Legislation In RI - 2007

State of Rhode Island

Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Executive Department/Established in 1977. Restructured in 1992.

This page focuses on all legislations pertaining to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing issues or concerns. You may want to check where each bill stands at this point. Please click here to go to RI General Assembly Bill Status System. Make sure to put all 4 digit numbers ("5969" for House Bill 5969) next to "Bills:" and click on "enter" button on the screen. (not on the keyboard).

Current Legislations (Legislative Session in 2007):

1) Budget for FY2007 Revision and FY2008 - RI CDHH and RISD

SPONSOR: Rep. Watson , Rep. Gorham, Rep. McManus, Rep. Story, and Rep. Ehrhardt

House Bill 5300A

Article 1 - Sub A - Appropriations for FY2008:

RI CDHH Budget for FY2008 - $387,654
RI CDHH FTE - 3.0

Rhode Island School for the Deaf Budget for FY2008 - $7,175,715
RISD FTE - 68.0

Article 3 - Sub A - Reorganization/consolidation:

Asking the Governor to submit a legislation to create a Department of Adovcacy that would include the RI Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Governor's Commission on Disabilities, Office of the Child Advocate, Office of the Mental Health Advocate, and the Developmental Disabilities Council. All agencies combined into this new department shall maintain existing duties as set forth in current law. The department shall consolidate communications, and overhead expenditures.

Article 6 - Sub A - Revised Appropriations for FY2007:

RI CDHH Budget for FY2007 - $327,024 (Revised with a reduction of $43,305 due to a temporary turnover)
RI CDHH FTE - 3.0

Rhode Island School for the Deaf Budget for FY2007 - $6,843,670 (Revised)
RISD FTE - 68.0

Article 39 - Sub A - Department of Health Fees:

RI Interpreter License Fee from $37.50 to $50.00.

Status:
- Introduced on February 1st and then, referred to House Finance Committee.
- The Committee recommends passage of Sub A on June 8th.
- The House Floor is scheduled to vote on June 15th.
- The House Floor passed on June 15th.
- The Senate Floor passed in concurrence on June 19th.
- The Governor vetoed on June 21st.
- Governor's veto overridden by the House on June 21st.
- The Senate sustains the action of the House on June 21st.
- Effective Notwithstanding Governor's veto. on June 21st.

RI CDHH Position: N/A.

2) Emergency Management Advisory Council - RICDHH

SPONSOR: Rep. Naughton , Rep. Handy, Rep. Jacquard, Rep. Ajello, and Rep. Serpa

House Bill 5418

This bill is to add a representative, Executive Director of the RI CDHH, to serve on the Emergency Management Advisory Council.

Status:
- Introduced on February 13th and then, referred to the House Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Committee.
- Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration on March 14th in Room 135 at the State House.
- Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
- Committee recommends passage on June 20th.
- House read and passed on June 22nd.
- Senate floor passed in concurrence on June 22nd.
- Transmitted to Governor on June 28th.
- Became law without Governor's signature on July 6th.

RI CDHH Position: The RICDHH supports this bill.

3) Emergency Management Advisory Council - RICDHH

SPONSOR: Sen. Walaska, Sen. Alves and Sen. McCaffrey

Senate Bill 0990

This bill is to add a representative, Executive Director of the RI CDHH, to serve on the Emergency Management Advisory Council.

Status:
- Introduced on May 10th and then, referred to the Senate Constitutional and Regulatory Issues Committee.
- Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration on June 6th.
- Committee recommends passage.
- Senate floor read and passed on June 12th.
- Referred to the House H.E.W. Committee.
- Committee recommends passage.on June 20th.
- House floor read and passed in concurrence on June 22nd.
- Transmitted to Governor on June 28th.
- Became law without Governor's signature on July 6th.

RI CDHH Position: The RICDHH supports this bill.

4) TV Political Advisement be Captioned through the State Matching program.

SPONSOR: Rep. Handy, Rep. Naughton , Rep. Ajello, Rep. Lima , and Rep. Jacquard

House Bill 5969

- This bill is to add language to the current requirements under the State Matching Program. The candidates who receive the state matching funds for their campaign are required to include captioning on their TV political advertisement if they purchased the advertisement time on TV and must produce text or written materials that was broadcasted their political advertisement through radio.

Status:
- Introduced on March 1st and then, referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
- Transferred to House Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Committee.on March 7th.
- Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration on March 14th in Room 135 at the State House.
- Committee recommended passage on April 11, 2007.
- The House read and passed on May 1, 2007.
- The bill was transferred to the Senate Judiciary Committee now known as Senate Bill 1016.
- Committee recommends passage in concurrence on June 14th.
- Senate floor passed in concurrence on June 21st.
- Transmitted to Governor on June 28th.
- Signed by Governor on July 3rd.

RI CDHH Position: The RICDHH supports this bill.

5) TV Political Advisement be Captioned through the State Matching program.

SPONSOR: Sen. Walaska, Sen. Alves and Sen. McCaffrey

Senate Bill 1016

- This bill is to add language to the current requirements under the State Matching Program. The candidates who receive the state matching funds for their campaign are required to include captioning on their TV political advertisement if they purchased the advertisement time on TV and must produce text or written materials that was broadcasted their political advertisement through radio.

Status:
- Introduced on May 10th and then, referred to the Sendate Judiciary Committee.
- Committee recommends passage on June 12th.
- Senate Floor passed on June 20th.
- House H.E.W. Committee recommends passage on June 22nd.
- House floor passed in concurrence on June 22nd.
- Transmitted to Governor on June 28th.
- Signed by Governor on July 3rd.

RI CDHH Position: The RICDHH supports this bill.

6) Mandatory Coverage for Cochlear Implant Surgery

SPONSOR: Rep. Jacquard, Rep. Naughton, and Rep. Handy

House Bill 5568

- Every individual or group hospital or medical services plan or policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this
state shall provide coverage for cochlear implant surgery.

Status:
- Introduced on February 28th and then, referred to House Corporation Committee.
- Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration on March 6th.
- Transferred to House Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) Committee on March 6th.
- Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration on March 14th in Room 135 at the State House.
- Committee recommended measure be held for further study.

RI CDHH Position: The RICDHH supports this bill.

7) Wireless Telecommunication Service Providers bill surcharges for the Relay service.

SPONSOR: Rep. Kenneth Carter

House Bill 6244

- The subscribers will be billed for surcharges through their wireless telecommunication service providers. The surcharges will go to the Relay fund.

Status:
- Introduced on April 4th and then, referred to House Corporation Committee.
- Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration on May 22nd.
- Committee recommended measure be held for further study.