State House Report: Schools, Crime & the Developmentally Disabled
Saturday, April 21, 2012
School children were not the only ones celebrating spring break this past; the General Assembly also enjoyed a week off. Whether it was a well-deserved vacation or premature one is up for debate, but they were in recess nonetheless. As a result of the GA’s time off, GoLocal will be previewing the week ahead. So what’s on next week’s agenda? Well, state lawmakers will be reviewing legislation on taxation, education, crime, motor vehicles and human services.
House Committee on Finance – Developmental and Behavioral Disability Funding
On Wednesday, April 25 the House Committee on Finance will be reviewing multiple proposals relating to the human services field. One such bill, introduced by Rep. Raymond A. Hull, looks to restore the budget cut made to the developmental disabilities assisted living fund. Similarly, Rep. Rep. Jeremiah T. O'Grady’s bill also designed to reinstate developmental disability funding is due for discussion. Rep. O’Grady’s bill would rescind the quarterly financial authorization for services with developmental disabilities and give back funding based on an annual basis. Also on the docket is another of Rep. O’Grady’s proposals, a $15,000,000 appropriation for developmental disability services.
Aside from attempting to rectify last year’s $24 million in cuts to human services, Wednesday’s House Committee hearing will also delve into legislation intended to create a means for disabled children to buy into the federal Medicaid program. Currently, about eight percent of U.S. children suffer from significant disabilities, many of which do not have the necessary healthcare services.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSenate Committee on Judiciary – Motor Vehicle Legislation
Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will investigate a tandem of motor vehicle offenses bills that most RI drivers will want to know about. First is Sen. Edward J. O’Neill’s proposal to increase the penalties and fines for the motor vehicle offense of leaving the scene of an accident. The bill specifies that any individual that knowingly fails to stop in the event of an accident shall be upon conviction punished by a mandatory loss of license for at least one year and not more than five years in prison. Guilty individuals may also be fined as much as $5,000.
RI drivers should also take note of a new bill involving cell phone use in vehicles. Introduced by Sen. Susan Sosnowski (D), this Senate bill would make the use of non-hands-free mobile telephones while operating a vehicle illegal, except for public safety personnel. If enacted, those found in violation of the bill would be fined up to $100 for a first time offense.
House Committee on Judiciary – Criminal Offenses Legislation
Anyone concerned about the privacy of personal information? Next week the House Judiciary Committee will hear legislation about obtaining personal information from portable devices. Proposed by Rep. Edith Ajello (D), this House bill would require a search warrant be issued prior to acquiring information contained on devices such as cell phones. The bill states that, “Users of portable electronic devices have a reasonable and justifiable expectation of privacy in the information these devices contain and access through the Internet.”
In addition to Rep. Ajello’s bill, the House Judiciary will examine legislation regarding counterfeiting and forgery. House Bill No. 7503 would make it a misdemeanor to “forge, counterfeit, or cause to be forged or counterfeited, any registration plate or special use identification tag, or knowingly possess any forged or counterfeited registration plate or special use identification tag.” Guilty individuals could face up to one-year imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both.
House Committee on Finance – Acts Relating to Education
On Tuesday the House Finance Committee will discuss multiple education bills, the first of which delves into whether non-U.S. citizens living in Rhode Island should qualify for in-state tuition. Introduced by Rep. Doreen Costa (R), House Bill No. 7266 would deem persons who cannot prove U.S. citizenship ineligible to receive in-state tuition rates. Legislation granting in-state tuition to illegal residents was passed last year with the backing of Gov. Lincoln Chafee. The country is relatively split on the issue with 46 opposing the right of illegal residents to receive in-state benefits, while 48 percent approve the measure according to a Pew Research Center for the People & the Press survey.
Aside from legislation relating to illegal residents, a bill aimed at rewarding legal students will also be examined on Tuesday. Rep. Grace Diaz (D) has proposed a bill, which would identify students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition at public universities, colleges and community colleges. The bill would broaden the base of students that qualify for in-state tuition benefits to students not living in Rhode Island, but who attended a Rhode Island high school for three or more years. Illegal U.S. residents that attended or graduated from an accredited Rhode Island high school would not be covered under this proposal.
House Committee on Finance – Taxation Legislation
Last, but certainly not least, two proposals that will either anger or excite Ocean State taxpayers. In a move that will likely please the 99 percenters, the House Finance Committee will hear two “tax the rich” bills introduced by Rep. Scott J. Guthrie (D). His first proposal would impose an additional two percent tax increase for all personal income over $250,000 for residents and non-residents. If this measure does not pass, Rep. Guthrie also has a proposal on the table that would impose an additional two percent tax increase on residents and non-residents with personal income of over $500,000.
While Rep. Guthrie’s bills look to increase revenue by taxing the wealthy, Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D) has introduced legislation that would give select individuals some tax relief. Rep. Ruggerio’s proposal reinstates the state’s Residential Renewable Energy System Tax Credit. If reinstated numerous taxpayers would receive tax breaks for purchasing renewable energy systems like geothermal heat pumps, solar hot water systems and small residential wind systems. The tax credit would also benefit citizens who install or integrate energy efficient roofing, windows and insulation into their homes.
Stayed tuned next week for more information on the abovementioned Senate and House hearings.
