Rhode Island

CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- PAROLE - Requires one elector of the parole board to be a person directly impacted by the criminal justice system who has completed the probation/parole process three (3) or more years prior to selection with a professional background in certain enumerated areas.

THE ROGER WILLIAMS PARK ZOO -- 2026 BOND REFERENDA - Authorizes the State of Rhode Island to issue up to eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to support the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- STATE CRIME LABORATORY COMMISSION - Increases number of members of state crime laboratory commission to 9, changes makeup of commission to include individuals with expertise in law enforcement, criminal defense, scientific research, makes chair of department of physics executive secretary.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998 - Allows the town of Tiverton to receive a one-half (1/2) credit for affordable housing units for manufactured homes in age restricted communities in conformance with all zoning laws and/or ordinances of the town.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- BURGLARY AND BREAKING AND ENTERING - Provides a rebuttable defense if a person dies or sustains a personal injury while committing any violent criminal offense of a person.

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS - Allows members of the retirement system who served in the national guard or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of service in the National guard or reserves.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- HAZING - Enlarges definitions of prohibited acts that constitute hazing, make principals, coaches, athletic directors and others responsible for knowingly failing to take reasonable measures to prevent hazing and punishes serious injury.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- JAILS AND PRISONS - Prohibits individuals from conveying items to or from the training school for youth without prior consent by the executive director of the division of youth development at the department of children, youth and families.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD - Provides a definition for "Zero-emission resource" includes nuclear energy resources and large-scale hydro electric facilities and provides that such resources may be used to meet certain clean energy compliance requirements.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST - Designates certain program workers and shift coordinators at the training school as peace officers while on duty.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - Prohibits the state from seeking reimbursement for expenditures made on behalf of disabled Rhode Islanders from an ABLE account after the death of the designated beneficiary.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISORDERLY CONDUCT - Prohibits individual who operates a recreational vehicle in a reckless or negligent manner which hinders the movement of other vehicles with a group of 2 more vehicles be guilty of felony, punishable by imprisonment up to 2.5 years and fine up to $2,000.

CRIMINALS -- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS -- PAROLE - Provides that prisoners who committed offenses prior to age 18 and were sentenced as adults be eligible for parole after completing 15 yrs of their sentence. Would not lengthen parole eligibility should prisoner be eligible for parole earlier than 15 yrs.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING - Allows the town of Tiverton, with an aggregate of 500 or more units proposed in a comprehensive permit project, to enact a short-term emergency moratorium until the permit laws are amended.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND REFLECTORS - Allows vehicles owned and operated by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc and/or its affiliates or subsidiaries to operate with forward facing red and white emergency lights.

TAXATION -- REAL ESTATE CONVEYANCE TAX - Allows a municipality to set its own conveyance tax rate for residential properties sold in excess of $900,000.00 at $10 per $500. Provides collected taxes to be in a restricted account and distributed within 2 years for affordable housing.

TAXATION -- CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEM PRODUCTS - Includes menthol as a flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system product.