​Under the Dome New Law 2022 Wrap Up

​Under the Dome New Law 2022 Wrap Up
 
We, at the Chamber, hope you are enjoying your summer.  The House and Senate have been transmitting bills periodically to Governor McKee for his consideration.  As explained earlier, this is a normal process to avoid inundating the Governor with hundreds of bills to sign, veto or allow to go into law without his signature, within a seven-day period.  It is finally time to release a list of 30 new laws passed in 2022 that touch the business community.  There are many other laws that passed this year, but in the interest of time and space, we have limited the report to these 30 new laws.  We have included the names of the sponsors of each bill to assist you in your election considerations this year.
 
Labor Laws
 
Senate Bill No. 2242  Chapter 074,  Burke, Archambault, DiMario, Valverde, Coyne, Ciccone, Raptakis, McCaffrey, Cano, 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.)  House Bill No. 7511  Chapter 073,  Shekarchi, Ackerman, Bennett, McNamara, Shanley, Messier, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Serpa, Batista, 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.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2246  SUB A  Chapter 246,  Kallman, Coyne, Sosnowski, Goodwin, Acosta, Zurier, Mack, Cano, DiPalma, Seveney, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - TIP PROTECTION (Prohibits employers from receiving any portion of the tips given by customers to their tipped employees, with limited exceptions for credit card service charges.)  House Bill No. 7510  SUB A  Chapter 245,  Morales, Felix, Williams, Alzate, Kislak, Tanzi, Speakman, Henries, Vella-Wilkinson, McEntee, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - TIP PROTECTION (Prohibits employers from receiving any portion of the tips given by customers to their tipped employees, with limited exceptions for credit card service charges.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2412  SUB A as amended  Chapter 233, Cano, Quezada, Lawson, Kallman, Ciccone, Burke, DiPalma, Murray, Acosta, Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- BUILDING SERVICE WORK (Requires that janitors and security guards employed, pursuant to state contracts worth more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) of janitorial or security services, be paid a standard compensation rate.)  House Bill No. 7200  SUB A as amended  Chapter 232, Diaz, Slater, Amore, Morales, Biah, Alzate, Cortvriend, Kazarian, Batista, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- BUILDING SERVICE WORK (Requires that janitors and security guards employed, pursuant to state contracts worth more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) of janitorial or security services, be paid a standard compensation rate.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2418  SUB A  Chapter 082,  Gallo, Pearson, Goodwin, Lombardo, Murray, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN (Requires children who seek a special limited work permit to successfully complete a worker rights' training program established and funded by the department of labor and training.)  House Bill No. 6652  Chapter 081,  Noret, Casimiro, Vella-Wilkinson, Alzate, Solomon, Craven, Amore, Casey, S Lima, J Lombardi, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN (Same as 21H-5619 -- Requires children who seek a special limited work permit to successfully complete a training program which shall address workers' rights, workplace health and safety, and workers' compensation, to be established and funded by the DLT.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2551  SUB B  Chapter 272,  Kallman, McCaffrey, Gallo, DiMario, Ruggerio, Miller, Lawson, Valverde, Seveney, Lombardo, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- REBUILD RHODE ISLAND TAX CREDIT (Defines "construction worker" and provides for wage and benefits in accordance with chapter 13 of title 37.)  House Bill No. 7985  SUB A  Chapter 271,  Potter, Alzate, Slater, Diaz, Bennett, J Lombardi, Amore, Henries, Morales, O'Brien, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- REBUILD RHODE ISLAND TAX CREDIT (Requires that all entities receiving tax credits from the state pay their workers the prevailing wage or other payments pursuant to § 37-13. This act would also allow the revocation of the tax credits for violation of this act.)  These bills are identical.
 
Senate Bill No. 2666  SUB A  Chapter 116,   DiPalma, Seveney, Cano, Quezada, Gallo, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING--DIGITAL CREDENTIALING (Mandates the department of labor and training to require publicly funded workforce and training programs to supplement all paper-based credentials with verified electronic credentials.)  House Bill No. 8056  SUB A  Chapter 115,  Messier, Fellela, Barros, Baginski, Alzate, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TRAINING--DIGITAL CREDENTIALING (Mandates the department of labor and training to require publicly funded workforce and training programs to supplement all paper-based credentials with verified electronic credentials.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2816  SUB A  Chapter 118, (Dept. of Labor and Training)  Goodwin, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT SECURITY -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Extends until June 30, 2023, an increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits.)  House Bill No. 7863  SUB A  Chapter 117, (Dept. of Labor and Training)  McEntee, Caldwell, Morales, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT SECURITY--GENERAL PROVISIONS (Extends until June 30, 2023, an increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2977  Chapter 248,  Ciccone, F Lombardi, McCaffrey, Goodwin, de la Cruz, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION (This act is the annual workers' compensation omnibus.)  House Bill No. 8259  Chapter 247, Williams, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION (This act is the annual workers' compensation omnibus.)
 
