​This Week At the State House
 
If all goes well, this will be the last week of the legislative session for the summer.  The rules change during this week in that bills can be posted in committee for a vote without 48 hour notice to the public. Duplicate bills (bills that have previously been voted on by the House or Senate) can also go straight to the floor for a vote without going through a committee vote.  When the week comes to an end, it is very likely that hundreds of bills will be ready to go to the Governor’s desk.  This is normal for the end of session.  The House and Senate usually transmit bills to the Governor for consideration in “batches” to give the Governor time to review the bills.  For that reason, Under the Dome may not be published for a few weeks as we wait to provide a thorough review of the bills that have become law in 2021.
 
 
Monday Bills Scheduled for votes in Committees
 
The following bills are scheduled for a vote in committees on Monday:
 
H.5131 and S.155, Acts Relating to Single Use Plastic Straws – the amended bills ban food establishments from providing single use plastic straws to consumers unless the consumer requests one.  The first and second violation result in a notice to the establishment.  Subsequent offenses result in a fine of $25 per violation up to $300 annually.  House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
 
S.688 SubA, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Temporary Disability Insurance Benefits, increases TCI benefits to five weeks in a benefit year starting January 1, 2022 and increases to six weeks starting January 1, 2023.  This matches H.6090 SubA that passed the House floor last Friday.  House Finance Committee.
 
H.5855 and S.550, Acts Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Rhode Island Whistle Blower’s Protection Act.  These bills prohibit an employer from reporting or threatening to report an employee’s immigration status to ICE because the employee is involved in a whistle blowing protected act.  House Labor Committee.
 
S.736 SubA and H.5867 SubA, Acts Relating to Court and Civil Procedure – Causes of Action, eliminate the defense for a manufacturer or seller in a products liability case that the cause of an injury, death or damage was due to an alteration or modification of the product.  Today this defense is a complete bar to recovery.  If S.736 SubA and H.5867 SubA pass, the liability would instead be determined by comparative negligence – what percentage was attributable to the alteration versus the percentage attributable to the original product.  Senate Judiciary Committee.
 
Tuesday Hearing
 
On Tuesday, H.6370, An Act Relating to Food and Drugs – Adult Use Marijuana will be heard in the House Finance Committee at the Rise.  This is the House version of the legalization of marijuana.  While the Senate did hold hearings on its version earlier this year, the House is holding the hearing this week.  This should set the stage for negotiations over the summer.  The bill can viewed at H6370.pdf (state.ri.us)   Written testimony may be submitted at [email protected]  Indicate your name, bill number and viewpoint (for/against/neither) at the top of the message.  The deadline for written testimony is Tuesday at 1:00 pm.  For verbal testimony requests, CLICK HERE  The deadline to register to verbally testify is Monday, 4:00 pm.
 
 
Last Week At the State House
 
The House passed the $13.1 billion budget with few changes.  An amendment did pass to waive interest and penalties on the taxable portion of PPP loan forgiveness in tax year 2020, provided the tax is paid in full by March 31, 2022.  The amendment also requires the tax administrator to create instructions for making tax payments on the PPP portion of the income tax.   The intent is to provide an alternative to taxpayers so that they will not have to go back and refile their 2020 taxes.  The budget has been transmitted to the Senate for its consideration. 
 
 
House Labor Committee Passes Pay Equity Bill
 
Last Friday, the House Labor Committee passed H.5261 SubA and S.270 SubA, the pay equity bills.  The Chamber has been working with the proponents and members of the business community over the past three months in an attempt to strike a balance between eliminating pay inequity for women and minorities, and adopting safeguards to allow businesses to compensate employees for legitimate business reasons.  The SubAs reflect more than twenty changes to the original bills.  The final negotiations, which took place over Father’s Day weekend, were mediated by the Speaker of House.  The Chamber thanks him for his hard work in getting the bills over the finish line in a manner workable for the business community.  Additionally, Representative Susan Donovan and House Majority Whip Katherine Kazarian put in many hours to help the compromise along.
 
The Chamber will provide a detailed narrative of the bills once they pass and become law.  At this time (the bills could be amended prior to final passage), the bills are written to become effective January 1, 2023; but businesses can help themselves by preparing for the new law prior to 2023. 
 
