Rhode Island

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY -- POLICE RELATIONSHIP ACT OF 2015 - Amends the comprehensive community-police relationship act of 2015 to require an annual study by an outside agency chosen by the department.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ABUSE IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES - Removes the intent requirement relative to the definitions of "abuse" within the chapter on "abuse in healthcare facilities" and amends the definitions of "abuse" and "neglect" with regard to elderly affairs by deleting the element of willful conduct.

TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION - Eliminates the estate tax in Rhode Island.

EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT - Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse. Grant a 2.89% COLA for eligible retirees. Provided a modification reducing federal AGI for public pension benefits from the RI employees retirement system.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURES -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- ARBITRATION - Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by improving the fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal proceedings, and preventing insurers from delaying or obstructing the dispute resolution process.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SEARCH WARRANTS - Requires law enforcement to obtain consent before placing audio or video recorders on the private property of another.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PSYCHOLOGISTS - Includes licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general laws governing the regulations of psychologists and expands the licensing of school psychologists for independent practice.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- EMERGENCY SHELTERS - Establishes rules and procedures for licensing emergency shelters for homeless persons, including setting minimum standards and prohibiting the charging of fees to the residents.

HUMAN SERVICES -- RHODE ISLAND CHILD CARE FOR ALL ACT - Establishes the Rhode Island Child Care for All Act which provides high quality and affordable child care to families throughout the state.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION - Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by expanding definitions of unfair claims settlement practices and clarifies an insured’s right to pursue bad-faith remedies.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS - Makes an assault upon a sports official during and in the course of their official duties a felony.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL - Establishes an office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency, charged with preventing and detecting fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE - Provides that statements by a health care provider regarding the unanticipated outcome of a patient's medical care and treatment shall be inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability or as evidence of an admission.

ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS - Increases penalties for a second or subsequent offense with a fine of not less than $500 or no more than $2,500 and up to 2 years imprisonment, for violating the law on the care of dogs.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION - Adds school superintendents, central office officials, school principals, and all other school employees, to the definition of a “public official” for purposes of the criminal prohibition against making threats to public officials.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ELECTRONIC INFORMATION AND DATA PRIVACY ACT - Requires law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants for electronic information, data, location information and other identifying information of subscribers and customers, except in specified circumstances.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES - Strengthens consumer protections by including definitions related directly to deceptive trade practices inherent in the insurance claim process.

TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES -- TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM - Establishes a property tax deferral program for senior citizens, disabled persons or veterans.

INSURANCE -- SMALL EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE AVAILABILITY ACT - Amends the definition of "small employer" for purposes of the small employer health insurance availability act to mean a business employing less than one hundred (100) employees rather than fifty (50) employees.