Environmental Laws
 
Senate Bill No. 2044  SUB A  Chapter 293,  Seveney, DiPalma, Euer, DiMario, Cano, Kallman, Coyne, Miller, Pearson, McCaffrey, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TOXIC PACKAGING REDUCTION ACT (Prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of any food package in Rhode Island which contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), effective January 1, 2024.)  House Bill No. 7438  SUB A  Chapter 294,  Cortvriend, Speakman, Carson, Morales, Marszalkowski, McGaw, Ruggiero, Fogarty, Donovan, Kislak, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TOXIC PACKAGING REDUCTION ACT (Prohibits the sale or promotional distribution of any food package containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), effective January 1, 2024. Provisions of § 23-18.13-3(g)(3) sunset on July 1, 2027.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2274  SUB A as amended  Chapter 218,  Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Euer, Kallman, DiMario, Gallo, Miller, Sosnowski, Felag, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY (Increases the percentage of retail electricity sales from renewable energy sources.)  House Bill No. 7277  SUB A  Chapter 226,  Ruggiero, Bennett, Handy, Potter, Hull, Diaz, Kazarian, Speakman, Carson, Donovan, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS-RENEWABLE ENERGY (Increases the percentage of retail electricity sales from renewable energy sources.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2446  Chapter 176,  Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Gallo, DiMario, Kallman, Miller, Burke, Sosnowski, Lawson, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION ACT (Creates the "Plastic Waste Reduction Act" designed to reduce the use of plastic bags by retail establishments by offering recyclable bag options and providing penalties for violations.) 
House Bill No. 7065  SUB A  Chapter 177, McEntee, Cortvriend, Speakman, Donovan, Carson, Caldwell, Craven, Morales, Kislak, Ruggiero, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION ACT (Creates the "Plastic Waste Reduction Act" designed to reduce the use of plastic bags by retail establishments by offering recyclable bag options and providing penalties for violations.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2740  SUB B  Chapter 381, Ruggerio, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- LABOR STANDARDS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS (Adds a new chapter known as the Labor Standards in Renewable Energy Projects.)  House Bill No. 8074  SUB A Chapter 380,  Solomon, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- LABOR STANDARDS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS (Established labor standards applicable to renewable energy projects and conditions/procedures for applicants related to labor agreements with enforcement by department of labor and training (DLT).)
 
House Bill No. 7611  SUB A  Chapter 374,  Carson, Alzate, Bennett, Solomon, Cortvriend, Ranglin-Vassell, Giraldo, Abney, Donovan, Speakman, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE (Establishes the Rhode Island executive climate change coordinating council equity and environmental justice advisory board to advise on decision-making and equitable outcomes.)
 
Health Insurance Related Laws
 
Senate Bill No. 2201  SUB A  Chapter 151,  Goodwin, McCaffrey, Coyne, Miller, Pearson, Gallo, Ruggerio, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES -- BIOMARKER TESTING COVERAGE (Requires health insurers, nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations and health maintenance organizations that issue policies that provide coverage for biomarker testing on or after 1/1/23.)  House Bill No. 7587  SUB A  Chapter 152, Ackerman, McNamara, Serpa, Chippendale, Bennett, Baginski, Filippi, Diaz, Amore, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES -- BIOMARKER TESTING COVERAGE (Requires health insurers, nonprofit hospital service corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations and health maintenance organizations that issue policies that provide coverage for biomarker testing on or after 1/1/23.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2203  SUB B as amended  Chapter 423,  Lawson, DiMario, Burke, Murray, Cano, Quezada, Valverde, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE (Requires coverage for the treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections/pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, including, but not limited to, the use of intravenous immunoglobin therapy.)  House Bill No. 7503  SUB B as amended  Chapter 422,  Amore, Henries, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE (Requires coverage for treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, including, but not limited to, the use of intravenous immunoglobin therapy.)
 