The Chamber would like to thank (in addition to individual businesses that provided input) the many business organizations who participated in process:  Rhode Island Hospitality Association, Rhode Island Business Coalition, Rhode Island Society for Human Resource Managers, The Chamber of Commerce Coalition, The Rhode Island Banker’s Association and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.  From the Proponents side, we thank Rhode Island Working Families and the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island.  In the words of Henry Ford, “If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.”
 
 
The following new bills of interest have been filed this week:
 
House Bill No. 6464  Tanzi, Shekarchi, Biah, Ajello, Cassar, Shallcross Smith, Morales, Cortvriend, Ranglin-Vassell, Kislak, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Provides for the sealing and unsealing of court files in residential eviction proceedings and provides that any eviction for nonpayment of rent, in which the rent arrearage is paid through a rent relief program, shall remain sealed permanently.)  H6464.pdf (state.ri.us)
 
House Bill No. 6467  Nardone, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PATIENT VISITATION RIGHTS (Department of health to promulgate rules and regulations for essential caregivers at healthcare facilities during a declared emergency.)  H6467.pdf (state.ri.us)
 
House Bill No. 6468  Slater, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- GREEN NEW DEAL ACT OF 2021 (Establishes a climate action plan to eliminate the state's dependence on fossil fuel energy generation of electricity and replace the required generation of electricity from clean energy resources by calendar year 2036.)  H6468.pdf (state.ri.us)
 
Senate Bill No. 972  DiPalma, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE -- LONG TERM CARE SERVICES AND FINANCE REFORM (Increases the wages for direct care workers employed by home nursing care and home care providers licensed by the Rhode Island department of health.)  S0972.pdf (state.ri.us)
 
Senate Bill No. 980  Picard, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- FINANCIAL SERVICES (Updates the Credit for Reinsurance, Risk Based Capital and Insurance Holding Company statutes to the current National Association of Insurance Commissioners standard.)  S0980.pdf (state.ri.us)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

​House Finance Committee Releases Budget
 
On Thursday night, the House Finance Committee passed a $13.1 billion budget.  The Governor’s budget proposal came in at $11.2 billion.  Most of the increase is derived from federal funds; however, about $180 million is from state revenues.
 
On the tax front, the budget includes the taxation of PPP loan forgiveness over $250,000.  The Governor had proposed taxing forgiveness over a $150,000 threshold.  According to the fiscal office, the higher threshold will yield approximately $54 million for general revenues.  The Governor’s proposal was estimated to bring in approximately $67.7 million. 
 
The budget also includes an increase in the property transfer tax for houses over $800,000 in value.  (Former Governor Raimondo had advocated for a tax on houses over $500,000; Governor McKee had included the tax on houses over $700,000 in his budget).  The money raised would go to an affordable housing program for low and moderate income earners.
 
The car tax continues its phase-out with municipalities receiving full funding of the loss in revenue.  This step is the fifth of six steps in the phase-out plan.
 
The budget proposal does not include an increase in the personal income tax for higher earners including small business pass-through entities; and it does not include a tax on sugary beverages.
 
The license fee for contractors is lowered from $200 to $150.The roofing contractor license remains at $400 for the first-time license, but then reduces to $200 for a two-year renewal fee. Licenses for securities sales representative increases from $75 to $100.  The $10 retail sales tax permit renewal fee of $10 is eliminated.
 
On the spending side, the Rhode Island Works program gets a 30% boost in cash benefits, child care assistance to families at 180% of poverty level who need it to attend college and a $100 clothing allowance for each child of a RI Works eligible family.  DCYF receives a $10 million increase – this was a big debate back in 2019.  Child care provider rates increase, as does funding to nursing homes.  The education funding formula allows districts to use a student count from pre-pandemic times or from the current year, whichever is greater.  Districts are also slated to receive a one-time $500 payment for each student that leaves the public school for a charter school.  This payment would come when the student first leaves the public school for the charter school.
 
