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Monday, June 22, 2015

Elaine Morgan loves to say “Me, too”

Lots of bills “held for further study”
By Will Collette

Elaine Morgan: did she impersonate a
police officer while Hopkinton's
elected Town Sergeant?
The third member of the triumvirate of local Tea Party-crazy freshmen General Assembly members, and the subject of today’s legislative run-down, is state Senator Elaine Morgan. Last November, Morgan, a Hopkinton dry-cleaner and Tea Partier, upset intelligent and hard-working Sen. Cathie Cool Rumsey on the campaign motto, “warm, not cool,” in the race to represent Hopkinton, Richmond, the northern half of Charlestown and Exeter.

Morgan’s prior political experience was as Hopkinton’s elected Town Sergeant where she was accused in citizen complaints of abusing her office by using her uniform to impersonate a police officer. The town of Hopkinton refused to release the documents underlying those complaints and my complaint against the town under the Access to Public Records Act is still pending.

Morgan, along with House Tea Party colleague Rep. Blake “Flip” Filippi, started their new political careers off after the election by impersonating actual public officials when they administered the oath of office to the all-CCA Charlestown Town Council. That was in November; it wasn't until they were sworn in that they became legally empowered to administer oaths.

Yeah, I know the CCA Party is thinking, “picky, picky.” It made for great optics, even if it was fiction.

So what did her constituents get by electing Morgan to replace Cathy Cool Rumsey. Let’s take a look at her record of bills introduced as the General Assembly counts the days before its scheduled June 30 adjournment.

Morgan has her name on 67 bills. She is the prime sponsor of 13 of them. The other 54 bills she co-sponsored cover a wide range of Republican, conservative interests, but let’s focus on the 13 that are hers.



Five of the bills that passed are local bills or resolutions, such as Senate Bill No. 98 allowing Richmond to implement Charter changes approved by the voters, two expressing condolences, Senate Bill No. 665 allowing Frank Ballestri, a non-clergy person, to perform a wedding. Rep. Justin Price introduced the House version. Finally, she sponsored Senate Bill No. 388 that allows Richmond to shorten polling hours by two hours.

Two of Morgan’s bills - Senate Resolution No. 341 and Senate Resolution No. 436, call for Constitutional amendments, both a variation on the theme that all candidates for all state offices must be elected by absolute majorities of all votes cast. Both are held “for further study.”

Four other Morgan bills are also being held for more study or for the end of the session, whichever comes first, including Senate Bill No. 332 at the request of Charlestown to make the state Water Resources Board open space acquisitions subject to municipal approval – that’s a carry-over from the feud between Planning Commisar Ruth Platner, her husband Cliff Vanover and the Glista family detailed here.

Morgan also sponsored Senate Bill No. 438 requiring welfare recipients to be given drug tests. I am waiting for the day when one of these right-wing legislators introduces a bill requiring members of the General Assembly to take a drug test every day of the session.

Morgan did get two bills passed, both dealing with sex trafficking and prostitution. As symbolic gestures, both bills are fine. Senate Bill No. 123 boosts the potential sentence for sex trafficking from a maximum of 40 years to a maximum of fifty.

While I do believe that sex traffickers are among the lowest form of scum, I just wonder how much of a disincentive it is to a person who faces 40 years and maybe federal prosecution too since most trafficking goes over state lines to hear the maximum sentence got bumped up by 10 years.

The other bill, Senate Bill No. 342, might actually do more good by expanding the web of who can be charged in trafficking and prostitution cases to include the people who own or control the places where this takes place. The catch, though, is that the prosecutors will have to prove the landlord “knowingly” allowed the trafficking or prostitution to take place on his or her property. Intent is very hard to prove.

But even though these two bills have their flaws and will not end the scourge of sex trafficking, I do give credit to Morgan for trying and for drawing attention to this issue. Because these two bills aimed to do the right thing, they passed, whereas nearly all of the other stuff Morgan has sponsored or co-sponsored will die when the General Assembly adjourns.

