Under The Dome – January 16, 2017
An Update from the State House
House and Senate Name Committee Assignments
There are some new faces on the House Committees as released this week. Rep. Robert Jacquard (D-Cranston) was named Chairman of the House Corporations Committee, replacing long time Chairman Brian Patrick Kennedy. Rep. Kennedy was named Speaker Pro Tempore and will now be on the rostrum when Speaker Nicholas Mattiello is not able to lead the floor. Rep. Jacquard was elected to the House in 1992, making him one of the most senior members of the House. He is a retired police sergeant and a self-employed attorney.
Leading the House Labor Committee will be Rep. Robert Craven Sr. (D-North Kingstown). Rep. Craven was first elected to the House in 2012 and is currently an attorney at Robert E. Craven & Associates in North Kingstown. He is an assistant solicitor and probate judge in Charlestown and an assistant solicitor in East Providence.
Below is a list of committees that hear business issues periodically. Please note the committee membership for your Senator and Representative.
House Finance House Labor
Chairman Marvin Abney Chairman Robert Craven
Vice Chair Kenneth Marshall Vice Chair Mary Messier
Vice Chair Teresa Tanzi Vice Chair Stephen Casey
Rep. Gregg Amore Rep. Christopher Blazejewski
Rep. Jean-Philippe Barros Rep. Helder Cunha
Rep. Grace Diaz Rep. John Edwards
Rep. Antonio Giarrusso Rep. Kathleen Fogarty
Rep. Joy Hearn Rep. Deborah Fellela
Rep. Alex Marszalkowski Rep. Kenneth Marshall
Rep. James McLaughlin Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee
Rep. Kenneth Mendonca Rep. Daniel McKiernan
Rep. Michael Morin Rep. Robert Nardolillo
Rep. William O’Brien Rep. Brian Newberry
Rep. Robert Quattrocchi Rep. Jared Nunes
Rep. Scott Slater Rep. Aaron Regunberg
Rep. Carlos Tobon Rep. Stephen Ucci
House Corporations House Health, Education & Welfare
Chairman Robert Jacquard Chairman Joseph McNamara
Vice Chair Mary Messier Vice Chair Dennis Canario
Vice Chair Raymond Johnston Jr Vice Chair Mia Ackerman
Rep. Stephen Casey Rep. Samuel Azzinaro
Rep. Michael Chippendale Rep. David Bennett
Rep. Antonio Giarrusso Rep. Julie Casimiro
Rep. Raymond Hull Rep. Susan Donovan
Rep. Katherine Kazarian Rep. Arthur Handy
Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy Rep. Robert Lancia
Rep. Charlene Lima Rep. Shelby Maldonado
Rep. Michael Morin Rep. Ramon Perez
Rep. Jeremiah O’Grady Rep. Robert Phillips
Rep. Joseph Solomon, Jr. Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell
Rep. Anastasia Williams Rep. Sherry Roberts
Rep. Moira Walsh
House Judiciary Committee House Environment & Natural Resources
Chairman Cale Keable Chairman Arthur Handy
Vice Chair Edith Ajello Vice Chair David Bennett
Vice Chair Carol Hagan McEntee Vice Chair Jeremiah O’Grady
Rep. Joseph Almeida Rep. Susan Donovan
Rep. Dennis Canario Rep. Raymond Hull
Rep. Arthur Corvese Rep. Katherine Kazarian
Rep. David Coughlin Rep. Robert Lancia
Rep. Robert Craven Rep. John Lombardi
Rep. John Edwards Rep. Alex Marszalkowski
Rep. Blake Filippi Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee
Rep. Jason Knight Rep. Robert Nardolillo
Rep. Jeremiah O’Grady Rep. William O’Brien
Rep. Justin Price Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell
Rep. Sherry Roberts Rep. Aaron Regunberg
Rep. Evan Shanley Rep. Carlos Tobon
Rep. Camille Vella-Wilkinson
House Small Business
Chairwoman Deborah Ruggiero Rep. Justin Price
Vice Chair Daniel McKiernan Rep. Robert Quattrocchi
Vice Chair Michael Morin Rep. Evan Shanley
Rep. Lauren Carson Rep. Teresa Tanzi
Rep. Gregory Costantino Rep. Thomas Winfield
Rep. Helder Cunha
Rep. Deborah Fellela
Rep. Arthur Handy
Rep. John Lombardi
Rep. Jared Nunes
Rep. Robert Phillps
Senate Finance Senate Commerce
Chairman Daniel DaPonte Chairman Roger Picard
Vice Chair Louis P. DiPalma Vice Chair Marc Cote
Vice Chair Walter S. Felag Sen. Hanna Gallo
Sen. Ryan Pearson Sen. Frank Ciccone III
Sen. James Doyle Sen. Paul Fogarty
