Chamber Connections BLOG
Chamber Connections BLOG
Legislative Break April 15 – 20
The General Assembly is on vacation break this week. They will return April 23rd for the third phase of the session. This last phase is marked with the development and passage of the final budget which should take place in June. The House and Senate Finance Committees have almost completed hearings on the Governor’s proposed budget. They will now wait for the completion of the May Revenue Estimating Conference. The Governor’s Budget Staff meets with the House Fiscal Staff and the Senate Fiscal Staff to debate and adopt revenue and caseload estimates for the upcoming two fiscal years. These numbers will be used by the General Assembly as the guardrails for the budget. May Revenue Estimating Conference Agenda Friday April 26, 2024 – Caseload Testimony 9:00 A.M Cash Assistance Caseload Department of Human Services Private Community Developmental Disabilities Services Caseload Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals 1:00 P.M. Medical Caseload Executive Office of Health and Human Services Monday April 29, 2024 - Economic Overview and Testimony 9:00 A.M. US and RI Economic Forecasts – S&P Global Market Intelligence Michael Lynch and Juan Turcios, Economists RI Labor Market Conditions - Department of Labor and Training Donna Murray, Assistance Director, Labor Market Information Unit Consensus Economic Forecast 10:30 A.M. Lottery Receipts - Department of Revenue, Division of Lottery Mark Furcolo, Director, Division of Lottery Commerce Corporation Tax Credits - Commerce Corporation Jeff Miller, Executive Vice President of Investments, RI Commerce Corporation Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - Caseload Follow up Testimony (if necessary)* 1:00 P.M. Cash Assistance Caseload Department of Human Services Private Community Developmental Disabilities Services Caseload Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals Medical Caseload Executive Office of Health and Human Services Monday, May 6, 2024 – Caseload Estimating Conference 9:30 A.M. Caseload Estimating Conference Monday, May 6, 2024 - Revenue Testimony 2:00 P.M. Tax Collections - Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation Neena Savage, State Tax Administrator Accruals - Department of Administration, Office of Accounts and Control Dorothy Pascale, State Controller Wednesday, May 8, 2024 – Follow up Testimony (if necessary)* 1:00 P.M. Tax Collections - Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation Neena Savage, State Tax Administrator Friday, May 10, 2024 - Revenue Estimating Conference 9:00 A.M. Revenue Estimating Conference *in the event that testimony is submitted in writing and no hearing is necessary, all documents will be posted online. Meeting materials will be made available on the General Assembly website at https://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/rcc/Pages/rcec.aspx or http://omb.ri.gov/REC . The following new bill was filed last week: House Bill No. 8170 Shallcross Smith, Craven, Ackerman, Kislak, Noret, DeSimone, Nardone, Fellela, Baginski, J. Lombardi, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- CONTRACTORS' REGISTRATION AND LICENSING BOARD (Requires all applicants who seek to register as a contractor to produce a legible copy of a valid government issued identification.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8170.pdf
0 Comments
Call to Action – Now is the Time! The Chamber Needs Your Help!
The Chamber is asking you to contact your State Representative and State Senator and let them know how H.7171 and S.2121 will affect your business. H.7171, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Temporary Disability Insurance, (S.2121 is the identical bill) increases the weekly dependance allowance provided under TDI/TCI from $10 to $20 or 7% of the benefit rate, whichever is greater. The bill also expands the TCI benefit to cover employees who wish to take time to care for a sibling (including half-siblings and foster siblings), a grandchild or a “care recipient.” A “care recipient” is defined as “a person for whom the employee is responsible for providing or arranging health or safety related care, including, but not limited to, helping the person obtain diagnostic, preventive, routine, or therapeutic health treatment.” Lastly, the TCI benefit increases to 12 weeks in a benefit year beginning January 1, 2025. This benefit was first extended to employees in 2014 at 4 weeks. It increased to 5 weeks in 2022 and to 6 weeks in 2023. The employer is required to hold the job for the employee that is on leave. It is imperative that you contact your legislators by phone, or email. Both bills are being pushed heavily by the advocates and are under consideration. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H7171.pdf Legislative Break Week Begins April 15th The General Assembly will be on legislative break April 15th – April 19th and will return to hearing calendars and floor session April 23rd. This will begin the third phase of the legislative process as bills begin to pass at an accelerated rate. The May Revenue Estimating Conference starts April 26th and will wrap up May 10th, providing the data needed to begin the final negotiations for the FY2025 budget. This Week At the State House Wednesday, April 10th The House Labor Committee’s 4:00 meeting schedule includes H.7793, An Act Relating to Labor Relations – Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act which increases the number of benefit weeks provided to employees from thirteen weeks every two years, to twenty-four weeks every two years (S.2467 is the Senate companion bill). While the Chamber understands that this is unpaid leave, the employer must