Chamber Connections BLOG
Chamber Connections BLOG
We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Faria, the Success Coordinator at Superior Comfort Inc., to our Board of Directors. Melissa brings great enthusiasm and innovative ideas to our Chamber, and we are excited to collaborate with her to further our mission. “Superior Comfort Inc. is proud to have Melissa Leary Faria as our Success Coordinator. With her extensive experience and dedication, Melissa has been an invaluable asset to their team since July 2015. Melissa's journey began at Portsmouth High School, where she pursued vocational training in Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism at the Newport Area's Career and Technical Center. Her passion for working with people and her love for tourism led her to enroll at Bristol Community College in Fall River. During her freshman year, she was selected for the prestigious Walt Disney World College Program, where she focused on her communications major and gained valuable insights into the industry. Melissa's interest in Newport history and her desire to share her love for Rhode Island led her to consider starting her own personal concierge service. However, her career took a new turn when she covered for maternity leave at Superior Comfort and made herself as useful as possible. She quickly became an integral part of our team, taking on various roles such as managing the stockroom, storage room, dispatching and overseeing Service Techs. She even handled all the emergency calls, including those at 3 AM. Over the years, Melissa's responsibilities have grown, and she now serves as our Success Coordinator. She wears many hats and acts as our next-level cheerleader and support system. Her dedication and passion for Superior Comfort are unmatched, and she continues to go above and beyond to ensure our success. In addition to her role at Superior Comfort, Melissa also plays a crucial role in overseeing a third-party company that we collaborate with. Her ability to manage multiple responsibilities and collaborate effectively makes her an invaluable asset to our organization. Melissa Leary Faria is a true professional who embodies the values and mission of Superior Comfort Inc. Her commitment to excellence and her passion for the industry make her the perfect choice for our Success Coordinator. We are fortunate to have her on our team, and we look forward to achieving even greater success with her guidance and support. As she becomes the newest Board of Director for the East Bay Chamber of Commerce. “
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Job Description- Manufacturing Technician- Press Brake Operator
Company Name: Ward’s Manufacturing, LLC Job Title: Manufacturing Technician- Press Brake Operator Location: Warren, Rhode Island Salary: $20-25/ hour, depending on experience Job Type: Full-time, hourly pay, with medical, dental, PTO, and 401k Hours: 40 hours per week, 1st shift- 8:00 am- 4:00 pm Department: Production Supervisor: CEO About Ward’s Manufacturing Kiffin and Kelly Ward are sibling co-founders of Ward’s Manufacturing, which provides metal fabrication services, specializing in fiber laser cutting and CNC press brake bending metal. We help make custom metal parts for anything from Olympic kayaks to sports equipment to art. At Ward’s Manufacturing, you will work with two founders who can mentor you on how to run a small business. We hope you will find it as rewarding as we do to make things our community and country need. About the Role We are seeking a skilled Manufacturing Technician to join our team and help us meet our production goals. The Manufacturing Technician’s main responsibility will be reviewing part drawings and operating and maintaining a press brake. This includes machine calibration and set-up, inputting data from drawing dimensions to form parts, and ensuring part quality. There is also the opportunity to learn how to operate and maintain a fiber laser. Ward’s Manufacturing has two part-time hires and this will be our first full-time hire, so we are looking for someone with a strong work ethic willing to step up and help with various tasks to help run and grow our small business. While the Manufacturing Technician’s main responsibility will be operating and maintaining a press brake, other tasks could include receiving deliveries, deburring parts, quality control and assurance, and packing parts to be ready for shipment. There are opportunities for professional development and career advancement, growing into a role with input in company decisions including daily operations, new equipment selection, and future hires for the manufacturing team. Responsibilities ● Operate a press brake to bend laser-cut metal parts per customer specifications. ○ Calibrate the press brake at the beginning of each day or after long periods of rest. ○ Read and interpret job orders, including drawings and specifications to ensure the correct dimensions and tolerances are met. ○ Adjust ram/punch/back gauge locations per process instructions and drawings. ○ Check dimensions of laser cut parts before and after bending using micrometers, dial indicators, calipers, height/drop gauges, digital angle finders and other precision-measuring instruments. ○ Select appropriate tooling, dies, and