RIte Share reporting – Article 12 includes a reporting requirement by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services including businesses with more than 300 employees starting October 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022 for businesses with more than 100 employees.  It is unclear how the report will be generated or what will be required of businesses.  The language reads as follows:
 
(k) Employer Sponsored Insurance. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall dedicate staff and resources to reporting monthly as part of the requirements under § 35-17-1 which employer sponsored insurance plans meet the cost effectiveness criteria for RIte Share. Information in the report shall be used for screening for Medicaid enrollment to encourage Rite Share participation. By October 1, 2021, the report shall include any employers with 300 or more employees. By January 1, 2022, the report shall include employers with 100 or more employees. The January report shall also be provided to the chairperson of the house finance committee; the chairperson of the senate finance committee; the house fiscal advisor; the senate fiscal advisor; and the state budget officer.
 
 
This Week At The State House
 
Employer Medicaid Assessment - Today the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on S.101, An Act Relating to Human Services – Health Care for Families.  S.101 requires employers with 300 or more employees to pay an assessment for each full or part-time employee that is on Medicaid during a calendar quarter.  The assessment is equal to 10% of the employee’s wage up to $1500 a year.  The definition of “wage” includes all compensation due to the employee. Non-profit entities and government entities are exempt.  Written testimony is can be submitted to the committee by emailing it to:  [email protected] *Written Testimony must be submitted prior to 2:00 PM on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records.
 
Whistleblower – On Wednesday, the Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to vote on S.550, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – The Rhode Island Whistleblower Act.  This bill ban employers from reporting or threatening to report an employee or applicant for employment’ immigration status to the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agency, or any other immigration agency or police.  Violation of this provision brings with a private right of action and treble damages.  If passed into law, employers would be required to post notice of this act in all languages spoken by the company’s employees.  Written testimony can be submitted to the committee by emailing it to:  [email protected]  *Written Testimony must be submitted prior to 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records.
 
Parking Lot Requirements – The Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government will vote on S.173, An Act Relating to Motor and Motor Vehicles – Parking Facilities and Privileges, Thursday at 3:00pm.  Under S.173, all new parking lots and existing lots that undergo an expansion of the number of parking spaces of fifty percent (50%) must create designated parking spaces for electric vehicles. Each electric vehicle parking space must have a level 2 EV charging station or a dual charger to be shared by two parking spaces. In addition, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the designation of parking spaces shall be required for: (1) Construction of a parking lot for a new building or new off-street parking facility; (2) An additional parking lot added to an addition for an existing building; and (3) A parking lot increased in size to add fifty percent (50%) or more parking spaces.   The amount of designated parking spaces must be the greater of: (1) One space or one percent of the total spaces for restaurants, retail businesses, recreational and cultural venues; (2) One space or one percent (1%) of the total spaces for medical, industrial and municipal facilities; (3) One space or three percent (3%) of the total spaces for all commercial lodging facilities; and (4) One space or five percent (5%) of the total spaces for multi-household residential facilities.   Finally, existing parking lots shall comply with the provisions by December 31, 2022.  A person who parks a non-electric vehicle in a space designated for persons with electric is subject to a fine of $100 for a first violation; $175 for a second violation; and $325 for a third or subsequent violation.  The owner of any facility or business which fails to comply with the provisions is subject to a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).  Written testimony can be submitted to the committee by emailing it to: [email protected]  *Written Testimony must be submitted prior to 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 24, 2021, in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records.  Members of the public can request to provide verbal testimony to the committee through the following link:VERBAL TESTIMONY  *Requests to provide verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
 
 
 
The following new bills of interest have been filed this week:
 
House Bill No. 6432  Fogarty, Tanzi, Cortvriend, McEntee, Carson, Speakman, Donovan, Ranglin-Vassell, McGaw, Messier, AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - COMMERCIAL FISHERIES (Permits the dockside sale of allowable live lobsters, crabs and live whelk upon issuance of a direct sale dealer license by the department of environmental management to a commercial fishing license holder.)  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/HouseText21/H6432.pdf
 
House Bill No. 6437  Corvese, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES (Expands the definition of a redevelopment area to include all population census tracts in the state that have been or are designated as opportunity zones.)  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/HouseText21/H6437.pdf
 
House Bill No. 6446  Shekarchi, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE (Establishes E-permitting for construction permitting.)  H6446.pdf (state.ri.us)    
 
 
Senate Bill No. 959  Lombardi, McCaffrey, Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- RHODE ISLAND COMMERCIAL RECEIVERSHIP ACT (Creates temporary non-liquidating receivership program for businesses with substantial revenue decline after declared emergency/suspended/ceased substantial part of operation resulting by emergency police/regulatory powers.)  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/SenateText21/S0959.pdf
 
 
 
 
 

 
Budget Watch
 
The House Finance Committee has not posted the budget yet, but is expected to do so soon.
 
