RI State Report: Pro-Life Plates + 10-Cent Sakonnet Toll
Saturday, July 06, 2013
It’s official: The 2013 session of Rhode Island’s General Assembly has come to an end. Luckily, the General Assembly was hard at work this week passing a number of measures vital to Rhode Islanders. This week’s State Report centers on centers on five newly approved bills that address a wide variety of issues–including the National Popular Vote movement; biweekly pay implementation; pet bans; the Sakonnet River Bridge toll; and the controversial “Choose Life” license plates.
Lawmakers vote to approve ‘Choose Life’ license plates
On Monday, the General Assembly voted to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to sell “Choose Life” license plates designed by CareNet Pregnancy Center of Rhode Island, which would feature the nationally recognized Choose Life kids logo.
The plates would cost $40, with $20 going to the state’s general fund and $20 going to CareNet RI, a Providence-based nonprofit that offers abortion alternative services to women facing unexpected pregnancies. A $10 renewal surcharge would also go to CareNet.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAbortion rights supporters are urging Gov. Lincoln Chafee to veto the bill, arguing that Rhode Island shouldn’t inject itself into the abortion debate via a license plate. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that those opposed to the plates can simply choose not to purchase one.
The legislation will now make its way to the governor’s desk for final approval. Chafee, who supports abortion rights, has stopped short of vetoing the bill, but did state that he’s “very concerned” about the bill.
If enacted, Rhode Island would become the 30th state to offer “Choose Life” license plates. The plates are the brainchild of Choose Life Inc., a pro-life advocacy group founded in 1997.
Rhode Island currently offers special license plates supporting breast cancer research, food banks, and environmental preservation.
General Assembly says yes to National Popular Vote compact
Lawmakers approved legislation on Monday that would add Rhode Island to a coalition of states agreeing to commit their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes.
“Equality is fundamental to representative democracy, and the National Popular Vote compact will guarantee that every vote of every citizen counts and not just those in swing states,” said Sen. Erin P. Lynch, the bill’s sponsor. “The National Popular Vote does not supplant the Electoral College, it maintains it, while also guaranteeing that the candidate receiving the most votes becomes the president. The compact will make our democracy more representative because the winner will be chosen by the votes of the people and because every vote in every state will matter in an election that fills the most important office in our nation.”
If enacted, Rhode Island would become the tenth state to join the pact. The compact would not take effect until the total number of electoral votes of the participating states constitutes a majority of the Electoral College.
Currently, the nine states account for 132 of the necessary 270 electoral votes. The states are California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Rhode Island would add 4 electoral votes to the current total.
National Popular Vote legislation is currently being considered by a dozen other states.
Assembly passes biweekly pay bill
The House and Senate approved legislation this week that would allow Rhode Island businesses to pay employees on a biweekly basis if their average payroll is more than 200 percent of minimum wage.
“Businesses have said for years that they want the option of paying biweekly instead of every week because it reduces their administrative costs and their bookkeeping work,” said Sen. Roger A. Picard, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate. “But at the same time, for people who don’t make much money, two weeks is a long time to wait for a paycheck. This legislation is a good compromise that gives businesses that option as long as they are paying their employees a higher wage.”
Paying employees biweekly would allow businesses to save on supplier and processing fees, which average $4 per check per employee, according to the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. From a bookkeeping standpoint, the legislation would mean there will be fewer checks to track – thus simplifying the reconciliation process.
Rhode Island is the only state that requires weekly wages for nonexempt private sector workers, according to the American Payroll Association.
The current minimum wage in Rhode Island is $7.75, but is set to increase to $8 on Jan. 1, 2014.
Legislation takes aim at municipal bans on certain animal breeds
The General Assembly has approved legislation barring municipalities from banning certain breeds of dogs or cats.
“Years ago it was German Shepherds that were ‘bad’ dogs. Then it was Dobermans, then Rottweilers and today it is Pit Bulls,” said Rep. Thomas A. Palangio, sponsor of the House legislation. “No specific breed of dog is intrinsically bad or vicious or dangerous. It is the owners or handlers than can make a certain dog vicious, but entire breeds of dogs should not be outlawed based on the way some of them are trained.”
According to Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III, cities and towns should focus on punishing abusive owners rather than blaming the animal.
“People do get attacked by dogs, which is very unfortunate and I, like every other citizens, would like to see that never happen,” said Ciccone. “But it is unfair to blame the animal. Municipalities should, instead, target the people who mistreat their pets, or purposely make them vicious.”
The legislation will now make its way to the governor’s desk for final approval. If enacted, the law would take effect immediately.
A ban on pit bull ownership has been in effect in Pawtucket since 2004. Central Falls currently bans its residents from owning Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers.
Lawmakers OK 10-cent toll on Sakonnet Bridge
On Tuesday, the General Assembly voted to authorize the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) to institute a 10-cent toll on the Sakonnet River Bridge. The decision comes one week after lawmakers voted to delay tolls.
According to lawmakers, the move allows them to preserve future tolling options, as well as secure a potential revenue source while it weighs alternative funding plans in the upcoming months.
The legislation would implement the toll on Aug. 19, 2013 and prohibit RITBA from charging more than 10 cents per vehicle until Aug. 1, 2014. The 10-cent limit applies to both in-state and out-of-state vehicles.
The measure also removes a budget provision that prevents RITBA from increasing toll costs on the Claiborne Pell Bridge.
Lastly, the bill modifies the role of the Special Legislative Commission to Study Funding for East Bay Bridges to include all state bridges. As a result, the commission’s reporting date has been moved from Dec. 1, 2013 to Jan. 15, 2014.
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