State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations JOURNAL -OF THE- HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY SESSION of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the third day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and seventeen. Volume 144, No. 29 Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Twenty-ninth Day The House of Representatives meets at the State House in Providence, Wednesday, March 22, 2017 and is called to order at 4:22 o clock P.M., by the Honorable Nicholas A. Mattiello, Speaker. The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 73 members present and 2 members absent as follows: PRESENT 73 The Honorable Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Abney, Ackerman, Ajello, Almeida, Amore, Azzinaro, Barros, Bennett, Blazejewski, Canario, Carson, Casey, Casimiro, Chippendale, Corvese, Costantino, Coughlin, Craven, Diaz, Donovan, Edwards, Fellela, Filippi, Fogarty, Giarrusso, Handy, Hearn, Hull, Jacquard, Johnston, Kazarian, Keable, Kennedy, Knight, Lancia, Lima, Lombardi, Maldonado, Marshall, Marszalkowski, McEntee, McKiernan, McLaughlin, McNamara, Mendonca, Messier, Morgan, Morin, Nardolillo, Newberry, Nunes, O Brien, O'Grady, Perez, Phillips, Price, Ranglin-Vassell, Regunberg, Roberts, Ruggiero, Serpa, Shanley, Shekarchi, Slater, Solomon, Tanzi, Tobon, Ucci, Vella- Wilkinson, Walsh, Williams, Winfield ABSENT 2: Representatives Cunha, Quattrocchi. INVOCATION The Honorable Speaker presents Representative Kazarian who delivers the Invocation and leads the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. (For Invocation, see Appendix, this Journal.) NOW PRESIDING At 4:24 o clock P.M. the Honorable Speaker Mattiello yields the rostrum to the Honorable Deputy Speaker Lima.
H.J. -- 2 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017
H.J. -- 3 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 APPROVAL OF RECORD By unanimous consent, the House Journal of Tuesday, March 21, 2017 is approved. NEW BUSINESS House Bill No. 5964 BY O'Brien, Johnston, Solomon, Almeida, McKiernan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES-RETAIL LICENSES (Permits retail Class A alcohol license holders, wholesalers, and suppliers to provide liquor, malt beverages, wine and other alcoholic beverages at tastings to be conducted on premises.) {LC2123/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Corporations House Bill No. 5965 BY Keable, Newberry ENTITLED, AN ACT ENABLING THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF BURRILLVILLE TO EXEMPT CERTAIN PROPERTY FROM TAXATION (Reduces to three (3) years the residency requirement for the town of Burrillville's partial real estate tax exemption for the elderly.) {LC2157/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government House Bill No. 5966 BY Chippendale, Keable, Winfield ENTITLED, AN ACT IN AMENDMENT TO AN ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE WEST GLOCESTER FIRE DISTRICT" (Amends the charter of the West Glocester Fire District.) {LC2135/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government House Bill No. 5967 BY Almeida, Williams, Diaz ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION (Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Oasis International, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode Island.) {LC2217/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government House Bill No. 5968 BY Solomon, Shanley, Phillips ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES (Allows Alexandra Burke Thomas to join Lauren Victoria Thomas and Max Stephan Charness in marriage on or about August 26, 2017, within the City of Warwick, Rhode Island.) {LC2200/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
H.J. -- 4 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 House Bill No. 5969 BY Knight, Marshall ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS -- WARREN MUNICIPAL HOUSING COURT (Authorizes the town council of the town of Warren to create a municipal housing court and defines that court's jurisdiction.) {LC2216/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary House Bill No. 5970 (Board of Elections) BY Tobon, Cunha, Barros, Blazejewski, Johnston ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- TABULATION AND CERTIFICATION OF RETURNS BY STATE BOARD (Requires the board of elections to report all votes received by write-in candidates.) {LC2125/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary House Bill No. 5971 BY Tobon, Cunha, Barros, Blazejewski, Johnston ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ELECTRONIC VEHICLE RECOVERY SERVICES (Creates the "Electronic Vehicle Recovery Services Act" to require vehicle owners with electronic recovery systems to submit an affidavit attesting to the theft of their motor vehicle prior to law enforcement contacting the recovery service provider.) {LC2136/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary House Bill No. 5972 BY O'Brien, Johnston, Solomon, Almeida, McKiernan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - HEALTH CARE FACILITIES STAFFING (Broadens definition of "employee" to include assistants/technologists providing direct medical care to patients and allows union/association to file appeal to personnel appeal board.) {LC2168/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Labor House Bill No. 5973 BY McKiernan, Almeida, Johnston, Keable, Lombardi ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS - FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION (Allows unionized firefighters to enter into an agreement which continues all contractual provisions contained in an expiring contract until a successor agreement has been reached.) {LC2227/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Labor House Bill No. 5974 BY Craven, Casimiro ENTITLED, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE NORTH KINGSTOWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A POLICY ON EARLY ENTRY TO KINDERGARTEN (Allows the North Kingstown school committee to develop a policy allowing for early entry to kindergarten.) {LC2231/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.
