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 seventh day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty. Volume 147, No. 1 Tuesday, January 7, 2020 First Day The House of Representatives meets at the State House in Providence, Tuesday, January 7, 2020 and is called to order at 4:09 o’clock P.M., by the Honorable Nicholas A. Mattiello, Speaker. The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 71 member’s present and 3 members absent as follows: PRESENT – 71: The Honorable Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Abney, Ackerman, Ajello, Almeida, Alzate, Amore, Azzinaro, Barros, Blazejewski, Caldwell, Canario, Carson, Casey, Casimiro, Cassar, Chippendale, Cortvriend, Corvese, Costantino, Craven, Diaz, Donovan, Edwards, Fellela, Filippi, Fogarty, Handy, Hawkins, Hull, Jackson, Jacquard, Johnston, Kazarian, Kennedy, Kislak, Knight, Lima, Lombardi, Lyle, Marszalkowski, McEntee, McKiernan, McLaughlin, McNamara, Mendez, Messier, Millea, Morin, Nardone, Newberry, Noret, O’Brien, Phillips, Place, Price, Ranglin- Vassell, Roberts, Ruggiero, Serodio, Serpa, Shanley, Shekarchi, Slater, Solomon, Speakman, Tanzi, Ucci, Vella-Wilkinson, Walsh, Williams. ABSENT – 3: Representatives Bennett, Quattrocchi, Tobon, ADJOURNMENT OF 2019 SESSION On motion of majority Leader Shekarchi seconded by Minority Leader Filippi the House adjourns the 2019 session on a voice vote. INVOCATION The Honorable Speaker presents Chairwoman Serpa who delivers the Invocation and leads the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. (For Invocation, see Appendix, this Journal.) H.J. -- 2 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 7, 2020 OPENING DAY ADDRESS The Honorable Speaker Mattiello addresses the members of the House. (For Speaker's Address see appendix of Journal) Speaker Mattiello thanks his wife MaryAnn, who is here today, for her love and support. APPROVAL OF RECORD By unanimous consent, the House Journal of Friday, June 28, 2019, is approved. GUESTS Leader Shekarchi welcome to the House as a guest. Paul Loether director of the RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, Sally Strachan, chairwoman of the State House Restoration Society, Carol Cornelison, director, of DCAMM, which partnered with JCLS in this entire construction effort, Ernest Covington, executive director of the Rhode Island Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Robert O’Donnell of E.F. O’Donnell, the lead contractor, Ryan Haggerty of Vision 3 Architects, the architect for the project, Laurence Coch of ATR Treehouse, which provided our new sound system and Diana Fallone of Drapery House. Leader Shekarchi wishes Speaker Mattiello’s guest MaryAnn a happy birthday which she celebrated yesterday. COMMUNICATION Representative David Bennett is unable to attend session today, Tuesday, January 7, 2020. Representative Robert Quattrocchi is unable to attend session today, Tuesday, January 7, 2020. Representative Carlos Tobon is unable to attend session today, Tuesday, January 7, 2020. APPOINTMENTS Speaker Mattiello announces the following appointments: Representative Jason Knight, member of House Committee on Judiciary, House Committee on Oversight, and House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Representative Arthur Corvese, member of House Committee on Labor. Representative Mia Ackerman, Second Vice Chair of House Committee on Municipal Government. Representative Thomas Noret, Second Vice Chair on Conduct. H.J. -- 3 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 7, 2020 NEW BUSINESS House Resolution No. 7001 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Corvese, Ucci, Edwards ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF DOROTHY M. RUGGERIO {LC3237/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Leader Shekarchi request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Leader Shekarchi seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Corvese, Ucci, Edwards, Kennedy and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. House Resolution No. 7002 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, McNamara, Serpa ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MARCIA B. REBACK {LC3058/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Leader Shekarchi request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Leader Shekarchi seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Craven, McNamara, Serpa, Kennedy and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. House Resolution No. 7003 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, McKiernan, Millea ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE JUSTICE JOSEPH F. RODGERS, JR. {LC3163/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Leader Shekarchi request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Leader Shekarchi seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Craven, McKiernan, McEntee, Kennedy and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. Speaker Mattiello discusses the resolution. H.J. -- 4 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 7, 2020 House Resolution No. 7004 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, McKiernan, Millea ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE JUSTICE DONALD FRANCIS SHEA, RETIRED ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE RHODE ISLAND STATE SUPREME COURT {LC2957/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Leader Shekarchi request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Leader Shekarchi seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Craven, Kislak, Millea, Kennedy, McEntee, Lombardi, McLaughlin, Hull, O’Brien, Jackson, Corvese, Diaz, Slater, Abney, Ajello and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. House Resolution No. 7005 BY Lima, Williams, Ajello, Speakman, Mattiello ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION JOYOUSLY CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF RHODE ISLAND'S RATIFICATION OF THE 19TH AMENDMENT, GRANTING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE {LC3293/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority, Deputy Speaker Lima request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Deputy Speaker Lima seconded by Representative Speakman, Representatives Williams, Ajello Speaker Mattiello, Fogarty, Cassar, Kislak, Ackerman, Caldwell, and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. Representative Speakman, Ajello, Deputy Speaker Lima and Chairwoman Williams discusses the resolution. ANNOUNCEMENTS Representative O’Brien congratulates his niece on the birth of her son Colt Michael Erickson. Speaker Mattiello congratulates the couple on the birth of their son. NEW BUSINESS House Resolution No. 7006 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Craven, McKiernan, Millea ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE SUPERIOR COURT JUSTICE, JOHN E. ORTON, III {LC3057/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Chairman Craven request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. H.J. -- 5 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 7, 2020 There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Chairman Craven seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Leader Shekarchi, Representative McKiernan, Millea, McEntee, Ucci, Fogarty, Knight, Shanley, Blazejewski, Johnston, Solomon, Edwards, Azzinaro, Casey and Ajello by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. Chairman Craven discusses the resolution. Speaker Mattiello discusses the resolution. House Resolution No. 7007 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Lima, Diaz ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION WISHING THE HONORABLE SHELBY MALDONADO WELL IN HER NEW POSITION AS THE HISPANIC OUTREACH DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN ISRAELI PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (AIPAC) AND THANKING HER FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF CENTRAL FALLS AND THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND {LC3319/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Representative Blazejewski request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Representative Blazejewski seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Leader Shekarchi, Deputy Speaker Lima, Representative Diaz, Slater, Filippi, Johnston, Solomon, Casey, Casimiro, Alzate, Mendez, Shanley, Morin, Knight, Corvese, Hawkins, Handy, Ackerman, Azzinaro, Ajello, Fogarty, Edwards, Kislak and the entire House of Representatives by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. Representative Blazejewski discusses the resolution. Speaker Mattiello discusses the resolution. Speaker Mattiello wishes Representative Maldonado the best of luck. ANNOUNCEMENTS Representative McLaughlin recognizes the men and women in the military serving overseas. Speaker Mattiello requests a moment of silence for all the members of the military services. NEW BUSINESS House Resolution No. 7008 BY Mattiello, Shekarchi, Corvese, Fellela, Lima ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE THOMAS L. UCCI {LC3056/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority Chairman Corvese request unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. H.J. -- 6 JOURNAL Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Read and passed, on a motion of Chairman Corvese seconded by Speaker Mattiello and Leader