Senate Bill No. 3035  Chapter 371,   Cano, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Provides health care coverage for laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids, including uterine artery embolization intraoperative ultrasound guidance and monitoring and radiofrequency ablation, commencing January 1, 2023.)  House Bill No. 7561  Chapter 370,  Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, Noret, Ruggiero, Serpa, Diaz, Casimiro, Baginski, Kazarian, Alzate, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Provides health care coverage for laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids, including uterine artery embolization intraoperative ultrasound guidance and monitoring and radiofrequency ablation, commencing January 1, 2023.)
 
Parking Lot Requirements
 
Senate Bill No. 2345  Chapter 240,  Acosta, Cano, Valverde, DiMario, Zurier, Anderson, Calkin, Mack, Miller, DiPalma, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND PRIVILEGES (Requires motor vehicle parking spaces in lots with >100 spaces specifically designed for persons transporting young children under the age of 3/baby strollers except for single-family/duplex/townhouse/multifamily residences/industrial zoned properties.)  House Bill No. 7743  Chapter 239,   Giraldo, Williams, Morales, Alzate, Felix, Barros, Amore, Biah, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND PRIVILEGES (Requires motor vehicle parking spaces in lots with >100 spaces specifically designed for persons transporting young children under the age of 3/baby strollers except for single-family/duplex/townhouse/multifamily residences/industrial zoned properties.)
 
 
Business Administrative Laws
 
Senate Bill No. 2093  Chapter 108,  F Lombardi, Archambault, 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.)  House Bill No. 7895  Chapter 107,  Craven, Caldwell, 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.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2645  SUB A  Chapter 238,   Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- FILING OF ASSUMED NAME (Requires individuals transacting business in RI under any assumed name to file in person, by mail, or electronically with the office of the city or town clerk the true or real full name(s) of the person(s) transacting business and their email address.)  House Bill No. 8001  Chapter 237,  Carson, Cortvriend, Donovan, Speakman, Edwards, McGaw, Ruggiero, Abney, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- FILING OF ASSUMED NAME (Requires individuals transacting business in RI under any assumed name to file in person, by mail, or electronically with the office of the city or town clerk the true or real full name(s) of the person(s) transacting business and their email address.)
 
 Senate Bill No. 2812  Chapter 122, (Secretary of State)  F Lombardi, Euer, Archambault, Ciccone, Lombardo, McCaffrey, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- UNIFORM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ACT (Enacts the Rhode Island Limited Partnership Act to govern the law of limited partnerships in this state and repeal chapter 12 of title 7 entitled "Limited Partnerships".)  House Bill No. 7603  Chapter 121, (Secretary of State)  Amore, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- UNIFORM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ACT (Enacts the Rhode Island Limited Partnership Act to govern the law of limited partnerships in this state and repeal chapter 12 of title 7 entitled "Limited Partnerships".)
 
Senate Bill No. 2813  Chapter 124, (Secretary of State)   F Lombardi, Euer, Archambault, Ciccone, Lombardo, McCaffrey, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- UNIFORM PARTNERSHIP ACT (Enacts the Uniform Partnership Act to govern the law of partnerships in this state.)  House Bill No. 7753  Chapter 123, (Secretary of State)  Amore, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- UNIFORM PARTNERSHIP ACT (Enacts the Uniform Partnership Act to govern the law of partnerships in this state.)
 