H.J. -- 5 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 House Bill No. 5975 (Dept. of Health) BY Ackerman, Casimiro, Marszalkowski, Edwards, Donovan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT -- ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (Amends the statute governing prescriptions of controlled substances by making reference to regulations issued by the department of health.) {LC1739/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W. House Bill No. 5976 BY Tobon, Cunha, Barros, Maldonado ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION - ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Establishes district-charter compacts between charter schools and traditional public schools and would establish a compact fund to be supported by appropriations from the general assembly as well as grants, gifts and bequests.) {LC2138/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Finance House Bill No. 5977 BY Keable, Newberry ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - BURRILLVILLE PROPERTY TAX {LC2247/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Finance House Bill No. 5978 BY Tobon, Barros, Johnston, Diaz, Maldonado ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - RAILROAD PRESERVATION (Suspends any payments due to MBTA or its operating subcontractor for so long as either is in default on the South County operating agreement.) {LC2139/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Finance House Bill No. 5979 BY Tobon, Cunha, Barros, Shanley, Johnston ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - RHODE ISLAND SALES AND USE TAX REIMBURSEMENT ACT (Provides that in the event sales and use tax revenue exceeds projections, then in such event the tax administrator would reduce the sales tax rate by one percent (1%) until the end of the fiscal year.) {LC2137/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Finance House Bill No. 5980 BY Marszalkowski, Ackerman, O`Grady, McLaughlin ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION - EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT (Provides that the state would pay the local share or contribution of charter public school tuition for the number of students attending the charter public schools in excess of five percent (5%) of the average daily membership of all pupils.) {LC2078/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Finance (For Co-sponsorship removal request, see page 2 of this Journal)
H.J. -- 6 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 House Bill No. 5981 BY Marszalkowski, Shanley, Corvese, Phillips ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION - PERSONAL INCOME TAX (Increases the exemptions for taxable retirement income to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). This increased exemption would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.) {LC2077/1} 03/22/2017 Introduced, referred to House Finance From the Calendar are taken: CALENDAR IN ORDER FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017: 1. 2017-H 5218 BY Serpa ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE - INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE Committee on Corporations recommends passage. Chairman Jacquard moves passage of the act, seconded by Leader Shekarchi, Representatives Carson, Ackerman, Ajello, Walsh, Serpa, Fellela, Almeida, Ruggiero, McKiernan, Ucci, Fogarty, McNamara, Hull McLaughlin, Corvese, Diaz, Edwards, Casey, Shanley, Maldonado, Vella-Wilkinson, Regunberg, Donovan, Amore, O Brien, Lombardi, and Costantino. Read and passed, on a roll call vote, 72 members voting in the affirmative and 0 members voting in the negative as follows: YEAS - 72: The Honorable Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Abney, Ackerman, Ajello, Almeida, Amore, Azzinaro, Barros, Bennett, Blazejewski, Canario, Carson, Casey, Casimiro, Chippendale, Corvese, Costantino, Coughlin, Craven, Diaz, Donovan, Edwards, Fellela, Filippi, Fogarty, Giarrusso, Handy, Hearn, Hull, Jacquard, Johnston, Kazarian, Keable, Kennedy, Knight, Lancia, Lima, Lombardi, Maldonado, Marszalkowski, McEntee, McKiernan, McLaughlin, McNamara, Mendonca, Messier, Morgan, Morin, Nardolillo, Newberry, Nunes, O'Brien, O'Grady, Perez, Phillips, Price, Ranglin-Vassell, Regunberg, Roberts, Ruggiero, Serpa, Shanley, Shekarchi, Slater, Solomon, Tanzi, Tobon, Ucci, Vella-Wilkinson, Walsh, Williams, Winfield. NAYS - 0: RECUSED - 0:
H.J. -- 7 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 2. 2017-H 5540 BY Marszalkowski ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS Committee on Environment and Natural Resources recommends passage. Chairman Handy moves passage of the act, seconded by Leader Shekarchi, Representatives Marszalkowski, Vella-Wilkinson, McEntee, Ackerman, Barros, Kazarian, Bennett and Craven. Representative Chippendale discusses the act. Read and passed, on a roll call vote, 63 members voting in the affirmative and 6 members voting in the negative as follows: YEAS - 63: The Honorable Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Abney, Ackerman, Ajello, Almeida, Amore, Azzinaro, Barros, Bennett, Blazejewski, Canario, Carson, Casey, Casimiro, Corvese, Coughlin, Craven, Diaz, Donovan, Fellela, Fogarty, Handy, Hearn, Hull, Jacquard, Johnston, Kazarian, Keable, Kennedy, Knight, Lancia, Lima, Lombardi, Maldonado, Marszalkowski, McEntee, McKiernan, McNamara, Messier, Morgan, Morin, Nardolillo, Newberry, Nunes, O'Brien, O'Grady, Perez, Phillips, Ranglin-Vassell, Regunberg, Ruggiero, Serpa, Shanley, Shekarchi, Slater, Solomon, Tanzi, Tobon, Ucci, Vella-Wilkinson, Walsh, Williams, Winfield. NAYS - 6: Representatives Chippendale, Filippi, Giarrusso, Mendonca, Price, Roberts. RECUSED - 0: 3. 2017-H 5613 BY Nunes ENTITLED, AN ACT TO VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF FORTNEY & WEYGANDT, INC. Committee on Corporations recommends passage. Chairman Jacquard moves passage of the act, seconded by Representative Nunes. Read and passed, on a roll call vote, 70 members voting in the affirmative and 0 members voting in the negative as follows: YEAS - 70: The Honorable Speaker Mattiello and Representatives Abney, Ackerman, Ajello, Almeida, Amore, Azzinaro, Barros, Bennett, Blazejewski, Canario, Carson, Casey, Casimiro, Chippendale, Corvese, Coughlin, Craven, Diaz, Donovan, Edwards, Fellela, Filippi, Fogarty, Giarrusso, Handy, Hearn, Hull, Jacquard, Johnston, Kazarian, Keable, Kennedy, Knight, Lancia, Lima, Lombardi, Maldonado, Marszalkowski, McEntee, McKiernan, McLaughlin, McNamara, Mendonca, Messier, Morgan, Morin, Newberry, Nunes, O'Brien, O'Grady, Perez, Phillips, Price,
H.J. -- 8 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Ranglin-Vassell, Regunberg, Roberts, Ruggiero, Serpa, Shanley, Shekarchi, Slater, Solomon, Tanzi, Tobon, Ucci, Vella-Wilkinson, Walsh, Williams, Winfield. NAYS - 0: RECUSED - 0: NEW BUSINESS House Resolution No. 5982 BY Price, Newberry, Chippendale, Mendonca, Roberts ENTITLED, HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MARCH TO BE "MAPLE SYRUP MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND {LC2257/1} With the agreement of the majority and the minority, Representative Price requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration. There is no objection. Read and passed, on a motion of Representative Price seconded by Representatives Newberry, Chippendale, Mendonca, Roberts, Giarrusso and Edwards by unanimous consent, on a voice vote. GUESTS Representative Price welcomes to the House as guests Kyle Soltys, Shane Cha, Katherine Cabrera-Sencion, Gregory Stephens, Arianna Angilly, and Matthew Lennon from Pro-Start, high school winners for their achievement in the Hospitality Field. ANNOUNCEMENTS Representative Craven introduces Jack Troiano, a legislative intern in law revision at the Statehouse. Chairman Azzinaro announces that the Committee on Veterans Affairs will meet at the rise of the House, in Room 135 of the State House. Chairman Jacquard announces that the Committee on Corporations will meet at the rise of the House, in Room 203 of the State House. Chairman Abney announces that the Committee on Finance will meet at the rise of the House, in Room 35 of the State House.