punches for the job at hand. ○ Recommend new tooling for potential business outside of our capabilities. ● Operate a fiber laser machine to cut metal sheets into the required form. ○ Read job orders and understand flat print drawings to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, and set up the fiber laser accordingly. ○ Assist with cut schedule as needed, taking files of sheet nestings created by a supervisor and having the ability to program the laser and complete cut jobs ○ This includes correct selection of cutting parameters, nozzles, assist gas, and other procedures as trained by the supervisor. ● Perform production activities including receiving deliveries, handling sheet and plate metal, deburring and cleaning metal parts, and packaging and shipping customer orders. ● Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of equipment and machinery. ● Perform quality control procedures, including First Article Inspection (FAI). ● Operate a forklift to move raw materials, finished goods, and other items. ● Communicate effectively with other team members to meet production goals. ● Complete and maintain all required documentation. ● Complete all required training programs. ● Follow safety protocols and maintain a clean work area. ● Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned. Required Qualifications ● At least 1year of experience operating a press brake machine. ● Ability to read and interpret manufacturing drawings and specifications in their flat pattern and bent forms. ● Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions accurately. ● Experience working with precision measuring tools such as calipers, micrometers, and other gauges. ● Knowledge of metal fabrication techniques and materials. ● Ability to stand or do repetitive movements for extended periods and to lift up to 50 pounds. ● Good communication and teamwork skills. ● Must have own transportation. ● An independent worker who can be given tasks to complete without constant supervision after initial training. Preferred Qualifications ● We would like someone who wants to learn the ins and outs of the company and grow with it ● Experience operating a fiber laser. ● Experience with CAD/CAM, especially with DXF files. ● Good math skills to help understand complex instructions, how schematics work and to make sure items are progressively formed correctly. ● Forklift experience. ● Overhead crane experience. Benefits ● Medical/dental/vision ● 15dayspaidtimeoff per year ● 401k ● On the job technical training with the latest metal fabrication technology, including a 3kwfiber laser and 10ft. 190 ton press brake. ● Opportunities for performance-based raises and bonuses. ● Opportunities for career advancement. Diversity We welcome all backgrounds and encourage you to apply if this role interests and excites you. At Ward’s Manufacturing, we’re committed to cultivating an inclusive environment. We want you to feel comfortable bringing your whole self to work with you. All applicants will be considered without regard to sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, medical condition, Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Ward’s Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Legislative Interim Wrap-up
Each year, we provide a comprehensive list of new business-related legislation enacted during the year. That list is not yet complete as the flurry of bills that passed during the last week of session are still making their way to the Governor’s desk for his consideration. We expect the final report to be ready for publication in a few weeks. In the meantime, below is the status of major bills the Chamber was working on during the last few weeks. Temporary Caregiver Expansion – Both H.7171 and S.2121 passed the House and Senate following a major change in the House Labor Committee. The Committee amended the bills by eliminating the increase in the dependents’ allowance, eliminating the expansion of the benefit to new groups of employees and lengthening the benefit to seven weeks beginning January 1, 2025, and to eight weeks beginning January 1, 2026 (the original bill called for a six week increase in benefits). The House further amended the bills on the floor to restore the original bills’ language to increase the dependents’ allowance from $10 to $20. Both H.7171 and S.2121 were transmitted to the Governor June 20th. Data Transparency and Privacy – S.2500 SubA and H.7877 SubAaa were transmitted to the Governor’s office on June 20th and June 21st, respectively. These bills require any person or entity that processes personal data to identify all categories of information the controller collects, when the controller may disclose such information, how a customer may exercise their customer rights, the purpose for processing the personal data, categories of personal data shared with a third party, and means to contact the controller. Entities that control or process personal data of not less than 35,000 customers or at least 10,000 customers and derive more than twenty percent (20%) of gross revenue from the sale of personal data are subject to additional disclosure requirements and must allow customers the right to opt out of the collection of personally identifiable information. There is an exemption for entities