Sen. Maryellen Goodwin Sen. Frank Lombardo III
Sen. Nicholas Kettle Sen. Elaine Morgan
Sen. James Seveney Sen. Ana Quezada
Sen. Susan Sosnowski
Senate Health and Human Services Senate Labor
Chairman Joshua Miller Chairman Paul Fogarty
Vice Chair Gayle Goldin Vice Chair Frank Lombardo III
Sen. James Sheehan Sen. Frank Lombardi
Sen. Jeanine Calkin Sen. Frank Ciccone III
Sen. Elizabeth Crowley Sen. James Doyle
Sen. Thomas Paolino Sen. Mark Gee
Sen. Adam Satchell Sen. Gayle Goldin
Sen. Susan Sosnowski Sen. Maryellen Goodwin
Sen. Michael McCaffrey
Senate Environment Senate Judiciary
Chairwoman Hanna M. Gallo Chairman Michael McCaffrey
Vice Chair Harold M. Metts Vice Chair Paul Jabour
Sen. Adam Satchell Sen. Erin Lynch Prata
Sen. Louis DiPalma Sen. Stephen Archambault
Sen. Thomas Paolino Sen. William Conley Jr.
Sen. Ryan Pearson Sen. Cynthia Coyne
Sen. Ana Quezada Sen. Mark Gee
Sen. James Seveney Sen. Frank Lombardi
Sen. James Sheehan Sen. Harold Metts
Sen. Donna Nesselbush
Sen. Leonidas Raptakis
House Oversight Committee To Discuss Retail Renewal Permit Process
On Thursday, January 19th, At the Rise (around 4:20 p.m.), the House Oversight Committee will be hearing testimony from Director Robert Hull of the Department of Revenue and the Tax Administrator, Neena Savage about the current process for the application or renewal of Retail Sales Permits. The hearing will be held at the State House in Room 101.
The following bills were filed last week:
House Bill No. 5056, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS — DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOWS — ASSISTANCE TO DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING (Requires businesses with drive-through windows to install hard-of-hearing equipment at the ordering station.)
House Bill No. 5057, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — MINIMUM WAGE (Increases the minimum wage to ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) commencing July 1, 2017.)
House Bill No. 5058, 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. 5069, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY — COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (Repeals the “Rhode Island Health Care Reform Act of 2004 – Health Insurance Oversight” as well as the “Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange, and establishes the Rhode Island comprehensive health insurance program.)
House Bill No. 5078, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT (Changes the period of time required for occupancy for transient lodging accommodations from 30 days to 6 days.)
House Bill No. 5107, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS – MINIMUM WAGES (Commencing on January 1, 2018, require that all developmental disabilities organizations that employ five (5) employees or more and who are reimbursed for such services by the state, to pay their employees at least fifteen ($15.00) dollars per hour.)
House Bill No. 5108, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY (Encourages commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishment locations, and also permit insurers to consider the installation of such barriers to provide a discount on the owner’s insurance policy.)
House Bill No. 5113, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE (Permits the use of fax or email transmission of the medical certificate required for issuance of a CDL by the division of motor vehicles.)
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The Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition is the voice of business at the Rhode Island State House. We advocate for and against issues of importance to our members. If you have any concerns, questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber of Commerce Coalition coordinator and lobbyist at (401) 334-1000 or by email at advocacy@nrichamber.com
The Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition is coordinated by the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.