I wish she should would stick to legislation aimed at helping people instead of being a “me-to” on so much right-wing crap.

Here is the complete list of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Morgan directly from the General Assembly legislation tracker database.

Legislative Status Report 
Senate Resolution No. 2
Resolution 7
BY  Algiere, Morgan, Walaska, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JEANETTE KATHERINE KENNEDY
{LC201/1}
01/08/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
01/08/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Bill No. 26
BY  Raptakis, Kettle, Morgan, Cote, O`Neill
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Exempts the towns of Coventry, East Greenwich and West Greenwich from all the terms and provisions of § 42-64.17-1 entitled the "Long-Term Economic Development Vision and Policy.")
{LC178/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
03/10/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 30
BY  O`Neill, Cote, Fogarty, Kettle, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under eight thousand one hundred pounds (8,100 lbs.) gross weight used exclusively for personal use from sales tax.)
{LC276/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
03/03/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 37
Act 60
BY  Raptakis, Kettle, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT IN AMENDMENT OF AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE HOPKINS HILL ROAD FIRE DISTRICT
{LC331/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
02/11/2015 Committee recommends passage
02/12/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (02/25/2015)
02/25/2015 Senate read and passed
02/26/2015 Referred to House Municipal Government
03/26/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
04/03/2015 Scheduled for consideration (04/09/2015)
04/09/2015 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
04/27/2015 Placed on House Calendar (04/29/2015)
04/29/2015 House passed in concurrence
04/29/2015 Transmitted to Governor
05/07/2015 Effective without Governor's signature

Senate Bill No. 46
BY  Kettle, Ottiano, Morgan, Cote, O`Neill
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- STATE BUDGET (Provides that all legislative grants awarded by the general assembly be included in the annual state budget.)
{LC304/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Senate Bill No. 50
BY  O`Neill, Cote, Morgan, Kettle, Fogarty
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under six thousand pounds (6,000 lbs.) gross weight used exclusively for personal use from sales tax.)
{LC275/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
03/03/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Resolution No. 59
BY  Raptakis, Morgan, O`Neill, Cote, Ottiano
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE REFERENDUM ON LINE ITEM VETO
{LC77/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
04/14/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 69
BY  Raptakis, Felag, Ottiano, Pichardo, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE (Raises the amount of life insurance for which the state will reimburse the cost of premiums to a mobilized Rhode Island National Guard member from four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).)
{LC353/1}
01/13/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
04/08/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 91
BY  Kettle, Morgan, Fogarty, Sosnowski, Archambault
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - RAW MILK (Establishes procedures and standards promulgated by the milk commission for the handling and sale of raw milk in this state.)
{LC572/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture
03/04/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 98
Chapter 17
BY  Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF RICHMOND (Ratifies the amendments to the Richmond town charter passed on November 4, 2014, to the extent such ratification is needed.)
{LC636/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
02/11/2015 Committee recommends passage
02/12/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (02/25/2015)
02/25/2015 Senate read and passed
02/26/2015 Referred to House Municipal Government
02/27/2015 Scheduled for consideration (03/05/2015)
03/05/2015 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
03/26/2015 Placed on House Calendar (04/01/2015)
04/01/2015 House passed in concurrence
04/01/2015 Transmitted to Governor
04/09/2015 Effective without Governor's signature

Senate Bill No. 101
BY  Kettle, Cote, Raptakis, O`Neill, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - PERSONAL INCOME TAX-EXEMPTION FOR RETIREMENT INCOME (Exempts the first fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) of personal income from a retirement plan from taxation.)
{LC299/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Senate Bill No. 120
BY  Kettle, Cote, Morgan, Algiere, Ottiano
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT (Prohibits the use of direct cash assistance funds on electronic benefit cards for the purchase of certain items.)
{LC570/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Senate Bill No. 123
Chapter 42
BY  Morgan, Goodwin, Ottiano, Raptakis, Archambault
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE (Increases the penalties for criminal offenses involving the sex trafficking of a minor.)
{LC568/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/31/2015 Committee recommends passage
04/09/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (04/15/2015)
04/15/2015 Senate read and passed
04/16/2015 Referred to House Judiciary
04/24/2015 Scheduled for consideration (04/29/2015)
04/29/2015 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
05/01/2015 Placed on House Calendar (05/05/2015)
05/05/2015 House passed in concurrence
05/13/2015 Transmitted to Governor
05/21/2015 Signed by Governor