subject the federal Gramm Leach Bliley Act. Language was also added to ensure businesses with rewards type programs can still collect the data needed to continue the programs. Any violation of this act would constitute a violation of the general regulatory provisions of commercial law and constitute a deceptive trade practice; however, no private right of action was included in the legislation. These bills do not become effective until January 1, 2026, giving the business community time to digest the many changes in the bill and to recommend further amendments next year. Citizens Bank Tax Proposal – H.7927 SubA and S.3152 SubA passed the House and Senate and were transmitted to the Governor on June 21st and June 20th, respectively. These bills allow a financial institution to elect to be taxed under the single sales factor test like many another multi-jurisdictional businesses in Rhode Island. Decarbonization of Buildings - H.7617 SubA was amended from its original form to a comprehensive study to be conducted by the EC4 committee. It was passed by the Senate in concurrence but has not been transmitted to the Governor yet. The committee is charged with collecting data on buildings – public and privately-owned – with 25,000 square feet or more. Information to be collected includes: 1. A summary of the State's building sector emissions using the best available data on what is known about the energy use intensity and emissions from large buildings; 2. An inventory of properties that would be subject to benchmarking and building performance standard requirements, including building type and size; 3. A summary of the best available data on current energy sources for large buildings, including delivered fuels such as oil, coal, and propane, natural gas, grid electricity, district energy systems, and on-site renewable energy; 4. The estimated costs pertaining to expected retrofits, alterations, and repairs that may be required to comply with the benchmarking program standards; 5. Identification of the State agency or agencies with relevant roles and responsibilities to develop and implement benchmarking and performance standards for large buildings; 6. An estimation of the staff and other resources, and associated annual budget, needed to develop and implement benchmarking and performance standards for large buildings; and 7. A recommended timeline for establishing and implementing benchmarking and performance standards for large buildings. The original bills banned building permits for new or renovated buildings unless those building were designed to be all-electric ready or all electric, depending upon the building. S.2952 SubA as amended does not match the final version of H.7617 SubA. It was not turned into a study, although many of the data collection points from the House bill are contained in the Senate version. S.2952 SubA retained the requirements to switch new large buildings and renovated buildings to electric-ready status. The final fate of H.7617 SubA is unclear. Noncompetition Agreements – Both H.8059 SubA and S.2436 SubA passed the House and Senate and were transmitted to the Governor June 20th. These bills, passed the House 70-2 and the Senate 37-0, ban the use of noncompetition agreements between employers and employees unless the agreement is entered into as part of the sale of a business entity or equity interest in a business. Employers are still permitted to enter into agreements with employees not to share trade secrets, customer lists, or future business plans. Businesses covered under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (financial institutions) are exempt. Family Leave Expansion - S.2467 and H.7793 both died in the House Labor Committee. These bills increased the number of unpaid family leave benefit weeks provided to employees from thirteen weeks every two years, to twenty-four weeks every two years. Minimum Wage Increase – All bills proposed to further increase the minimum wage died in committees. However, the current law calls for an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour beginning January 1, 2025. Payment Stubs and Mini Employee Handbook - S.2123 SubA and a similar bill, H.7790, both died in the House Labor Committee. These bills proposed changes to 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 amended version of S.2123 added 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. It also required employers to provide a type of “mini employee handbook” to employees. The information included items such as: wage information, benefits, holiday information, sick time, and travel and expense policies. Washington Bridge Statute of Repose – S.3145 and H.8318 both died in their respective Judiciary Committees. While the bills were directed at the Washington Bridge, they gave rise to concerns about retroactive changes to law. The bills would have retroactively changed the statute of repose for the Washington Bridge. What does that mean? Under current law, any person, firm, corporation or legal entity that is involved in the design, construction, repair, modification, etc. to real property can be sued for damages or injuries within ten years of the “substantial completion” of a construction project. This was litigated in 1985 and upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court