​Last Week At the State House
 
The Senate Labor Committee passed two bills of particular note, sending them to the Senate floor for a vote Tuesday, April 30th. 
 
S.2123 SubA, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Payment of Wages, was amended by the committee.  Today employers must include with wage payments, an account of the hours worked, deductions from gross earnings and an explanation of those deductions.  This legislation adds: the number of piece-rate units earned and any applicable piece rate if the employee is paid on a piece-rate basis; the amount and purpose of each itemized deduction in understandable language; net wages earned; the inclusive dates of the period for which the employee is paid; the name of the employee and the last four digits of the employee's social security number or an employee identification number, other than a social security number; the name and address of the legal entity that is the employer; and all applicable hourly rates in effect during the pay period and the corresponding number of hours worked, at each hourly rate by the employee.  The amended bill (S.2123 SubA) still includes the requirement to provide employees a type of “mini employee handbook” in English.  The reference to the employee’s primary language was removed by the committee.  The information includes items such as: wage information, benefits, holiday information, sick time, and travel and expense policies, hourly employee status or exempt status.  The bill, as written, would become effective upon passage.
 
S.2473 SubA, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Workplace Psychological Safety Act was also amended slightly.  The bill begins by stating that employees have a right to a physically safe work environment and to a psychologically safe workplace.  Employers have a “general duty” to provide a work environment free from all forms of psychological abuse and to ensure that all employees are treated respectfully and with dignity. “Psychological abuse” is defined as “mentally provocative harassment.  Mistreatment that has the effect of hurting, weakening, confusing, or frightening a person mentally or emotionally.”  The bill was amended by changing the definition of “Bullying” to include only employer-to employee” abuse.  However, the SubA still includes language prohibiting employees to engage in psychological abuse with other employees, and then holding the employer liable for allowing psychological abuse to occur in the workplace.  Within six months of enactment, the bill currently states all employers must adopt policy procedures to comply with the law and to train managers and supervisors to handle complaints.  The SubA changes the complaint process for employees.  Employees of public entities file with the Department of Labor and Training.  Employees of private employers file in Superior Court.  Penalties still include economic, compensatory and punitive damages.  A person who experiences psychological abuse may present a case using direct and circumstantial evidence, and if successful may request public notification of the case outcome without disclosing the plaintiff’s name.  The SubA can be viewed at: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText24/SenateText24/S2473A.pdf 
 
 
This Week At the State House
 
Tuesday, April 30th
 
Both the Senate Rules Committee and the House Committee on State Government & Elections are scheduled to vote on bills (S.2727 and H.7759) that require the department of transportation to prepare a monthly "Washington Bridge snapshot report." This report would contain information on the progress of repairs and other actions (including travel times) pertaining to the Washington Bridge.  This information would be public via posting on the legislative website.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/Proposed24/S2727A.pdf
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/Proposed24/H7759A.pdf
 
Wednesday, May 1st
 
S.2535 is scheduled for a committee vote on Wednesday.  The bill requires businesses located within an Environmental Justice Zone to complete a Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIA) and submit it with an application for a new permit or a permit renewal.  The CIA requires the applicant to consider past, present and future impacts that derive directly from the applicant’s activities as well as the activities of those entities around them.  It is meant to help the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) make emission decisions. It is a complex program and detail intense. However, because DEM is the only agency with all the information needed to complete the analysis (data related to other entities in the area), an applicant may be unable to meet the requirement and all permits, and permit renewals would presumably be rejected if the data cannot be obtained.  There are businesses that operate in what may now be considered an Environmental Justice Zone that provide extremely important products and services to Rhode Islanders and to the economy.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2535.pdf
 
Thursday, May 2nd
 
Taxes are the topic of the day in the House Finance Committee on Thursday.  This is a hearing with acceptance of public testimony. 
 
