Rhode Island

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS ACT - Requires that the electric distribution company and the commission promulgate tariffs to address interconnection of energy storage systems and to provide compensation for at least 100 mega watts of energy storage systems sited in the state.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND MONITORING OF CHILD DAYCARE PROVIDERS - Amends the law so that child daycare providers would be required to renew their licenses every two (2) years, instead of the current yearly renewal requirement.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY - Ensures that the State of Rhode Island adopt the protections afforded under the Occupational Safety and Health Act if its scope or enforcement capacity is diminished.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- HEALTHY AND SAFE FAMILIES AND WORKPLACES ACT - Requires employers to provide full-time employees four (4) hours of paid leave once a year to donate blood through and any approved blood donation program.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Requires the state, and private insurers that cover prescription hormone therapy, to dispense twelve (12) months’ worth of the prescription as a single prescription.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS -- EARLY INTERVENTION EXTENSION -- BRIDGE TO PRESCHOOL - Permits extended early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities whose third birthday is between May 1 and August 31.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- ELECTRICIANS - Transfers authority over the examination and licensing of telecommunications professionals to the state board of examiners of electricians and amends the composition of that body to require the inclusion of a telecommunications professional.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT - Prescriptions for testosterone not allowed to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and removes from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES -- THE POWERS AND SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES - Expands the DCYF powers by overseeing and administer comprehensive behavioral health services for children with serious emotional disturbances and children with developmental or functional disabilities.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- SANITATION IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS - Adds pickles and relish to those foods not requiring refrigeration which are permitted to be manufactured and sold as a farm home food product.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MECHANICAL TRADES - Requires that locksmiths in Rhode Island must be licensed and have passed a criminal background check.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Require that routine childhood and adult immunization vaccine recommendations that are developed from evidence based, medically sound scientific research by the department of health.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE EXTREME TEMPERATURE WORKER PROTECTION ACT - Requires employers to protect workers from extreme heat and cold by implementing safety plans, providing paid rest breaks, shade or warmth, drinking water, and protective equipment, ensuring training, and recordkeeping.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- HEALTHY KIDS ACT - Establishes the Healthy Kids Act whereby restaurants would be required to offer at least two (2) healthy versions of children's meals, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the children's meals on its menu, whichever is greater.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- THE RHODE ISLAND OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP ACT - Establishes an opportunity for employee ownership where the owner notifies all current full-time and part-time employees and provides them with a 30-day window in which to initiate a process to potentially purchase the business as a workers' cooperative.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- MILK SANITATION CODE -- SANITATION IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS - Permits and legalize the sale of raw milk.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PLUMBERS, IRRIGATORS, AND WATER SYSTEM INSTALLERS - Grants hourly credit of 288 hours against 576 hours if graduate of accredited trade school/raises to 4 years of work under master plumber and requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 5 years of registration with DLT.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Requires the department of health to implement a tobacco control program that incorporates evidence-based best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation to prevent tobacco-related diseases and diminish tobacco use in the state.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION -- PROCEDURE - Amends the workers' compensation reimbursement provisions related to the liability of third person for damages.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH - Requires employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandates quarterly supervisor training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks.

HUMAN SERVICES -- CERTIFICATION OF CHILDCARE AND YOUTH-SERVING WORKERS AND OPERATORS - Eliminates fingerprinting fees for licensed childcare hires, require background checks for youth activity instructors, and allow active TS/SCI clearance to satisfy criminal background check requirements.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND PRIVILEGES - Updates disability parking space signage and enables municipalities to participate in the parking mobility app program where individuals submit photos on the app of vehicles parked in spaces designated for individuals with disabilities.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- JOINT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE SERVICES - Adds a representative of an aging adult organization and a member of a statewide disability advocacy organization who is sixty (60) years of age or older to the state planning council.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TICK CONTROL - Creates a tick control program to be implemented by the department of environmental management.

ELECTIONS -- PRIMARIES FOR ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE - Establishes the Ranked Choice Voting for Rhode Island Presidential Primaries and provides for new sections on ranked choice voting tabulation and results reporting.