and it is similar to laws in 46 other states. Both S.3145 and H.8318 proposed to change the law as it pertains to the Washington bridge by extending the statute of limitations to ten years from the “date of discovery” or by December 1, 2033, whichever is later, unless the case would be time barred as of the date this legislation becomes law. So, if the bills had passed into law July 1, 2024, any entity involved in the Washington bridge where “substantial completion” did not occur before July 1, 2014, would be reachable to sue for liability. In some instances, they extended the window of liability to close to 20 years. The reason for setting a time limit to sue in most cases relates to ability to find eye witnesses with memories that are accurate, loss of potential evidence, the influence of other factors that are hard to quantify or qualify over the years. Insurance companies rely on statutes of limitations and statutes of repose to assess risk in setting premiums or deciding to insure entities. Junk Fees - S.2503, attempted to address what is often referred to as “junk fees.” It died in the Senate Commerce Committee. The legislation created a new section to the unfair deceptive practices act, stating it is an unfair practice to offer goods or services to the public and to fail to include a notification disclosing any mandatory fees including the “nature and purpose” of those fees. S.2503 created significant ambiguity by using language that does not distinguish between fees that are fixed and determinable upfront versus fees that vary based on consumer choices during the ordering process. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is working on this very issue now. The Chamber advocated that it is prudent to allow that process to move forward before the State promulgates proposed regulations covering the same subject matter. Individual Liability Employment Liability - S.2203 died in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill created individual liability for any person, employer, or employees who directly or indirectly commit any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice. It seemed to be aimed at overturning a 2017 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision - Mancini vs City of Providence. The case involved a Providence Police Sergeant who alleged he was illegally denied a promotion based on discriminatory factors; and he attempted to sue then Chief of Police, Hugh Clements, Jr. personally. The Rhode Island Supreme Court stated, “allowing for the possibility of individual liability would have a predictably chilling effect on the discretionary management decisions of supervisory employees.” Captive Audience Legislation - S.2785 and H.7106 died in the House Labor Committee. These bills proposed to protect the free speech rights of employees in the workplace, but also limited the first amendment rights of employers. Both pieces of legislation prohibited 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, these bills would have severely limited 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. Psychological Bullying Bill - S.2473 SubA and H.8044 both died in the House Labor Committee. These bills begin by stating that employees have a right to a physically safe work environment and to a psychologically safe workplace. Under the bills, 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 bills called upon employers to adopt policy procedures to comply with the law and train managers and supervisors to handle complaints. They included an annual reporting process. Employers would have been liable for failing to take appropriate measures to provide employees with a psychologically safe work environment. Penalties included economic, compensatory and punitive damages. Any person who aids, abets, incites, or coerces another person in an action not permitted under the legislation was also guilty. Bristol Municipal Career and Technical Academy (BMCTA) - Career Explorers program seeking volunteers6/14/2024 An important announcement for all chamber members:
I hope you will read this and then perhaps become that “IT” for a Bristol-Warren teen exploring different careers this summer. Let me introduce myself. I am Craig Evans, the Coordinator of the Bristol Municipal Career and Technical Academy (BMCTA) and its Career Explorers program. We are a new organization, with initial financial support coming from a Learn365 RI grant in summer of 2023. From day one our primary goal has been to create opportunities for local teens to get exposed to the numerous careers they are studying in school. So far this has been accomplished through partnerships with Bristol-Warren Regional School District, Herreshoff Marine Museum, Roger Williams University and the Rogers Free Library. This summer we are looking to add selected business and community leaders to our group of career guides. After consulting Mt. Hope High School’s Guidance Department to pinpoint the occupations of greatest interest to these students, it’s clear there are numerous possibilities. Here is where I could use your help. Starting the week of July 15th and going through August 16th we will be planning multi-site, field-trip style visitations to businesses on Tuesday and Thursday (between 10am-2pm). A draft of our calendar is set and now we need leaders and their organizations to volunteer as hosts. This is your invite, and we hope you will agree to do this. A “visit” should last no longer than two hours and each will involve a quick greeting, tour and wrap-up questions/answers. Each of these ten sessions will be designated for a specific career-type. For those interested, a short Google Forms questionnaire has been for you to submit. It that shows the categories we are searching for along with the 10 dates they could be held. I need you to do the following:
The Town of Bristol and the Bristol-Warren Regional School District look forward to your participation in these field trips. Our teens benefit from career exploration opportunities like this. Craig Evans, Coordinator of Bristol Municipal Career and Technical Academy People's Credit Union Appoints Patricia Carlin as Head of Finance and Risk Experience Executive Brings Wealth of Knowledge in Finance and Management MIDDLETOWN, RI (June 11, 2024): People's Credit Union announced the appointment of Patricia Carlin as Head of Finance and Risk, effective immediately. As a member of the Executive Management Team, Ms. Carlin will be responsible for the Finance, Financial Recovery, and Risk departments, with accountabilities that include budgeting & forecasting; financial reporting and analysis; audit and tax filing; asset liability management and compliance. “I’m excited to welcome Trish to the Leadership Team at People’s Credit Union,” said Sean Daly, Head of People’s Credit Union. “With more than 30 years of proven finance experience and a strong track record of leadership, she is well-positioned to help us deliver on our purpose and ensure we are able to support our members and the community in the future.” Over more than three decades, Ms. Carlin has held numerous finance and accounting roles including Controller and Finance Manager at Waste Management of RI, and Accounting Manager and Assistant Controller at BankNewport. Most recently, Carlin was Controller at Coastal1 Credit Union. A double major graduate of Salve Regina College with a BS in Financial Management and Accounting, she also has a certificate of graduation from the New England School for Financial Studies. As Head of Finance and Risk, Ms. Carlin will work to ensure that the Finance, Financial Recovery, and Risk department-related procedures, policies, programs, and communications are aligned to the Credit Union's strategic goals, core values, and purpose. Ms. Carlin currently resides in Newport with her husband, avid Carlin III, and their dog, Max. Patricia Carlin, Head of Finance and Risk at People's Credit Union ABOUT PEOPLE’S CREDIT UNION Founded in 1922 and headquartered in Middletown, RI, People's Credit Union is a purpose-driven, member-owned, state-chartered, community credit union that serves as a catalyst for positive change in the community through its member engagement and community support. Known for its wide array of personal banking and business banking products & services, including personal, mortgage, and business lending, membership is open to all individuals. All deposits are insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), an agency of the federal government. For more information visit peoplescu.com. Last Week At the State House
The House passed the nearly $14 billion budget on a vote of 69-5 in almost record time. The funding plan had few amendments added during the debate. While balanced, the budget utilizes surplus funds for programs that are not one-time programs. The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hear and vote on the bill at the Rise on Tuesday, June 11th This Week At the State House Barring a breakdown between the House and Senate, for those that remember the “chicken cage” bill, the General Assembly should complete its work this week. Many bills are posting for hearings and SubAs are popping up on an hourly basis. Below are the bills and the SubAs of particular interest that are on the agenda at the time of writing this edition. Monday, June 10th Temporary Caregiver Expansion – Both H.7171 and S.2121 are posted for a vote in the House Labor Committee at 3:30. The bills have been amended by eliminating the increase in dependents allowance and expanding the benefit to any new groups of employees. The number of weeks is lengthened to seven weeks beginning January 1, 2025, and to eight weeks beginning January 1, 2026. Radon Inspection and Mitigation – H.8335 is scheduled for a hearing in House Corporations Monday at the Rise as well as Tuesday at 3:00. This bill requires sellers to provide buyers with the results of a radon test that was conducted no later than one year prior to the signing of a purchase and sale agreement. If the test uncovers a radon level greater than 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), then the seller must pay for and complete mitigation of the radon prior to the closing date. Data Transparency and Privacy – S.2500 SubA requires any person or entity that processes personal data to identify all categories of information the controller collects, when the controller may disclose such information, how a customer may exercise their customer rights, the purpose for processing the personal data, categories of personal