 
Customer Automatic Renewal Legislation
 
Today, June 15th, the House Corporations Committee is scheduled to vote on H.5769, An Act Relating to Commercial Law – General Regulatory Provisions – Unfair Sales Practices.  The bill requires a provider of a club, facility, or services to a consumer to stop automatic deductions from the consumer’s account or credit card within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving a notice that the consumer wants the automatic deduction to be stopped. The notice can be verbal or in writing.  H.5769 also requires a provider to give a consumer at least sixty (60) calendar days notice of a proposed rate increase or substantial change in services being provided to the consumer. If passed, the act would take effect upon passage.
 
 
Senate Environment Committee to Vote on TCI-P
 
The Senate Environment & Agriculture Committee is scheduled to vote on S.872, An Act Relating to Health and Safety – Transportation Emissions and Mobile (TEAM) Community Act.   S.872 gives DEM the authority to enter into the multi-jurisdictional program called the Transportation Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P).  Connecticut just recently chose not to pass legislation this year, leaving only Massachusetts, Washington DC and now possibly Rhode Island.  New Hampshire and Maine have said they want no part in it and 8 other states are taking a wait and see approach for now.
 
When a jurisdiction joins TCI-P, it is then governed by a 159-page model rule.  If S.872 passes, Rhode Island must live by the model rule. No changes, no choice. 
 
Under TCI-P, gasoline and diesel terminals and entities that bring gasoline and diesel into RI for the first time can only sell gasoline and diesel equal to the number of carbon allowances they have been able to buy at a TCI-P quarterly auction.  These auctions are run by TCI-P as a sealed bid auction.  Bidders (who can be anybody - terminals, hedge fund operators, non-profits, government agencies, etc.) submit their sealed bids.  When the bids are opened, the highest bidder gets to purchase its allowances; the next highest bidder purchases next; and so on until the allowances are all purchased.  If a terminal or seller of gasoline or diesel fuel was not a successful bidder, then it must either not sell product, or try to purchase allowances on the secondary market from someone who was successful - most likely for an increased price.
 
The State of California has a similar program (Western Climate Initiative) but covers more entities.  They have 303 entities that must have allowances to sell their product.  There are 748 registered bidders for their auction - that means 445 bidders are in the auction to try to make money, not to sell a product to the consumer.
 
Models have been run to try to determine the cost.  Some say 5-9 cents per gallon in the first year, others project up to 38 cents, but no one really knows because the auctions will determine the price.  The TCI-P model rule sets a cap on the number of allowances that can be sold at auction.  Starting in 2024, the cap drops 3% per year, each year for ten years.  This is mandatory and cannot be changed by the Rhode Island legislature at a later date.  Three percent less gasoline and diesel will be sold each year.  It is also important to note that Rhode Island does not get a certain percentage of the overall auction allowances.  It is an open market for all of the states that join TCI-P.  If the successful bidders happen to sell gasoline and diesel in Massachusetts, not Rhode Island, then MA will get the fuel – Rhode Island will not.   
 
Proponents of the bill state that this mandatory rule is necessary to address climate change.  Opponents of the bill state that if we assume TCI-P runs perfectly and Rhode Island bidders are successful, using the federal Energy Information Administration's estimates for demand for gasoline in Rhode Island, it appears demand will outpace the supply allowed by the TCI governing rule in 2025; and that shortage will then get bigger each year thereafter. 
 