still keep the employee’s job waiting for the person’s return. Employers are having an extremely difficult time attracting employees. Finding temporary workers can be even more challenging. Should H.7793 pass, employers will be looking for replacements for almost six months, at a time when they cannot find employees for a full year. This is a very high burden at a time when businesses are least able to adapt. Additionally, should the proponents of the expansion of the state’s Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) program be successful, the expansion of Family Leave, together with the expansion of TCI would leave employers trying to find replacement employees for up to nine months. The Chamber strongly encourages you to contact your legislators about this proposal as well as the proposal to expand the TCI program (H.7171 and S.2121). The Senate has already passed both S.2467 and S.2121. Both Senate bills are in the House Labor Committee. H.7793 can be viewed at: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H7793.pdf Testimony can be emailed to HouseLabor@rilegislature.gov by 1:00 Wednesday. At 4:30, the Senate Labor Committee will take testimony on S.2477, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Payment of Wages – Frequency of Payment. This bill requires all employers to pay employees on a weekly basis unless an employee’s wages are fixed at a biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly or annual rate. S.2477 provides an exemption for state and municipalities as well as any nonprofit organization with less than 25 employees. In 2013, the business community fought hard to pass biweekly pay for all employees. The compromise reached allowed the Department of Labor and Training to authorize biweekly pay for businesses with an average payroll equal to 200% of the state’s minimum wage, a surety bond equal to the highest two weeks payroll exposure, and no history of labor violations. S.2477 removes the 2013 compromise language. Today, Rhode Island has one of the strictest “frequency of payment” laws in the country. (CA requires weekly pay for agricultural workers; NY requires weekly pay for manual workers although large employers may apply for an exemption; VT requires weekly pay although permits biweekly pay if employers provide written notice of the policy change). If this is of interest to your business, testimony can be submitted to: SLegislation@rilegislature.gov To read the actual language of the bill go to: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2477.pdf The Washington Bridge continues to be a major focus at the State House. The Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight has scheduled S.2727, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government – Department of Transportation for hearing and a possible vote. S.2727 requires the Department of Transportation to submit a monthly progress report to the General Assembly. The report must include (1) An updated timeline regarding actions to be undertaken on the Washington Bridge, including, repairs, alterations, or replacement of all or a portion of the structures. (2) A list of consulting firms retained or utilized by the department. (3) Data on traffic patterns over the bridge for the time period covered by the report. (4) Data on traffic delays. (5) An overview of costs related to actions on the bridge, and (6) Any updates pertaining to pending investigations and audits related to the bridge. The hearing will be televised by Capitol Television on: Cox Communications, channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) on 15; and Verizon, on channel 34. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv The following new bills have been filed: House Bill No. 8127 Alzate, Batista, Carson, Spears, Cotter, McGaw, Donovan, DeSimone, Speakman, Morales, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACT (Establishes requirements which would have to be met by an applicant prior to the issuing of permits for an activity that would have an environmental impact on or would increase the cumulative impacts on an environmental justice area.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8127.pdf House Bill No. 8143 Kislak, Cotter, Fogarty, Potter, Cruz, Boylan, McGaw, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES (Restricts audits of pharmacists conducted by insurers and their intermediaries, limiting audits to 1 per year unless fraud or misrepresentation is reasonably suspected. The Rhode Island attorney would have the authority to impose sanctions for violations.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8143.pdf House Bill No. 8148 (Attorney General) Cortvriend, Tanzi, Knight, Finkelman, Handy, Edwards, Fogarty, Azzinaro, McNamara, Speakman, AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Replaces the coastal resources management council with a state department of coastal resources and transfers all of the powers and duties between the two (2) authorities.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8148.pdf Senate Bill No. 2946 Cano, Mack, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Mandates all insurance plans provide insurance coverage for diagnosing and treating infertility for women between the ages of 25 and 42 years including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in conjunction with in vitro fertilization (IVF).) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2946.pdf Last Week At the State House