H.7338, An Act Relating to Taxation – Personal Income Tax, imposes a Rhode Island personal income surtax of three percent (3%) on taxable income over $1,000,000, with the existing three-bracket personal income tax structure remaining in place. This surtax would be imposed on taxable income after all modifications, standard deductions, and exemptions have been applied; and would apply to tax years ending December 31, 2025 and beyond.    The additional revenue would be placed in a restricted receipt account to be used for child care, public education, roads and bridges and public transportation.  The language in the bill calls this program a “Surtax on millionaires.”  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H7338.pdf
 
H.7489, An Act Relating to Taxation – Business Corporations Tax, reduces the corporate minimum tax from $400 to $350 starting in tax year 2025.  This proposal is identical to the Governor’s proposal in his budget.  According to the House Fiscal Staff, the proposed change is expected to impact nearly 77,000 entities. The FY 2025 recommendation lowers revenues by $2.3 million to account for a half year impact; annualized the loss would be $4.7 million. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H7489.pdf
 
H.7928, An Act Relating to Taxation - Business Corporations Tax, repeals the minimum corporate tax in its entirety immediately upon passage.  Using the estimated tax impact of a $50 decrease in the Corporate Minimum Tax of $4.7 million, the impact of a repeal of the tax would be about $37.6 million annualized.   https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H7928.pdf 
 
 
Federal Department of Labor Announces Change in the Overtime Rule
(Below is the DOL’s press release announcing the change in rule)
 
Rule ensures salaried workers making less than $58,656 receive fair pay for long hours
WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris administration today announced a final rule that expands overtime protections for millions of the nation’s lower-paid salaried workers by increasing the salary thresholds required to exempt a salaried bona fide executive, administrative or professional employee from federal overtime pay requirements. 
Effective July 1, 2024, the salary threshold will increase to the equivalent of an annual salary of $43,888 and increase to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. The July 1 increase updates the present annual salary threshold of $35,568 based on the methodology used by the prior administration in the 2019 overtime rule update. On Jan. 1, 2025, the rule’s new methodology takes effect, resulting in the additional increase. In addition, the rule will adjust the threshold for highly compensated employees. Starting July 1, 2027, salary thresholds will update every three years, by applying up-to-date wage data to determine new salary levels.
“This rule will restore the promise to workers that if you work more than 40 hours in a week, you should be paid more for that time,” said Acting Secretary Julie Su. “Too often, lower-paid salaried workers are doing the same job as their hourly counterparts but are spending more time away from their families for no additional pay. That is unacceptable. The Biden-Harris administration is following through on our promise to raise the bar for workers who help lay the foundation for our economic prosperity.”
The department conducted extensive engagement with employers, workers, unions and other stakeholders before issuing its proposed rule in September 2023, and considered more than 33,000 comments in developing its final rule. The updated rule defines and delimits who is a bona fide executive, administrative and professional employee exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime protections. 
“The Department of Labor is ensuring that lower-paid salaried workers receive their hard-earned pay or get much-deserved time back with their families,” said Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman. “This rule establishes clear, predictable guidance for employers on how to pay employees for overtime hours and provides more economic security to the millions of people working long hours without overtime pay.”
Key provisions of the final rule include the following:
·        Expanding overtime protections to lower-paid salaried workers.
·        Giving more workers pay or valuable time back with their family: By better identifying which employees are executive, administrative or professional employees who should be overtime exempt, the final rule ensures that those employees who are not exempt receive time-and-a-half pay when working more than 40 hours in a week or gain more time with their families.
·        Providing for regular updates to ensure predictability. The rule establishes regular updates to the salary thresholds every three years to reflect changes in earnings. This protects future erosion of overtime protections so that they do not become less effective over time.
 
The rule’s effective date is July 1, 2024. Learn more about the department’s efforts to restore and extend overtime protections. 
Agency Wage and Hour Division
Date April 23, 2024
Release Number  24-717-NAT
 
 
 
The following new bill was filed last week:
 
House Bill No. 8208  Slater, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ORDINANCES (Allows town and city councils to impose penalties for the violation of ordinances and regulations not exceeding the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000).)
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8208.pdf

​Riverside, RI - Big news from Marshall Building & Remodeling – Tando Composites has named them Rhode Island's Premier Remodeler. This exclusive title is a nod to Marshall's amazing work and their continued dedication to excellence and craftsmanship.
 
Being named Premier Remodeler really highlights Marshall Building & Remodeling's promise to deliver the very best to local homeowners. Over their 40+ years, they've caught the eye of the industry's biggest players, and this recognition continues to cement their reputation as Rhode Island's go-to choice for Roofing, Siding, and Window installations.
 
Anne Marshall, Co-CEO of Marshall Building & Remodeling, shared her excitement: "We're thrilled to be named Rhode Island's Premier Remodeler by Tando Composites. It's a huge acknowledgement of our team's hard work and passion for doing top-notch work every day and on every project."
 