Senate Bill No. 125
BY  Kettle, Morgan, Gee, Cote, O`Neill
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - SELECT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE OF PUBLIC LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAMS (Establishes a select commission to investigate the failure of public loan guarantee programs and prescribes its powers and duties.)
{LC301/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Senate Bill No. 133
BY  Kettle, Morgan, Gee, Cote, O`Neill
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT (Requires retailers to examine photo identification cards to verify a buyer who presents an EBT card is the person entitled to use the card.)
{LC300/1}
01/22/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Senate Bill No. 153
BY  Kettle, Fogarty, Morgan, DiPalma
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires company providing phone, cable television or internet services to 75% of city or town to make services available to remaining 25%.)
{LC615/1}
02/05/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce
03/10/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 161
BY  Raptakis, Morgan, Kettle, Archambault, Algiere
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PAYMENTS TO FIRE COMPANIES (Requires reimbursement payments from the general fund to volunteer fire departments responding to emergencies on or along Route 95.)
{LC792/1}
02/05/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
06/02/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 170
(by request)
BY  Algiere, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT - MORATORIUM COMPREHENSIVE PERMIT APPLICATIONS - CHARLESTOWN (Grants the town of Charlestown a moratorium until June 1, 2016, during which it would not be required to entertain, receive or consider comprehensive permit applications from for-profit developers.)
{LC361/1}
02/05/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
04/29/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 179
BY  Kettle, Archambault, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - AERIAL PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT (Prohibits law enforcement from using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles without a proper warrant.)
{LC565/1}
02/05/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/24/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 188
BY  Miller, Jabour, Sosnowski, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY - THE PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES, AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS (Renames the bridge in the city of Providence known as the I-195 Providence River Bridge: No. 1181 to the William D. Warner Memorial Bridge.)
{LC380/1}
02/05/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
03/04/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Resolution No. 193
Resolution 54
BY  Nesselbush, Crowley, Coyne, Sosnowski, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH OF 2015 AS NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC871/1}
02/05/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
02/05/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Bill No. 200  SUB A
BY  Kettle, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO WEIGHTS AND MEASURES - PRODUCE SCALES IN MARKETS (Requires sealers of weights and measures appointed by the cities or towns to receive the same fees as charged by state sealers who perform the same inspecting/testing services.)
{LC998/A/1}
02/11/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce
03/12/2015 Committee recommended indefinite postponement
03/12/2015 Committee recommended Substitute A be held for further study
04/13/2015 Scheduled for consideration (04/16/2015)
04/16/2015 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
04/24/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (04/29/2015)
04/29/2015 Senate passed Sub A
04/30/2015 Referred to House Municipal Government

Senate Bill No. 201  SUB A
BY  DiPalma, Lombardi, O`Neill, Morgan, Pearson
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' TENURE -- HEARINGS (Provides that teacher dismissal cases may be heard by less than an entire school board.)
{LC1048/A/1}
02/11/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Education
03/25/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
05/28/2015 Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2015)
06/02/2015 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
06/02/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/04/2015)
06/04/2015 Senate passed Sub A
06/13/2015 Placed on House Calendar (06/17/2015)
06/17/2015 House passed Sub A in concurrence
06/17/2015 Transmitted to Governor

Senate Bill No. 216
BY  Sosnowski, Kettle, Morgan, Pichardo, Crowley
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - SALES TAX (Eliminates the sales tax on taxi services.)
{LC662/1}
02/11/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
04/07/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 331
BY  Picard, Jabour, Goodwin, Morgan, Ruggerio
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - THE NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS ACT OF 2015 (Establishes procedures for the licensing of naturopathic physicians, and defines the practice of naturopathic medicine.)
{LC1386/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services
03/24/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 332
(by request)
BY  Morgan, Algiere
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES (Requires consent by a municipality of any land acquisition therein by the water resources board.)
{LC888/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