data share with a third party, and means to contact the controller. Entities that control or process personal data of not less than 35,000 customers or at least 10,000 customers and derive more than twenty percent (20%) of gross revenue from the sale of personal data are subject to additional disclosure requirements and must allow customers the right to opt out of the collection of personally identifiable information. There is an exemption for entities subject the federal Gramm Leach Bliley Act. Any violation of this act would constitute a violation of the general regulatory provisions of commercial law and constitute a deceptive trade practice. If passed, the law would take effect on January 1, 2026. Citizens Bank Tax Proposal – H.7927 is scheduled for hearing and or consideration in House Finance at 3:30 Monday as well as Tuesday at 3:30. The bill allows a financial institution to elect to be taxed under the single sales factor test like many another multi-jurisdictional businesses in Rhode Island. Tuesday, June 11th Budget – The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on the budget at the Rise. Citizens Bank Tax Proposal – The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to take testimony on S.3152 at the Rise which is identical at this time to H.7927. Housing Package – if you are interested in the housing package and zoning, there are twenty bills scheduled for a vote in the Senate Housing Committee at the Rise. The entire hearing notice can be viewed at https://status.rilegislature.gov/documents/agenda-20505.aspx Washington Bridge Statute of Repose – S.3145 is scheduled for hearing at the Rise. While the bill is directed at the Washington Bridge, it gives rise to concerns about retroactive changes to law. The bill retroactively changes the statute of repose for the Washington Bridge. What does that mean? Under current law, any person, firm, corporation or legal entity that is involved in the design, construction, repair, modification, etc. to real property can be sued for damages or injuries within ten years of the “substantial completion” of a construction project. This was litigated in 1985 and upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court and it is similar to laws in 46 other states. S.3145 changes the law as it pertains to the Washington bridge by extending the statute of limitations to ten years from the “date of discovery” or by December 1, 2033, whichever is later, unless the case would be time barred as of the date this legislation becomes law. So, if the bill were to pass into law July 1, 2024, any entity involved in the Washington bridge where “substantial completion” did not occur before July 1, 2014, would be reachable to sue for liability. In some instances, this extends the window of liability to close to 20 years. The reason for setting a time limit to sue in most cases relates to ability to find eye witnesses with memories that are accurate, loss of potential evidence, the influence of other factors that are hard to quantify or qualify over the years. Insurance companies rely on statutes of limitations and statutes of repose to assess risk in setting premiums or deciding to insure entities. The following new bill was filed last week: Senate Bill No. 3144 Valverde, McKenney, DiMario, Miller, Kallman, Euer, Sosnowski, Murray, Gu, Pearson, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT RECYCLING ACT (Establishes beverage container recycling to be regulated by DEM.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S3144.pdf Senate Bill No. 3145 Lawson, Britto, Lauria, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Clarifies the statute of limitations for all causes of action not otherwise time barred that seek damages arising out of or related to the design/construction/supervision/or inspection of the Washington Bridge No. 700, located in East Prov. RI.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S3145.pdf Senate Bill No. 3152 DiPalma, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- TAXATION OF BANKS (Provides banks with an election to use the allocation and apportionment method of income for purposes of taxation.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S3152.pdf House Resolution No. 8345 McEntee, Spears, Morales, Bennett, JOINT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE REPORTING AND EXPIRATION DATES AND AMENDING THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FROM PLASTIC BOTTLE WASTE (Extends the reporting and expiration dates, and amend the commission’s purpose to include glass and aluminum products, and would report back by April 30, 2025, and expire on May 5, 2025.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8345.pdf East Bay Young Professionals had a successful Networking Night at the Wharf in Warren last Thursday, May 31, 2024! To learn more about the Group, contact Patrick Emond, at [email protected] or Brooke Bucket, at [email protected] PHOTOS By Devon McWilliams Photography, https://www.devonmcwilliamsphotography.com/ The East Bay Young Professionals (EBYP) is a social group of the East Bay Chamber of Commerce. The EBYP aims to create business and social opportunities, support professional development and welcome new and existing young professionals to the East Bay, Rhode Island community.
