Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Some of the highlights:

Saltwater fishing licenses

The Senate passed a bill creating a recreational saltwater fishing license and making it illegal -- starting January 1 -- to fish in marine waters without one. The House has already passed the bill.

The license will cost $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents. A seven-day license would cost $5.

The saltwater license fulfills federal requirements that states collect more accurate information about how many fish recreational anglers kill; the data collection is intended to help federal authorities craft more effective regulations.

It would affect all tidal and territorial waters out to three nautical miles from the coastline, including all state waters surrounding Block Island.

The measure exempts people under age 16, permanently disabled or blind people, soldiers on leave from active military duty, and passengers on licensed party or charter boats. Anglers older than 65 will be required to have a license, but there will be no fee.

Licenses will be available at traditional sources, including town clerks and tackle shops. They will also be available online.

Funds collected from the license will be used to administer the program and improve recreational fishing data, education, and enforcement.

Central Falls public schools need $5 million in repairs

The state-run Central Falls school district received approval from the Senate to borrow $5 million to complete school repairs. The work, which is not specified in the legislation, does not require voter approval because they are emergency repairs.

State Sen. Elizabeth A. Crowley , D-Central Falls, said that unless the repairs are made, five of the district's six schools won't be ready to open in September.

The school district will take out a zero-interest loan made available through the federal stimulus plan. The building projects will also qualify for reimbursement from the state.

The bill must be also passed by the House, where it is currently before the House Finance Committee.

Confidentiality for domestic violence victims extends to families

The Senate passed a bill that would allow individuals who live in the same household as a victim of domestic violence to remove their addresses from voting records.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin, D-Providence, was passed by the House in May.

The bill would allow adults who are victims of domestic violence and members of their households to apply to the Secretary of State to have their addresses withheld from voting records, which are public documents.

Expanded health insurance coverage for quitting smoking

The Senate passed a bill to require health insurance companies to provide coverage for smoking cessation programs. The bill would amend an existing law that requires health insurance coverage for nicotine patches.

The new measure would require, beginning in 2010, health insurance coverage for all "FDA-approved smoking cessation medications."

According to bill sponsor Sen. Rhoda E. Perry , D-Providence, the law would now provide coverage of medical treatments, prescriptions, and therapies that were not covered under the previous mandate.

The bill still must be approved by the House, where it is currently pending before the Corporations Committee.

School districts to seek group rates for insurance

The Senate approved legislation allowing school districts and charter schools to form insurance-purchasing collaboratives or joint purchasing groups to buy health, dental, and vision insurance for their employees at a lower cost.

A companion bill is pending before the House Corporations Committee.

Increased penalties for underage drinking

The Senate passed a bill creating stiffer penalties for underage drinking.

Under the measure, minors caught with alcohol would have their licenses suspended for up to three months and be required to perform 30 to 40 hours of community service. A second offender would face a 30 to 90 day license suspension and up to 40 hours of community service. Third-time offenders would face losing their driving privileges for up to one year and have to perform 50 hours of community service.

A separate bill would increase the fines for selling or providing alcoholic beverages to minors, or allowing someone under the age of eighteen to serve alcoholic beverages. The fines would be $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for third and subsequent offenses.

Companion bills are pending before the House Judiciary Committee.

Tax credit for residential solar heating systems expanded

The Senate passed measure to expand the number of solar domestic hot water heaters eligible under the state's Residential Renewable Energy System Tax Credit program.

Under the bill, residents who purchase a solar capacity domestic hot water heater with a minimum collector area of 34 sq. ft. would be eligible for a tax credit worth 25 percent of the value of the heater, with a cost of the heater capped at $7,000.

Existing law grants the tax credit to solar water heaters of 60 sq. ft. The law still also provides credits for photovoltaic, wind, and geothermal energy systems.

The bill has been referred to the House.

Tax credit offered for nurses who become university-level teachers

In an effort to address a shortage of faculty at nursing schools, Senate passed a bill that would a tax credit to encourage more nurses to become teachers.

Under the measure, nurses employed as full-time nurse faculty in a Rhode Island college or university can obtain a $3,500 credit on their personal income tax.

The faculty shortage at Rhode Island nursing schools limits the number of enrollees a school can accept and comes at a time when the demand for a sufficient nursing workforce is high, according to the bill's backers.

A companion bill is pending before the House Finance Committee.

Money for public art reduced

The Senate approved a measure to reduce the amount of money state building projects must dedicate toward public art. The current law requires that 1 percent of construction budgets be devoted to public art, such as sculpture, paintings or other installations.

Under the Senate bill, state projects would be required to allocate 0.75 percent of their budget to public art, and future art projects would be vetted and approved by a committee overseen by the state Council on the Arts.

A similar bill is pending before the Finance Committee.

Combating copper theft

The Senate passed a bill requiring metals recyclers to be licensed by the state Attorney General's Office.

The Copper Theft Prevention Act would require recyclers, salvage yards, and second hand dealers to pay for a $70 license and file regular reports documenting whom they are buying their metals from and that the metals were not stolen or otherwise obtained illegally.

Senator Crowley said that she submitted the bill in order to deal with a growing criminal enterprise in Central Falls, where vandals are breaking into vacant and abandoned homes and stripping them of copper piping in order to sell to recyclers.

A similar bill is pending before the House Judiciary Committee.