Senate Bill No. 336
BY  Kettle, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (Requires that before a person can be remanded by the RI family court for out-of-state residential placement or treatment, they will first be assessed by the DCYF or the department of corrections and found to be a security risk.)
{LC788/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/24/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/25/2015 Meeting postponed (03/26/2015)

Senate Bill No. 338
BY  Kettle, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - CRIMINAL TRANSMISSION OF HIV (Creates a criminal offense for knowingly transmitting HIV to another person.)
{LC1173/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Senate Bill No. 339
BY  Kettle, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES (Guarantees the constitutional, personal property, and civil rights of every child placed or treated under the supervision of the department of children, youth, and families in any public or private facility.)
{LC789/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/24/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/25/2015 Meeting postponed (03/26/2015)

Senate Bill No. 340
BY  Morgan, Kettle, Algiere, Ottiano
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Amends the statute relating to compliance with the open meetings law by referring to electronic filing rather than newspaper publication.)
{LC567/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
04/30/2015 Committee heard

Senate Resolution No. 341
BY  Morgan, Kettle, Gee, Raptakis
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS--A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL OFFICERS' ELECTION) (This proposed amendment to the state constitution, if approved, would require that all winning candidates for election to general office and to the general assembly, receive a majority of the votes cast.)
{LC760/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

Senate Bill No. 342
BY  Morgan, Goodwin, Kettle, Nesselbush, Ottiano
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY -- PANDERING (Would expand the definition of pandering to include the person in control of the premises where prostitution occurs.)
{LC566/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
02/26/2015 Committee recommends passage
04/09/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (04/14/2015)
04/14/2015 Senate read and passed
04/15/2015 Referred to House Judiciary

Senate Bill No. 344
BY  Raptakis, Kettle, Morgan, Ottiano, Nesselbush
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION (Includes persons who have been convicted of murder as defined in § 11-23-1 within the class of persons which would be subject to the sexual offender registration and community notification provisions of the general laws.)
{LC325/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
02/26/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 345
BY  Raptakis, Goodwin, Morgan, Nesselbush, Archambault
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS (Excludes information pertaining to an alleged victim of domestic violence from the definition of public records.)
{LC794/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/17/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 352
BY  McCaffrey, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION - DRILLING OF DRINKING WATER WELLS (Adds pump installers, and/or water filtration/treatment system contractors to the regulations relating to the drilling of drinking water wells.)
{LC929/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Labor
03/02/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/03/2015 Meeting postponed (03/04/2015)
03/25/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 353
BY  McCaffrey, Morgan, Sheehan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - RHODE ISLAND WELL DRILLING CONTRACTORS LICENSING LAW (Gives the contractor's registration and licensing board jurisdiction over pump installers, and/or water filtration/treatment system contractors.)
{LC928/1}
02/12/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Labor
03/02/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
03/03/2015 Meeting postponed (03/04/2015)
03/25/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Resolution No. 360
Resolution 75
BY  Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE KENNEY FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF FREDERICK S. KENNEY
{LC1130/1}
02/12/2015 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (02/24/2015)
02/24/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Bill No. 380
BY  Walaska, Morgan, Ruggerio
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - GENERATION - TRANSPORTATION - STORAGE - TREATMENT - MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE (Requires hospitals and pharmacies to provide sharps containers for public use.)
{LC1542/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services
03/26/2015 Withdrawn at sponsor's request