 
 
 
Last Week At The State House
 
Nondisclosure/Non-disparage Agreements Passed by House Labor
 
H.5853, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Fair Employment Practices, passed the House Labor Committee in its original form last week and is headed to the full House for a floor vote.  H.5853 forbids an employer from requiring an employee to execute a nondisclosure agreement or non-disparagement agreement regarding alleged violations of civil rights or criminal conduct as a condition of employment or as a condition of continuing employment.  The chamber voiced opposition to this bill at the hearing earlier this year, as it has the potential to stifle settlement agreements which are beneficial to both parties.  The Senate companion bill, S.189 is in the Senate Labor Committee.
 
 
 
No new bills of interest have been filed this week

​This Week At The State House
 
We are anxiously awaiting the release of the proposed FY2022 budget.  It could be released this week or next week.  Once the House Finance Committee passes a budget, it must sit on the House floor for seven days before the full House can vote on the bill.  Please watch for emails from the Chamber as this process moves forward.  We may ask you to quickly contact your legislators.  Stay tuned!
 
Workplace Bullying and Nondisclosure/Non-disparage Agreements
 
On Wednesday at 4:00pm, the House Labor Committee will take testimony on H.6352, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Dignity at Work.   This legislation would place employers in an extremely difficult position and would result in many lawsuits. The definition of “workplace bullying” under this bill includes actions that “undermine” “humiliate” or “sabotage a person in the workplace.” It is characterized as taking the form of “interpersonal interactions” or “management actions” and even goes as far as to include “other types of objectionable behaviors.” These terms are very subjective. They can mean different things to different people, leaving everyone wondering what they can and cannot do or say in the workplace.  Page 4 of the bill talks about specific actions that are considered bullying: offensive language, interfering with a person’s personal property, overbearing or intimidating levels of supervision, withholding information, changing work arrangements to deliberately inconvenience someone, intruding on a person’s privacy by pestering, spreading misinformation, ignoring someone, reminding a person of past mistakes, gossiping… There is no way an employer can monitor all of these potential activities, and unfortunately many of these items cannot really be defined.  It is easy to anticipate situations where two employees will accuse each other of bullying and both will be correct under this broad statute.
 
Written testimony may be submitted via  [email protected]  Indicate your name, bill number, and viewpoint (for/against/neither) at top of message.  DEADLINE: Written testimony should be submitted no later than Wednesday at 1:00 pm. It is recommended that testimony be submitted as a PDF file.   VERBAL TESTIMONY *DEADLINE: Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted via the link, by 4:00 PM on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.  For verbal testimony requests, CLICK HERE


H.5853, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Fair Employment Practices, is scheduled for a vote in the House Labor Committee as well.  A SubA may be forthcoming, but it has not been posted as of the time “Under the Dome” was written.  H.5853 forbids an employer from requiring an employee to execute a nondisclosure agreement or non-disparagement agreement regarding alleged violations of civil rights or criminal conduct as a condition of employment or as a condition of continuing employment.  The chamber voiced opposition to this bill at the hearing earlier this year, as it has the potential to stifle settlement agreements which are beneficial to both parties. 
 
The following new bills have been filed:
 
House Bill No. 6383  Alzate, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACT (Requires the department of environmental management to create environmental justice areas.)  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/HouseText21/H6383.pdf
 
House Bill No. 6393  Bennett, McLaughlin, Lombardi, Chippendale, Potter, Lima, Alzate, Hull, Edwards, Barros, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - CORROSION PREVENTION AND MITIGATION WORK REQUIREMENTS (Requires all contractors and subcontractors who perform construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair or maintenance work, pursuant to public works contracts, to comply with industry standards for infrastructure corrosion prevention.)
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/HouseText21/H6393.pdf
 
House Bill No. 6396  Tanzi, Cortvriend, Williams, Ranglin-Vassell, Carson, Henries, Ruggiero, Abney, Felix, Alzate, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TOBACCO PRODUCT SALES' RESTRICTIONS (Prohibits the sale of certain flavored tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems.)
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/HouseText21/H6396.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 947  Burke, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES (Repeals § 28-12-9 of the general laws which provides that the director of labor and training may approve of wages below the minimum wage for those persons whose earning capacity is impaired due to physical or mental disability.)  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText21/SenateText21/S0947.pdf
 