With this new title under their belt, Marshall Building & Remodeling is more fired up than ever to keep raising the bar in the exterior home improvement industry. From their excellent customer service to their installation techniques and craftsmanship, they continue to demonstrate why they are a pillar in the RI community and considered a local favorite.

​The General Assembly begins the last phase of the legislative session this week.  The Revenue Estimating Conference gets underway April 26th and finishes May 10th, preparing the way for the creation of the final FY2025 budget.  Voting on bills intensifies.  Both the House and Senate are working toward a goal of finishing the 2024 session in June.  Following the summary of activities scheduled for this week is a brief update of the Public Utilities Commission’s Future of Natural Gas Activities.
 
This Week At the State House
 
Wednesday, April 24th  
 
The Senate Labor Committee will be voting on six bills at 4:30 pm in Room 211.  The Chamber expects amendments – known as SubAs – to be offered prior to passage; however, the Committee has not posted the changes yet.  SubAs are usually posted up to 24 hours prior to the meeting.
 
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.2123, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Payment of Wages, changes an employer’s responsibilities as it relates to providing employees with statements of earnings.  Today employers must include the hours worked, deductions from gross earnings and an explanation of those deductions.  The legislation adds items such as the last four digits of the social security number, deduction explanations, the employer’s address and name, and output information if pay is based on quantity.  S.2123 requires employers to provide a type of “mini employee handbook” to employees in English or in each employee’s primary language. The information includes items such as: wage information, benefits, holiday information, sick time, and travel and expense policies.  DataUSA reports that 22.4% of Rhode Island households report speaking a primary language other than English.  While the most common non-English language spoken in Rhode Island is Spanish followed by Portuguese, there are reportedly forty-one languages spoken as a primary language in the State.  Some families are fluent in both their primary language and English, others are not.
 
S.2124, Senate Resolution Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study and Review Rhode Island’s Minimum Wage – calls for an eleven-member commission to be appointed to conduct an in-depth study of the state’s minimum wage and to report its findings by May 24, 2025.
 
S.2472, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Workers Compensation seems like a movie re-run in that it calls for independent contractors to file annually with the Department of Labor.  A similar bill passed last year and became effective January 1, 2024.  The court reviewed the statute and determined the language required further revision to clarify the intent of the Act.  S.2472 specifies that independent contractors must file annually for each client to be legally considered an individual contractor.  The process is simple.  To file DWC-11-IC form online, go to:  https://dlt.ri.gov/workers-compensation/independent-contractors  If you are a company that hires independent contractors, the Chamber encourages you to verify the form has been filed.
 
S.2473, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Workplace Psychological Safety Act.  The bill begins by stating that employees have a right to a physically safe work environment and to a psychologically safe workplace.  Employers have a “general duty” to provide a work environment free from all forms of psychological abuse and to ensure that all employees are treated respectfully and with dignity. “Psychological abuse” is defined as “mentally provocative harassment.  Mistreatment that has the effect of hurting, weakening, confusing, or frightening a person mentally or emotionally.”  Within six months of enactment, the bill currently states all employers must adopt policy procedures to comply with the law and train managers and supervisors to handle complaints.  S.2473 includes an annual reporting process.  Employers are liable for failing to take appropriate measures to provide employees with a psychologically safe work environment. Penalties include economic, compensatory and punitive damages.  Any person who aids, abets, incites, or coerces another person in an action not permitted under the legislation is also guilty.  A person who experiences psychological abuse may present a case using direct and circumstantial evidence, and if successful may request public notification of the case outcome without disclosing the plaintiff’s name.
 
S.2785, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Labor Relations Act, proposes to protect the free speech rights of employees in the workplace, but it also limits the first amendment rights of employers.  S.2785 would prohibit employers from requiring non-managerial employees to attend a meeting to learn about legislative proposals or regulatory matters as well as meetings to provide information concerning labor organization efforts. If enacted, this legislation would severely limit an employer’s ability to educate employees about legislation, including legislation that would materially impact the business’ operations or the employee’s day-to-day job responsibilities.
 