Senate Bill No. 388
Chapter 25
BY  Morgan, Kettle
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- POLL OPENING TIMES (Removes the exemption that the town of Richmond had received, which allowed its polls to open at 9 a.m., rather than 7 a.m., for special and primary elections.)
{LC1551/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/19/2015 Committee recommends passage
03/25/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (03/31/2015)
03/31/2015 Senate read and passed
04/01/2015 Referred to House Judiciary
04/10/2015 Scheduled for consideration (04/14/2015)
04/14/2015 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
04/28/2015 Placed on House Calendar (04/30/2015)
04/30/2015 House passed in concurrence
04/30/2015 Transmitted to Governor
05/07/2015 Signed by Governor

Senate Bill No. 407
(by request)
BY  Algiere, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RESIDENTIAL MINING SAFETY (Directs the department of environmental management and the state fire marshal to regulate mining and blasting near residential areas and schools.)
{LC359/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture
05/20/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 413
BY  Kettle, Ottiano, Algiere, Gee, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- ABLE ACCOUNTS (Establishes private savings (ABLE) account for qualifying disabled persons wherein monies grow tax free and used for qualifying expenses per Section 529A of Internal Revenue Service Code.)
{LC1466/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Senate Bill No. 425
(by request)
BY  Algiere, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS (Authorizes the town of Charlestown to regulate excavation and extraction activity within the town.)
{LC1860/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
04/08/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Resolution No. 436
BY  Morgan, Kettle, Gee, Lombardi, O`Neill
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS--A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MAJORITY VOTE REQUIREMENT THROUGH INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING FOR GENERAL OFFICERS' ELECTION) (Proposed constitutional amendment that would require all winning candidates for general office and general assembly elections receive a majority of the votes, with an instant runoff voting system if no initial majority of votes is received.)
{LC1620/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
04/14/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 438
BY  Morgan, Kettle, Gee, Lombardi, Raptakis
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT -- DRUG TESTING (This act would authorize random drug screening as a condition for continued public assistance, and would provide a mechanism for re-testing those who fail the test.)
{LC1685/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Senate Bill No. 439
BY  Morgan, Kettle, Algiere, Raptakis, Nesselbush
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT (Increases the assessment collected from persons convicted of or placed on probation for domestic violence from one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) to two hundred twenty-five ($225) dollars.)
{LC1460/1}
02/25/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/17/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Bill No. 621  SUB A
BY  Algiere, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - AIR POLLUTION (Regulates the blasting, creation, and storage of stone dust.)
{LC2037/A/1}
03/05/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
04/08/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
06/05/2015 Scheduled for consideration (06/10/2015)
06/10/2015 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
06/11/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/17/2015)
06/17/2015 Senate passed Sub A
06/18/2015 Referred to House Municipal Government

Senate Bill No. 650
BY  Goodwin, Nesselbush, Crowley, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT (Establishes a domestic violence prevention fund which would financed by an additional fee on marriage licenses and would have as its primary purpose, the prevention of domestic and dating violence.)
{LC1207/1}
03/11/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/17/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
06/09/2015 Scheduled for consideration (06/11/2015)
06/11/2015 Committee recommends passage
06/16/2015 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/18/2015)
06/18/2015 Senate read and passed
06/19/2015 Referred to House Judiciary

Senate Bill No. 665
Act 64
BY  Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows Frank Bellistri to join Ashley Lynn Choquette and Kevin James Wright in marriage on or about June 20, 2015, within the Town of Richmond, Rhode Island.)
{LC2051/1}
03/11/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
03/31/2015 Committee recommends passage
04/09/2015 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (04/14/2015)
04/14/2015 Senate read and passed
04/15/2015 Referred to House Judiciary
04/29/2015 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
05/01/2015 Placed on the House Consent Calendar (05/05/2015)
05/05/2015 House passed in concurrence
05/05/2015 Transmitted to Governor
05/13/2015 Effective without Governor's signature

