruggiero, Chairwoman Representative Joy Hearn Representative Kenneth Mendonça Representative William O’Brien Representative Scott Slater Representative Teresa Tanzi
House Committee on Judiciary
Representative Cale Keable, Chairman Representative Edith Ajello, First Vice-Chairwoman Representative Carol Hagan McEntee, Second Vice-Chairwoman Representative Joseph Almeida Representative Dennis Canario Representative Arthur Corvese Representative David Coughlin Representative Robert Craven Representative John Edwards Representative Blake Filippi Representative Jason Knight Representative Jeremiah O’Grady Representative Justin Price Representative Sherry Roberts Representative Evan Shanley Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson
H.J. -- 5 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
House Committee on Corporations
Representative Robert Jacquard, Chairman Representative Mary Messier, First Vice-Chairwoman Representative Raymond Johnston, Jr., Second Vice-Chairman Representative Stephen Casey Representative Michael Chippendale Representative Antonio Giarrusso Representative Raymond Hull Representative Katherine Kazarian Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy Representative Charlene Lima Representative Michael Morin Representative Jeremiah O’Grady Representative Joseph Solomon, Jr. Representative Anastasia Williams
House Committee on Labor
Representative Robert Craven, Chairman Representative Mary Messier, First Vice-Chairwoman Representative Stephen Casey, Second Vice-Chairman Representative Christopher Blazejewski Representative Helder Cunha Representative John Edwards Representative Kathleen Fogarty Representative Deborah Fellela Representative Kenneth Marshall Representative Carol Hagan McEntee Representative Daniel McKiernan Representative Robert Nardolillo Representative Brian Newberry Representative Jared Nunes Representative Aaron Regunberg Representative Stephen Ucci
House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare
Representative Joseph McNamara, Chairman Representative Dennis Canario, First Vice-Chairman Representative Mia Ackerman, Second Vice-Chairwoman Representative Samuel Azzinaro Representative David Bennett Representative Julie Casimiro Representative Susan Donovan Representative Arthur Handy
H.J. -- 6 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Representative Robert Lancia Representative Shelby Maldonado Representative Ramon Perez Representative Robert Phillips Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell Representative Sherry Roberts Representative Moira Walsh
House Committee on Oversight Representative Patricia Serpa, Chairwoman Representative Scott Slater, First Vice-Chairman Representative Raymond Johnston, Jr., Second Vice-Chairman Representative Lauren Carson Representative Michael Chippendale Representative John Edwards Representative Blake Filippi Representative Arthur Handy Representative Jason Knight Representative Daniel McKiernan Representative Joseph Solomon, Jr. Representative Teresa Tanzi Representative Anastasia Williams Representative Thomas Winfield
House Committee on Rules
Representative Arthur Corvese, Chairman Representative David Coughlin, First Vice-Chairman Representative William O’Brien, Second Vice-Chairman Representative Samuel Azzinaro Representative Christopher Blazejewski Representative Grace Diaz Representative Katherine Kazarian Representative Cale Keable Representative Brian Kennedy Representative Kenneth Marshall Representative Joseph McNamara Representative Justin Price Representative Sherry Roberts Representative Patricia Serpa Representative Scott Slater Representative Stephen Ucci
H.J. -- 7 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
House Committee on Municipal Government
Representative Kathleen Fogarty, Chairwoman Representative Mia Ackerman, First Vice-Chairwoman Representative Shelby Maldonado, Second Vice-Chairwoman Representative Joseph Almeida Representative Jean-Philippe Barros Representative David Bennett Representative Lauren Carson Representative David Coughlin Representative Blake Filippi Representative Joy Hearn Representative Raymond Johnston, Jr. Representative Charlene Lima Representative Brian Newberry Representative Ramon Perez Representative Evan Shanley Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Representative Samuel Azzinaro, Chairman Representative Carlos Tobon, First Vice-Chairman Representative Deborah Fellela, Second Vice-Chairwoman Representative Marvin Abney Representative Dennis Canario Representative Stephen Casey Representative Julie Casimiro Representative Robert Jacquard Representative Robert Lancia Representative James McLaughlin Representative Kenneth Mendonca Representative Mary Messier Representative Joseph Solomon Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson Representative Moira Walsh