General Business or Industry Specific Laws
 
Senate Bill No. 2132  SUB A  Chapter 033,  Murray, Raptakis, Seveney, DiMario, Lawson, Kallman, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES (Holders of Class B licenses shall offer the public food during times alcoholic beverages are sold to the public.)  House Bill No. 7417  SUB A  Chapter 034  Hawkins, Cardillo, Bennett, O'Brien, Noret, Kazarian, Caldwell, Biah, Phillips, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES (Holders of Class B licenses shall offer the public food during times alcoholic beverages are sold to the public.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2134  Chapter 002,  DiMario, Picard, Acosta, Euer, Lawson, Valverde, DiPalma, Zurier, Murray, Burke, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- SMALL BUSINESSES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Imposes one year moratorium on enforcement of municipal ordinance or zoning requirement that penalizes owners of food service establishments/bars for modifications/alternations to their premises in response to an emergency declaration.)  House Bill No. 7095  Chapter 001,  McEntee, Carson, Alzate, Caldwell, Costantino, Cortvriend, Craven, Morales, Batista, Kazarian, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Extends the period for the moratorium imposed on the enforcement of any municipal ordinance or zoning regulation relating to any alterations or modifications made to an establishment in order to comply with emergency declarations until April 1, 2023.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2153  as amended  Chapter 004,   Gallo, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES -- RETAIL LICENSES (Repeals 3/1/22 sunset provision allowing Class B/brew pub licensees to sell wine/beer/mixed drinks with food takeout orders only.)  House Bill No. 7209  SUB A  Chapter 003,  Baginski, McEntee, Caldwell, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES -- RETAIL LICENSES (Repeals 3/1/22 sunset provision allowing Class B/brew pub licensees to sell wine/beer/mixed drinks with food takeout orders only.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2430  SUB A as amended  Chapter 032,  Miller, McCaffrey, Goodwin, Ruggerio, Coyne, Pearson, Acosta, Kallman, Archambault, Murray, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND CANNABIS ACT (The Rhode Island Cannabis Act legalizes adult use of cannabis. It provides for licensing of cultivation, manufacture and retail sale of cannabis.)  House Bill No. 7593  SUB A as amended  Chapter 031,  Slater, Hull, Williams, Kazarian, Solomon, McNamara, O'Brien, Potter, Bennett, Morales, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND CANNABIS ACT (The Rhode Island Cannabis Act legalizes adult use of cannabis. It provides for licensing of cultivation, manufacture and retail sale of cannabis.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2432  Chapter 345,   Sosnowski, DiPalma, Murray, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS--DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES (Amends how credit bureaus doing business in Rhode Island may disclose to inquiring users of credit reports by requiring that in addition to the social security number, the name matches the identity of the person who is the subject of the inquiry.)  House Bill No. 8346  Chapter 344, Solomon, Casey, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS--DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES (Amends how credit bureaus doing business in Rhode Island may disclose to inquiring users of credit reports by requiring that in addition to the social security number, the name matches the identity of the person who is the subject of the inquiry.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2492  SUB A  Chapter 192,  Murray, Raptakis, Bell, Lawson, Seveney, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES (Authorizes manufacturer-breweries to sell up to three (3) drinks on premises per visitor per day, where a drink is defined as up to sixteen ounces (16 oz.).)   House Bill No. 7727  SUB A  Chapter 193,  McEntee, Caldwell, Cortvriend, O'Brien, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES (Authorizes manufacturer-breweries to sell up to three (3) drinks on premises per visitor per day, where a drink is defined as up to sixteen ounces (16 oz.) of beer or one and one-half ounces (1.5 oz.) of spirits.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2511  SUB A as amended  Chapter 236,   Ciccone, McCaffrey, Burke, Goodwin, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS (Requires online posting of hotel rules. Allows ejection of person for verbally abusing or physically threatening a hotel employee or guest. Permits refusal of service to anyone under the age of 18, unless accompanied by an adult.)  House Bill No. 7910  SUB A  Chapter 235,  Bennett, Carson, McEntee, Baginski, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOTELS (Provides reasons for an innkeeper to remove guests from a hotel, and permits an innkeeper to refuse admission to a person under eighteen (18) years of age.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2855  SUB A  Chapter 281,  Gallo, Goodwin, Pearson, Lombardo, Ciccone, Miller, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE (Increases the current levy on construction costs for residential building permits to be deposited into an exempt restricted receipts account to be used for training grants, including programs for local and state building officials and minority businesses.)  House Bill No. 7332  SUB A  Chapter 280,  McNamara, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE (Increases the levy on total construction costs that cities and towns may charge for building permits and directs that fifty percent (50%) each of the levy be transmitted monthly to the department of labor and training for workforce training.)
 
Senate Bill No. 2794  Chapter 339, (Dept. of Business Regulation)   Sosnowski, AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- CREATION AND EXPANSION (Amends a number of provisions in the general laws relative to financial institutions by eliminating unnecessary requirements and/or clarifying language in order to reduce certain burdens on businesses operating in Rhode Island.)  House Bill No. 7781  SUB A  Chapter 338,  (Dept. of Business Regulation)  Solomon, AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- CREATION AND EXPANSION (Amends a number of provisions in the general laws relative to financial institutions by eliminating unnecessary requirements and/or clarifying language in order to reduce certain burdens on businesses operating in Rhode Island.)