H.J. -- 9 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 RULE 7D The following bill was received pursuant to Rule 7D: Representative Nardolillo-An Act relating to Taxation ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Chairwoman Ackerman announces that the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare will meet at the rise of the House, in Room 101 of the State House. Representative Blazejewski congratulates Leader Shekarchi on receiving the National Excellence in Advocacy Award, from the National Council for Behavioral Health. RULE 7D The following bills were received pursuant to Rule 7D: Representative Johnston-An Act relating to Criminal Offenses-Crimes Against the Public Trust Representative Vella-Wilkinson-An Act relating to Elections and Primary Elections GUEST Representative Maldonado welcomes to the House Chamber Joseph Molina Flynn, who focuses on serving primarily as a Latino immigrant s attorney. RULE 7D The following bill was received pursuant to Rule 7D: Representative Barros-An Act relating to Immigration
H.J. -- 10 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 GUESTS Representative Casimiro welcomes to the House Chamber as guests Samantha Ronci, a 7 th grade student at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown who wrote a letter to the Governor about why she wanted to be Governor For A Day and her essay went viral. Representative Casimiro made her an Honorary Representative for a Day. Samantha is accompanied by her parents, Kara and William Ronci and her sister, Danielle. Deputy Speaker Lima congratulates Samantha. RULE 7D The following bills were received pursuant to Rule 7D: Representative Canario-An Act relating to Reporting of Political Contributions by State Vendors Representative Marszalkowski-An Act relating to Financial Institutions Representative Craven -An Act relating to Labor and Labor Relations An Act relating to Corporations Representative Price-An Act relating to Health and Safety-Engineering Act of 2017 GUEST At 4:51 o clock P.M. the Honorable Deputy Speaker yields the rostrum to Samantha Ronci. By unanimous consent, Samantha addresses the members of the House. At 4:52 o clock P.M. the Honorable Deputy Speaker returns to the rostrum. TRANSMITTAL By unanimous consent, all matters on the clerk s desk are ordered to be transmitted to His Excellency, the Governor, to the Honorable Secretary of State, and the Honorable Senate forthwith. ADJOURNMENT At 4:53 o clock P.M. on motion of Representative Fellela, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Josephine DiBiasio; on motion of Representatives Morgan and Serpa as a further mark of respect to the memory of Dr. Paul E. Barber, Sr., MD; on motion of Representative Azzinaro, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Pasquale Castagna; on motion of
H.J. -- 11 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Representative Casey and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Joseph Toscano; on motion of Representative Filippi and as a further mark of respect to the memory of the victims of the British attack seconded by Leader Shekarchi and Senior Deputy Minority Leader Giarrusso the House adjourns, on a unanimous rising vote. Linda M. McElroy Recording Clerk
H.J. -- 12 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 APPENDIX INVOCATION REPRESENTATIVE KATHERINE S. KAZARIAN Dear Lord, bestow your blessings on all assembled in this chamber. Help us to always bear in mind that the people who elected us to serve them have placed their trust in us. May we serve them well in the ways in which you have taught us. Amen
H.J. -- 13 JOURNAL Wednesday, March 22, 2017 APPENDIX CALENDAR IN ORDER FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017: 1. 2017-H 5412 BY Edwards ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - SPARE TIRE OR EQUIVALENT Committee on Corporations recommends passage. 2. 2017-H 5612 BY Quattrocchi ENTITLED, AN ACT TO VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF SCITUATE-FOSTER LITTLE LEAGUE Committee on Corporations recommends passage. 3. 2017-H 5351 BY Bennett ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS RESIDENCY Committee on Municipal Government recommends passage. Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Francis McCabe Clerk of the House