House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Representative Arthur Handy, Chairman Representative David Bennett, First Vice-Chairman Representative Jeremiah O’Grady, Second Vice-Chairman Representative Susan Donovan Representative Raymond Hull Representative Katherine Kazarian Representative Robert Lancia
H.J. -- 8 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Representative John Lombardi Representative Alex Marszalkowski Representative Carol Hagan McEntee Representative Robert Nardolillo Representative William O’Brien Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell Representative Aaron Regunberg Representative Carlos Tobon
House Committee on Small Business
Representative Deborah Ruggiero, Chairwoman Representative Daniel McKiernan, First Vice-Chairman Representative Michael Morin, Second Vice-Chairman Representative Lauren Carson Representative Gregory Costantino Representative Helder Cunha Representative Deborah Fellela Representative Arthur Handy Representative John Lombardi Representative Jared Nunes Representative Robert Phillips Representative Justin Price Representative Robert Quattrocchi Representative Evan Shanley Representative Teresa Tanzi Representative Thomas Winfield
Received and placed on file
ANNOUNCEMENT
Representative Christopher Blazejewski is unable to attend session today, Tuesday, January 10th, 2017.
GUEST
Representative Giarrusso welcomes to the House Wendy Leonard.
NEW BUSINESS
House Resolution No. 5052 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Casimiro, Craven, Morgan ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE KENNETH CARTER {LC456/1}
H.J. -- 9 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
With the agreement of the minority, Representative Shekarchi requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
There is no objection.
Read and passed, on a motion of Representative Shekarchi seconded by Speaker Mattiello, Representatives Casimiro, Leader Morgan, Representatives Craven, Edwards, and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a rising vote.
House Resolution No. 5053 BY Shekarchi, Morgan ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS {LC418/1}
Majority Leader Shekarchi requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
There is no objection.
Read and passed, on a motion of Majority Leader Shekarchi seconded by Minority Leader Morgan by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.
House Resolution No. 5054 BY Shekarchi, Morgan ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING CONDOLENCES {LC419/1}
Majority Leader Shekarchi requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
There is no objection.
Read and passed, on a motion of Majority Leader Shekarchi seconded by Minority Leader Morgan by unanimous consent, on a rising vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leader Shekarchi reminds members of Ethics Training with Jason Gramitt after session today in the House Lounge.
Leader Shekarchi also announces to all new and returning members, pictures will be taken tomorrow in the House Lounge prior to session at 3 o’clock P.M.
TRANSMITTAL
By unanimous consent, all matters on the clerk’s desk are ordered to be transmitted to His Excellency, the Governor, to the Honorable Secretary of State, and the Honorable Senate forthwith.
H.J. -- 10 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
ADJOURNMENT
At 5:01 o’clock P.M. on motion of Representative O’Brien and as a further mark of respect to the memory of John J. O’Brien; on motion of Representatives Chippendale and Fellela and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Bruno “Buddy” Tassoni; on motion of Representative Slater, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Ynocencia Acevedo; on motion of Representative Mendonca and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Virginia Mendonca; on motion of Representative Casimiro, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of former Honorable Representative Kenneth Carter; on motion of Representative McLaughlin and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Loorese Issa; on motion of Representative Giarrusso and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Dolores Perillo; seconded by Leaders Shekarchi and Morgan the House adjourns, on a unanimous rising vote.
Linda M. McElroy Recording Clerk
H.J. -- 11 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 10, 2017
APPENDIX
INVOCATION
REPRESENTATIVE STEPHEN R. UCCI
Dear Lord: We ask your continued blessing on this House. In the days that come help each member to try to understand, and be open to those positions that we may initially disagree. Grant us the wisdom and confidence to do that which is just and wise for all our constituents. Amen.