 
Public Utilities Docket No. 22-01-NG – Investigation Into the Future of the Regulated Gas Distribution Business in Rhode Island in Light of the Act on Climate
 
Since March, 2023, the PUC Stakeholder Committee has been gathering data on various users of natural gas, alternative options that might be available for use, and costs of decommissioning the current natural gas system.  The Act on Climate, passed into law in 2021, requires Rhode Island to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2030, 80% below 1990 levels by 2040 and Net-zero emissions by 2050.  The PUC hired Energy and Environmental Economics (known as E3) an analytically driven consulting firm focused on the transition to clean energy resources to assist in the analysis.  The Firm released is 122-page report this month.  The Stakeholder group will take this report, along with additional information, and develop policy recommendations.  They will look to create a list of near-term actionable items, recognizing areas of common agreement and diversion of opinions.  The group will discuss concrete policies and determine which policies are within the jurisdiction of the PUC and which actions are non-jurisdictional.
 
E3 designed six economy-wide decarbonization scenarios that each present distinct pathways to
achieving the Act’s climate targets:
 

• A High Electrification scenario, designed to assess the impact of pursuing a full-

electrification pathway that transitions Rhode Island away from gas infrastructure;

• A Hybrid Electrification with Delivered Fuels Backup scenario, designed to assess the

statewide impact of hybrid electrification while evaluating potential net benefits of avoiding
gas infrastructure;

• A Hybrid Electrification with Gas Backup scenario, designed to assess the statewide

impact of hybrid electrification while leveraging existing gas infrastructure in the long term;

• A Staged Electrification scenario, designed to leverage existing infrastructure and mitigate customer impacts in the near term while achieving long term electrification;
• An Alternative Heat Infrastructure scenario, designed to assess how networked

geothermal systems can support decarbonization in Rhode Island, while providing an
alternative to gas investments;

• A Continued Use of Gas scenario, designed to assess how existing gas infrastructure can

support decarbonization, evaluating the effect of and potential limit to remaining fossil gas
and renewable fuels.
 
A few key findings:
 

1. While Rhode Island’s existing policies and trends (which includes ramping up electric vehicle use) achieve 40% emissions reductions by 2030, additional mitigation measures are required to comply with the Act on Climate. All decarbonization scenarios modeled by E3 achieve the Act’s targets
2. Energy efficiency and building electrification are a critical component of gas system decarbonization. Across scenarios, between 50-100% of buildings are assumed to electrify to comply with the Act’s targets. In the industrial sector, all scenarios include significant levels of efficiency and varying levels of industrial electrification, while leaving a role for pipeline gas for “hard-to-decarbonize” application
3. All scenarios see transformational changes in the way Rhode Island uses energy. Across scenarios, final energy demand decreases between 40-60% by 2050, primarily as a result of efficiency and electrification. Rhode Island will see an increased demand for renewable fuels, driven by the Biodiesel Heating Act in the near term and to comply with emissions targets in the long term.
4. By 2050 across scenarios, 40-60% of final energy demand is served by (renewable) electricity. The adoption of heat pumps and EVs lead to a need for significant system expansion, between 0.5-2.3 GW higher than today. Electric system peaks can be significantly mitigated through the use of hybrid backup systems or highly efficient networked geothermal systems.

 
 
The full report will be available on the PUC website soon.  The Stakeholder Committee meets again this week April 25th from 10am to 3pm at the PUC office in Warwick.
 
 
The following new bills have been filed:
 
Senate Bill No. 2988  F. Lombardi, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT (Provides amendments relative to the compliance and implementation of the comprehensive planning and use act including the conditions upon which limitations may be placed on land use applications by municipalities.)  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2988.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2992  Kallman, McKenney, Burke, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY (Requires towns and cities to publish a list of abandoned properties and makes various other amendments relative to the sale of abandoned property by a receiver.)
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2992.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2994  McKenney, Burke, LaMountain, Kallman, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Amends provisions relative to the application of zoning ordinances pertaining to wetland buffers to projects for development, redevelopment, construction or rehabilitation.)
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2994.pdf
 
 
 
 

​We were thrilled to celebrate Bristol's Li'l Angels Childcare Llc at their new location, 200 Mount Hope Ave, in Bristol with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony Thank you all for celebrating with us and supporting your local community!
https://youtu.be/W5ekHJRTUJg?si=Ykv1TTjvN-0iCa8H

​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

​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 [email protected] 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: [email protected]  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 [email protected]
 
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 [email protected] 
 
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 [email protected]
 
 
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 [email protected]
 
 
 
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