RI State Report: Help For Voters + RI Small Businesses
Saturday, June 08, 2013
This week’s State Report centers on a newly enacted law that allows any voter who is in line by closing time to cast their ballot. Also on the docket, four recently passed bills, which are on the fast track to becoming the law of the land. These recently passed pieces of legislation include a bill protecting victims of violent crimes; a proposal to help small businesses; a bill designed to promote locally made products; and a measure looking to make children’s jewelry safer.
Legislation protecting voters in line when polls close becomes law
Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a bill into law this week which guarantees that any voter who is in line at a polling place by closing time (8 p.m.) will be allowed to cast his or her vote, regardless of whether or not they’re inside the polling location where the vote is being held. Under current law, a voter must be inside a polling place’s building by closing in order to cast a ballot.
“Anyone who is willing to wait outside to do their civic duty should not be turned away. This bill would make sure that every registered voter who wants to vote gets to vote,” said Rep. Edith H. Ajello, bill’s sponsor in the House.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSen. James C. Sheehan—the sponsor of the Senate bill—remarked, “This is a straightforward way to make sure our elections are open to every registered voter who shows up on time.”
The law takes immediate effect and will apply the next time any election is held in Rhode Island.
Senate passes legislation protecting victims of violence
On Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill that would allow victims of violent crimes to receive funds to relocate as part of the Crime Victim Compensation Program.
Sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush on behalf of General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, the legislation calls for emergency compensation for relocation costs up to $2,500.
“This legislation specifically helps crime victims at their most vulnerable time,” said Nesselbush. “These are people who are desperately seeking to move out of harm’s way, and this bill does exactly that. There is no excuse for violence, and there’s definitely no excuse for repeated violence. Anything we can do to assist victims of domestic violence and build a healthier, safer Rhode Island is a good thing.”
Designed to help victims of violence with the costs associated with violent crimes, the Crime Victim Compensation Program provided 422 Rhode Island families with 1,300 payments totaling $1.9 million in Fiscal Year 2012.
The Senate’s passage comes one week after a companion bill passed the House.
House approves ‘Rapid Rhody’ small business loan program
The House passed legislation on Tuesday that establishes the “Rapid Rhody” program to provide speedy access to capital for small businesses in Rhode Island. The bill—which is sponsored by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero—is part of an 18-bill package looking to improve the coordination and quality of the state’s economic development.
“One of the biggest concerns I’ve heard from small business owners is they need access to capital. It’s often a very long, complicated process for a small business to get a loan through a traditional bank these days. Small companies often don’t have the staff or the resources to devote a lot of time to jumping through all the hoops that many lenders require. With the Rapid Rhody program, we can quickly help them expand and succeed, which improves both our economy and our state’s business-friendliness, which in turn, can help us attract more growing businesses,” said Ruggiero.
Under the legislation, the program will provide access to capital within 90 days to employers with less than 100 employees. Recipients must be located in Rhode Island; have been registered to conduct business for at least one year; be current with all state taxes; and maintain their businesses and jobs within Rhode Island for at least two years after receiving the loan.
The bill will now make its way to the Senate.
Senate OKs ‘Made in Rhode Island’ legislation
On Tuesday, the Senate passed legislation to establish a “Made in Rhode Island” panel tasked with promoting the sale of products manufactured or crafted in Rhode Island.
“We have such a strong sense of community here in Rhode Island,” said the bill’s sponsor Sen. Maryellen Goodwin. “Many Rhode Islanders will gladly buy locally made goods because they value the contributions of local small businesses. Helping to raise awareness about which products are local will help connect those consumers with those businesses, for their benefit and the good of Rhode Island’s economy.”
Under the bill, a panel of government, education and arts leaders would work with the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and an advisory council of businesspeople and artists to promote locally made goods.
The collaborative is also tasked with contracting a Rhode Island graphic designer to create a “Made in Rhode Island” logo, which will appear on locally made products.
A companion bill was passed in the House last month.
Senate passes bill improving children’s jewelry safety regulations
The Senate approved legislation this week that strengthens regulations on the manufacture and sale of children’s jewelry originally outlined under the “Comprehensive Children’s Jewelry Safety Act,” which was signed into law last year.
Under the original bill—which was sponsored by Sen. James C. Sheehan—all jewelry and charms made in Rhode Island for children ages 12 and under must meet the standards created by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
The amendment, also sponsored by Sheehan, would expand the law to apply not only to the manufacture of children’s jewelry, but also apply to the sale of items that do not meet ASTM standards.
“We have to make sure the children’s jewelry being sold in our state doesn’t include toxic elements like lead and cadmium,” said Sheehan. “Most parents are pretty watchful when it comes to the items they buy for their children, but we still need to take strong precautions. Completely prohibiting the sale of jewelry with any levels of these potentially toxic substances is the best way to keep our children safe.”
If enacted and signed into law, the ban on sales would take immediate affect.
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