Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The Rhode Island Senate passed two bills Tuesday to improve school safety, but they also make safety plans exempt from public records. What do you think? Should these plans be made public?
School safety is on everybody's mind, especially after the tragic shooting in Newtown, CT, which was deemed the worst school shooting in recent U.S. history. On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Senate passed two bills aimed at improving school safety. The first bill, 2013-S 0800A, introduced by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D- Cranston, West Warwick), directs the commissioner for elementary and secondary education to certify annually that all school safety plans and school emergency response plans have been reviewed and updated as appropriate. The second bill, 2013-S 0801A, sponsored by Gallo, requires all schools to perform a school safety assessment in conjunction with local police, fire and school safety teams within 30 days of passage of the …
Rep. Dennis Canario talks about recent gun legislation.
The following is an op-ed submitted by Rep. Dennis Canario. In the wake of the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the General Assembly leadership joined with Gov. Lincoln Chafee, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and law enforcement officials to introduce a package of gun legislation, including several bills that seek to strengthen existing laws dealing with firearms violations. Since the introduction of those bills, the House Committee on Judiciary, on which I serve, has held a lengthy hearing. Over the course of about eight hours, many people testified on the various bills. There was clearly a great assortment of opinions, from strong support to strong opposition. I am writing to share with my constituents …
Monday, May 20, 2013
The legislature has submitted 18 bills "developed to improve the coordination and quality of Rhode Island’s economic development efforts and help business succeed in their efforts to grow here."
Recent goings on at the Rhode Island State House.
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Monday, May 20
General Assembly launches easy-to-use bill tracking email system Members of the public who want to track the progress of certain bills throughout the legislative session can now use the General Assembly website to sign up for email updates. After a simple registration process, a member of the public can subscribe to up to 50 bills of his or her choice. Using the new tool, one can search for bills by committee, category, sponsor, range of bill numbers or individual bill numbers. Users will receive email updates regarding the change in status of these bills hourly, daily, or weekly, depending upon their preferred settings. Senate passes legislation banning gender rating in health insurance market Falling into step with the federal …
Friday, January 25, 2013
The proposal to guarantee marriage rights to all Rhode Islanders now moves onto the state Senate.
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Friday, January 25
Rhode Island moved one step closer to marriage equality Thursday as the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 51 to 19 today to allow same-sex couples to marry in the state, the Legislature announced in a release. Rep. Arthur Handy, who has introduced the bill for each of the last 11 years, said the proposal is about justice and equity for same-sex couples. “Obviously, this issue is about fairness and allowing all Rhode Islanders to have equal access to the rights and responsibilities that come with marriage, but marriage is about so much more than legal protections," Handy said in a release. "My wife and I have been married since 1997, and as we’ve worked together to raise our son, the value of having a committed, strong family has …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Rep. Peter Palumbo has again introduced legislation that will prohibit dogs from sitting on the lap of a motor vehicle operator.
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Thursday, January 24
Should dogs be allowed on a drivers lap? One Rhode Island Legislator says the answer is a resounding, no. “I know some people think this is frivolous, but I still believe it is a matter of public safety, for humans and animals alike,” said Representative Peter G. Palumbo (D-Dist. 16, Cranston). He introduced legislation that would subject violators to an $85 fine for a first offense, $100 for a second and $125 for a third or subsequent offense. Almost a quarter of drivers that transport dogs allow them to ride on their lap, according to a 2010 survey from AAA. In addition to the risks it causes other motorists, it could be considered dangerous for the pet. The auto club claims an unrestrained 10-pound dog traveling at 50 miles per hour …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The state House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on the controversial measure for 3 pm on Jan. 22.
A vote by the state House Judiciary committee on a bill allowing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is scheduled for a vote this afternoon at 3 p.m., the General Assembly Press Bureau announced. The "Equal Access to Marriage" bill — submitted in the House by Cranston Rep. Arthur Handy and co-sponsored by Rep. Kenneth A. Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) — would make Rhode Island the last state in New England to allow same-sex marriages, and would recognize any civil unions as marriages. According to a release from the General Assembly Press Bureau, "no further testimony will be taken at this hearing." The agenda for the hearing is attached to this article. What's your take? Is it about time the government stops discriminating against…
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Supporters say the bill is to inform; opponents say it is to shame. Where do you stand?
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Women would be legally required to have an ultrasound before having an abortion under a bill pending in the General Assembly, the Providence Journal reports. Doctors would be required to conduct an ultrasound and explain the images to a pregnant woman — including the dimensions of the fetus and any "external members and internal organs if present and viewable" — before performing an abortion, according to a bill filed by Rep. Karen L. MacBeth, D-Cumberland. MacBeth said the proposal is intended to ensure women have access to all the information before finalizing their decision. But opponents of bill, including Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, say the law is meant to "shame" women to discourage abortion. So what do you think? …
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Monday, January 23, 2012
The former House Minority leader was arrested Saturday for marijuana possession, his second arrest in less than a year.
State Rep. Bob Watson was arrested Saturday in South Kingstown for possession of marijuana, his second such arrest in less than a year. Watson, a republican from East Greenwich, "appeared highly intoxicated" and was slurring his words, according to a police report, when officers encountered him just before midnight at Washington County Veterinary Hospital in South Kingstown. The representative had apparenly collided with a snow bank, and his car was missing its front, driver's side tire. Officers saw a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana in his car, according to the report, and also allegedly found a plastic bag containing the substance. In April 2011, Watson was charged in New Haven, CT, with possession and driving under the influence…
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The retired police officer and lawmaker who represents Providence and Johnston is facing sexual assault charges.
State Rep. John M. Carnevale (D-Providence, Johnston) pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree sexual assault and one count of assault with the intent to commit sexual assault Wednesday. He was released on $50,000 bail. Carnevale, 50, a retired Providence police sergeant, is accused of making sexual advances toward a Johnston woman in her home and attempting to have sex with her on July 28. When she resisted, Carnevale allegedly masturbated in front of the victim, before throwing a $20 bill at her, according to reports from the the Johnston Police Department. According to the report, the victim went to police headquarters on Aug. 1 to report the incident. Carnevale was indicted on Oct. 28 and arraigned Wednesday. He was reeleased on …
Joseph
8:02 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Of course they should be public, taxpayers have to fund this line item and will be left out of the budgeting process. If you have a safety plan that is effective why would it matter if everyone has access to it or not, it has to be done right. If someone wants to find out a secret safety plan it wouldn't be hard to find out. Stake out the school and observe drills that will definitely have to be … more ›