This Week At the State House
Tuesday, June 4th A new bill was introduced May 29th and is scheduled for hearing Tuesday in the House Judiciary Committee. While the bill is directed at the Washington Bridge, it gives rise to concerns about retroactive changes to law. H.8318, An Act Relating to Courts and Civil Procedure – Causes of Action retroactively changes the statute of repose for the Washington Bridge. What does that mean? Under current law, any person, firm, corporation or legal entity that is involved in the design, construction, repair, modification, etc. to real property can be sued for damages or injuries within ten years of the “substantial completion” of a construction project. This was litigated in 1985 and upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court and it is similar to laws in 46 other states. H.8318 changes the law as it pertains to the Washington bridge by extending the statute of limitations to ten years from the “date of discovery” or by December 1, 2033, whichever is later, unless the case would be time barred as of the date this legislation becomes law. So, if the bill were to pass into law July 1, 2024, any entity involved in the Washington bridge where “substantial completion” did not occur before July 1, 2014, would be reachable to sue for liability. In some instances, this extends the window of liability to close to 20 years. The reason for setting a time limit to sue in most cases relates to ability to find eye witnesses with memories that are accurate, loss of potential evidence, the influence of other factors that are hard to quantify or qualify over the years. Insurance companies rely on statutes of limitations and statutes of repose to assess risk in setting premiums or deciding to insure entities. (See new file bills below for the actual language) The Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture is voting Tuesday on S.2952, An Act Relating to Health and Safety – Building Decarbonization Act. The bill bans municipalities from issuing a permit for the construction or alteration of any commercial, residential, or mixed-use buildings if the initial application is submitted after December 31, 2024 and if the building is not made “electric ready.” Electric ready means the building is designed with sufficient capacity for a future retrofit of a mixed-use building to an all-electric building, including space, drainage, electrical conductors, etc. The bill gives municipalities the authority to go further and require these buildings to be all-electric, instead of “electric ready” unless it is deemed technically infeasible. No permits can be issued after December 31, 2026, unless the building is all-electric with the option to install a back up system to operate when the electric grid goes down. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2952.pdf The Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to vote on S.2120, An Act Relating to Businesses and Professions. This is the Senate companion for H.7015 SubA that was featured in last week’s edition. If you are in the real estate business, are in the market to buy or sell a house, or if you are a house inspector, contact your legislator quickly. The bill bans anyone, other than a licensed electrician, from testing wires, conduits and apparatus which includes fixtures, lighting, etc. What this means, is that a potential buyer’s house inspector would no longer be able to inspect switches, lights, or look at a panel to alert the buyer to potential problems. Buyers, should they wish to have the dwelling’s electrical system included in an inspection would need to hire a licensed electrician to perform the inspection – within the customary ten-day inspection period. Under current law, a house inspector is permitted to look at these items and recommend the buyer seek advice from a licensed electrician if something appears amiss. If passed into law, the bill would take effect January 30, 2025. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2120.pdf Wednesday, June 5th The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will be voting on S.2084, An Act Relating to Health and Safety Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund. S.2084 places a $1.50 per employee tax on businesses to financially fund a new state program entitled the “Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund.” This fund is meant to aid families of children with serious illnesses. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S2084.pdf Friday June 6th The House members will be debating and voting on the State’s budget Friday late afternoon into the evening. As passed by the House Finance Committee last Friday night, the budget contains 14 Articles. Below are some highlights:
The following new bill was filed last week: House Bill No. 8318 Dawson, Boylan, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Clarifies the statute of limitations for all causes of action not otherwise time barred that seek damages arising out of or related to the design/construction/supervision/or inspection of the Washington Bridge No. 700, located in East Prov. RI.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/HouseText24/H8318.pdf Senate Bill No. 3107 Britto, Tikoian, Burke, Cano, Murray, Gu, Lawson, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DIGITAL ELECTRONICS RIGHT TO REPAIR ACT (Establishes a digital electronics right to repair, which would allow for digital electronic equipment and parts that are sold in this state on or after January 1, 2025, to be repaired at an independent repair provider.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S3107.pdf Senate Bill No. 3111 Bissaillon, Euer, Mack, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LEAD HAZARD MITIGATION (Requires renovation projects of pre-1978 buildings to comply with provisions of chapter 24.6 of title 23 and chapter 21 of title 28, and require presence of lead inspector and supervisor and require lead training. DLT would ensure compliance.) http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText24/SenateText24/S3111.pdf |
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