Senate Resolution No. 686
Resolution 126
BY  Algiere, Paiva Weed, Morgan, Conley, Lombardi
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF HENRY A. WALSH, JR.
{LC2212/1}
03/17/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
03/17/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 729
Resolution 144
BY  Nesselbush, Gallo, Morgan, Cote, Lynch
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 2-8, 2015, AS NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2208/1}
03/19/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
03/19/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 778
Resolution 184
BY  Goodwin, Gee, Morgan, Coyne, Metts
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF FRANCIS HENRY SMITH
{LC2326/1}
04/01/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
04/01/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 873
Resolution 243
BY  Morgan, Kettle, Paiva Weed, Lombardi, Sosnowski
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF WILLIAM J.G. LAWTON, JR.
{LC2589/1}
04/30/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
04/30/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 877
Resolution 249
BY  Picard, Paiva Weed, Lombardi, Satchell, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 6, 2015, TO BE "MANUFACTURING DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2413/1}
05/06/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/06/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 878
Resolution 250
BY  Raptakis, Paiva Weed, Lombardi, Satchell, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING EIGHT YEAR OLD JEANNETTE FINCH OF COVENTRY, RHODE ISLAND, ON BEING NAMED THE 2015 CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS RHODE ISLAND CHAMPION
{LC2628/1}
05/06/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/06/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 890
Resolution 261
BY  Goodwin, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, Nesselbush, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2015, TO BE "BRAIN TUMOR AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2559/1}
05/07/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/07/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 891
Resolution 260
BY  DiPalma, Algiere, Morgan, Walaska, Jabour
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 7, 2015, AS "RHODE ISLAND HOME CARE AND HOSPICE DAY"
{LC2558/1}
05/07/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/07/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Bill No. 894
(by request)
BY  Algiere, Morgan
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT (Increases the town of Charlestown's share of the hotel tax revenue generated by hotels located in the town of Charlestown from twenty-five percent (25%) to thirty-two percent (32%).)
{LC2640/1}
05/07/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Senate Bill No. 895
BY  Coyne, Conley, Nesselbush, Morgan, Goldin
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Requires health care insurance policies/benefit plans to include a step therapy protocol for policies/plans delivered, issued and renewed effective January 1, 2016.)
{LC2579/1}
05/07/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services
05/14/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
05/29/2015 Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2015)
06/02/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Senate Resolution No. 900
Resolution 275
BY  Archambault, DiPalma, Coyne, Lombardi, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY, 2015, TO BE "TICK BORNE DISEASE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2528/1}
05/12/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/12/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 907
Resolution 289
BY  Goldin, Paiva Weed, Algiere, Morgan, Gallo
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JAY S. GOODMAN, PH.D., J.D.
{LC2645/1}
05/13/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/13/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 910
Resolution 271
BY  Kettle, Raptakis, Morgan, Metts, Archambault
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF BRUCE REYNOLDS CAPWELL, SR.
{LC2703/1}
05/14/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/14/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 912
Resolution 272
BY  Pichardo, Metts, Archambault, Morgan, Algiere
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 15TH, 2015, TO BE "LUPUS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2712/1}
05/14/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/14/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 934
Resolution 305
BY  Coyne, Lombardi, Morgan, Ottiano, Archambault
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MAY 2015 AS, "CYSTIC FIBROSIS AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
{LC2705/1}
05/19/2015 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (05/20/2015)
05/20/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 936
Resolution 307
BY  Kettle, Raptakis, Lombardi, Algiere, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE LEFEBVRE FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF GUY L. LEFEBVRE
{LC2728/1}
05/20/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/20/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 951
Resolution 336
BY  Algiere, Morgan, Walaska, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RONALD KENNEDY
{LC2769/1}
05/28/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
05/28/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 981
Resolution 385
BY  Kettle, Raptakis, Morgan
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE MARCOTTE FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF ROBERT J. MARCOTTE
{LC2857/1}
06/09/2015 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2015)
06/10/2015 Senate read and passed

Senate Resolution No. 1001
Resolution 397
BY  Gee, Kettle, Algiere, Morgan, Ottiano
ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING EAST GREENWICH PATROLMAN MATTHEW C. WHITE ON BEING AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR BRAVERY FOR SAVING A LIFE
{LC2894/1}
06/18/2015 Recommended for Immediate Consideration
06/18/2015 Senate read and passed

Total Bills: 67