S.2121, the Temporary Caregiver bill, passed the Senate Floor 31- 3. Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz, Senator Anthony DeLuca and Senator Thomas Paolino voted against the bill. Absent from the vote were: Senator Elaine Morgan, Senator Louis Raptakis and Senator Gordon Roberts. The bill is now on its way to the House Labor Committee. While the bill passed the Senate, we ask you to continue to contact your Senator as bills will be negotiated over the upcoming months. S.2121 (and its companion bill H.7171) double the amount of time workers can use for Temporary Caregiver Insurance (from 6 weeks to 12 weeks) and expand the program to allow employees to take time to care for “a person for whom the employee is responsible for providing or arranging health or safety related care, including, but not limited to, helping the person obtain diagnostic, preventive, routine, or therapeutic health treatment.” This Week At the State House Tuesday, April 2nd H.7286, An Act Relating to Public Utilities and Carries, is the topic of discussion in the House Corporations Committee at the Rise (approximately 4:30pm) in the House Lounge. This bill creates a tiered rate system for electricity and natural gas customers whose household income level is below 150% of the federal poverty level and who are eligible for LIHEAP assistance or Medicaid. For these households, the plan envisions capping electric rates to ensure that they pay no more than 3% of their income on electricity or 6% of their income if the house utilizes electricity as a sole source of heat. The program will be funded by increased rates assessed on all other customers. The most current US Census estimates 10.8% of population in Rhode Island meets the definition of living in poverty. The census does not say how many are living at 150% of the federal poverty level. The Rhode Island total population at the time of the census was 1,095,962. Testimony may be submitted at HouseCorporations@rilegislature.gov Wednesday, April 3rd The House Committee on Small Business will be taking testimony from the public, but with a special request to hear from businesses affected by the Washington Bridge partial closure and replacement plan. The committee is gathering information to determine what assistance might be needed as the bridge is dismantled and rebuilt over the next year and a half. The meeting will be held in room 101 at 4:00pm sharp. If you wish to submit written testimony, email your letter to HouseSmallBusiness@rilegislature.gov The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to hear S.2282, An Act Relating to Education – Curriculum at 4:00 in room 313. This act would establish a "workplace readiness week". It would require all public high schools, including charter schools, to annually observe that week by providing information to students on their rights as workers, including: (1) Prohibitions against misclassification of employees as independent contractors; (2) Child labor; (3) Wage and hour protections; (4) Worker safety; (5) Workers’ compensation; (6) Unemployment insurance; (7) Paid sick leave, paid family leave, and state disability insurance; (8) The right to organize a union in the workplace; and (9) Prohibitions against retaliation by employers when workers exercise these or any other rights guaranteed by law. Testimony can be submitted to SLegislation@rilegislature.gov Senate Labor is scheduled to hear a couple bills of note at 4:00pm in room 212. S.2122, An Act Relating to Corporations – Workers’ Cooperatives, provides exclusive benefits to cooperatives. Established in 2017, the General Assembly passed a law allowing the creation of an entity where individuals could complete a probationary period as a part-time or full-time employee and become a voting member of the company. The entity is taxed as a corporation. The law also states, “To the extent that a workers’ cooperative has shareholders (owners) who are employees (members), the workers’ cooperative shall be subject to the provisions of title 28 related to employees including, but not limited to: department of labor and training payroll taxes, temporary disability insurance, state unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation insurance.” S.2122 adds a new operational model for cooperatives. It allows co-ops to adopt, in its bylaws, the ability to furnish skilled labor from its members to other entities and to treat those members as independent contractors for that purpose – not as an employee of the co-op. This would allow a co-op to compete with similar businesses at a fiscal advantage. S.2900, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Fair Employment Practices – Extreme Temperature Employee Protection, requires employers to take special precautions when employees are working in temperatures above 90 degrees or below 32 degrees, including employees that are required to stay in vehicles under these conditions. Employees would be entitled to paid rest breaks, adequate shade, warming or cooling stations, drinking water, protective equipment and clothing. An employer found in noncompliance would be subject to compensatory damages and in some cases punitive damages. Testimony on either of these bills can be emailed to SLegislation@rilegislature.gov The following new bills have been filed: House Bill No. 8109 Slater, DeSimone, Perez, Batista, Diaz, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- STATEWIDE TANGIBLE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION (Repeals the language that eff. 2025 fiscal year all cities/towns/fire districts would receive a reimbursement equal to the tangible property levy for the 12/31/22 assessment date less the tangible personal property levy for 12/31/25 assessment date.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8109.pdf Senate Bill No. 2929 (General Treasurer) Murray, Lawson, Acosta, Zurier, DiPalma, DiMario, Valverde, Cano, Lauria, Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- RHODE ISLAND BABY BOND TRUST (Creates the Rhode Island baby bond trust to provide investment funds to children born to families with public health insurance or no insurance living in Rhode Island.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2929.pdf Senate Bill No. 2930 (General Treasurer) Zurier, Gu, DiPalma, Sosnowski, LaMountain, Lauria, DiMario, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX (Provides a tax credit to individual taxpayers who convert their gas-powered vehicle into a vehicle propelled by an alternative fuel source.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2930.pdf *** ACTION ALERT ***