Call To Action – Make Your Voices Heard


Local leaders are considering legislation that will raise income taxes on what is considered by some to be “high income earners.”  If adopted, this legislation would effectively establish a new tax on some small business owners in Rhode Island.  Most small businesses are organized as sole proprietorships, partnerships, or S-corporations.  In these cases, small business owners file their income taxes as individuals.  In a state like Rhode Island, where most businesses are small, the majority of the taxpayers directly impacted by this legislation will be small business owners.  It is also worth noting that small businesses in Rhode Island create over two-thirds of the new jobs in our state every year. Thus, this proposal would discourage job and economic growth.  Please take a few minutes to go to the following link and add your story to this debate:  https://www.votervoice.net/RIBC/campaigns/85638/respond  An email will be sent to your State Representative and that could make all the difference on this issue.




This Week At The State House


Federal Response Funds Update – The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday at the Rise (approximately 5:00 pm) to receive a briefing on the Federal CARES Act funding and the American Rescue Plan Act funds and allowable uses/guidance.  The House Finance Committee will hold a similar briefing Thursday at the Rise (approximately 5:00 pm).  Both hearings will be broadcast on Capitol TV http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx The federal guidance will provide Rhode Island with the boundaries for the stimulus budget that is expected to be addressed in September.


Family Leave Vote – The Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday at 3:00 pm on S.611, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations- Rhode Island Family and Parental Leave Act.  S.611 increases, from 13 to 26, the number of consecutive weeks over a two-year period an employee can take as unpaid leave to care for a family member.  To qualify, the employee is required to have worked for the same employer for 12 months, and must provide 30 days notice of the intended date of the start of the leave, unless the notice cannot be provided due to a medical emergency.  The following members are on the Senate Labor Committee:  Chairman Frank Ciccone, Senator Frank Lombardi, Senator John Burke, Senator Jessica de la Cruz, Senator Gayle Goldin, Senator Frank Lombardo, Senator Roger Picard and Senator Susan Sosnowski.  If the passage of this bill will hurt your business, please contact the committee members before the Wednesday vote.


Workers’ Compensation Changes – The Senate Labor Committee will also hear testimony Wednesday on S.937, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Workers Compensation Benefits.  The bill changes the calculations for permanent total disability benefits starting January 1, 2022 from 75% of the employee’s average weekly spendable base wages, to 62% of the employee’s average weekly base wages.  The bill uses this same formula for individuals that return to work and suffers a recurrence of the injury.  Lastly, the bill requires benefits to be paid within 14 days of the court order date or a penalty of $100 per day of delinquency will be assessed.   


The following new bills have been filed:


House Bill No. 6370  Slater, O'Brien, Amore, Solomon, Kazarian, Alzate, Hull, Potter, Morales, Giraldo, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- ADULT USE MARIJUANA (Authorizes the director of the department of business regulation to license the cultivation and sale of marijuana.)  H6370.pdf (state.ri.us)


House Bill No. 6374  (Secretary of State)  Casimiro, Noret, McEntee, Ackerman, Alzate, Fenton-Fung, Lima, Potter, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- CORPORATIONS - GENERAL PROVISIONS (Allows the secretary of state and tax administrator to promulgate emergency rules and regulations related to filing procedures, minimum corporate taxes, and fees and/or penalties, during a declared state of emergency.)  H6374.pdf (state.ri.us)


House Bill No. 6376  Williams, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS COMPENSATION -- BENEFITS (Creates a new formula for determining a totally and partially disabled injured workers' weekly benefit entitlement. It also eliminates the current ambiguity in an injured workers' entitlement, when he or she suffers a recurrence of disability.)  H6376.pdf (state.ri.us)


Senate Bill No. 937  Ciccone, Lombardi, McCaffrey, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS COMPENSATION -- BENEFITS (Creates a new formula for determining a totally and partially disabled injured workers' weekly benefit entitlement. It also eliminates the current ambiguity in an injured workers' entitlement, when he or she suffers a recurrence of disability.)  S0937.pdf (state.ri.us)


Senate Bill No. 938  Miller, McCaffrey, Goodwin, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Prohibits the sale or offer for sale of any flavored electronic nicotine delivery system.)  S0938.pdf (state.ri.us)