In a recent conversation with Legislative Leaders about legislation that could harm the business community, they remarked that they don't hear enough from business owners like you at the State House. The Chamber realizes that it is difficult to come to the state house and sit through a hearing because you are busy facing the challenges of running a business. However, you do have a unique opportunity to come to the state house Tuesday 4:30-6:30 PM for a legislative reception where you can talk to legislators. If you are unable to attend the reception, we need legislative leaders to hear from you by communicating your concern via email, phone call or personal visit to your elected officials to show them you are aware of bills being considered for passage this session. In a state like Rhode Island, standing up for your business can seem like a daunting task. But that is exactly why we need voices like yours to tell lawmakers in Providence the real-world impact of certain policy choices. If they do not hear your story, they cannot be expected to understand the impacts legislation can have on your business. Below you will find a list of this session's policies that will impact your business, many of which are moving with strong support from lawmakers. We urge you to take five minutes to tell your elected officials, Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Ruggerio that your business will be harmed if these bills pass into law. Time Off
Labor
Health Care
NOW IS YOUR TIME TO ASK LEGISLATORS TO HELP BUSINESSES THIS YEAR BY NOT PASSING LEGISLATION THAT WILL PLACE FURTHER BURDENS AND COSTS ON BUSINESS Senators - https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/default.aspx Representatives - https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/default.aspx The following new bills have been filed: Senate Bill No. 2813 (Dept. of Revenue) Britto, Tikoian, Lawson, DiPalma, LaMountain, Ciccone, Burke, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT (Makes numerous technical amendments to the statutes on taxes and corporations, associations and partnerships.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2813.pdf Senate Bill No. 2840 McKenney, LaMountain, Burke, Raptakis, Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- CONSUMER ENFORCEMENT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICE WARRANTIES (Requires manufacturers of assisting technology devices to make available to independent repair providers/the owner of the device, any documentation/parts, software/other items intended for use with the equipment/parts, including updates to software.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2840.pdf Senate Bill No. 2848 DiMario, Gu, Kallman, Valverde, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN HEAT STANDARD ACT (Created the Rhode Island clean heat standards act to implement a system of tradeable clean heat credits earned from the delivery of clean heat measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2848.pdf Senate Bill No. 2850 Valverde, Murray, LaMountain, Kallman, Britto, Gu, DiMario, Miller, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TOXIC PACKAGING REDUCTION ACT (Updates the existing Toxic Packaging Act by delaying the ban on PFAS in processing agents, until July 1, 2027, and also expands the law by banning PVC and polystyrene in packaging.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2850.pdf Senate Bill No. 2888 DiPalma, Gu, Picard, Gallo, Lawson, Bissaillon, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- AUTOMATED DECISION TOOLS (Requires companies that develop or deploy high-risk AI systems to conduct impact assessments and adopt risk management programs, would apply to both developers and deployers of AI systems with different obligations based on their role in AI ecosystem.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2888.pdf Senate Bill No. 2900 DiPalma, F. Lombardi, Miller, Ciccone, Sosnowski, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EXTREME TEMPERATURE WORKER PROTECTION ACT (Directs employers to take certain actions to protect their employees who are exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2900.pdf Senate Bill No. 2901 Ciccone, DiPalma, Raptakis, F. Lombardi, Burke, LaMountain, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- LABOR AND PAYMENT OF DEBTS BY CONTRACTORS (Prohibits contractors and subcontractors from paying employees the cash equivalent of any applicable healthcare benefit in lieu of actually purchasing the healthcare benefit. Violations would be subject to civil fines.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2901.pdf Senate Bill No. 2902 Cano, Mack, DiPalma, Pearson, DiMario, Zurier, McKenney, Lawson, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- CONTRACTORS BONDS (Provides that upon application, and good cause, the state may waive the bonding requirement for certified minority business enterprises or women owned businesses.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2902.pdf Contact: Ismail Saltuk , isaltuk@gmail.com 1-401-996-3955 |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|