Legislation In RI - 2008

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 2008):

1) Budget for FY2008 Revision - RI CDHH and RISD

SPONSOR: Rep. Mumford , Rep. Ehrhardt, and Rep. Story

House Bill 7204

Appropriations for FY2008:

RI CDHH Budget for FY2008 - $326,595 (Revised - down from $370,154)
RI CDHH FTE - 3.0

Rhode Island School for the Deaf Budget for FY2008 - $6,853,562 (Revised - down from $7,175,715)

Status:
- Introduced on January 23th and then, referred to House Finance Committee.
04/22/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/22/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
04/22/2008 Placed on House Calendar
04/25/2008 House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
04/29/2008 Referred to Senate Finance
04/29/2008 Scheduled to be heard and /or considered in anticipation of House passage
04/30/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
04/30/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence
04/30/2008 Placed on Senate Calendar
05/01/2008 Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
05/01/2008 Transmitted to Governor
05/01/2008 Signed by Governor

RI CDHH Position: N/A.

2) Budget for FY2009 - RI CDHH and RISD

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

House Bill 7390

Article 1 - - Appropriations for FY2009:

RI CDHH Budget for FY2009 - $368,807
RI CDHH FTE - 3.0

Rhode Island School for the Deaf Budget for FY2009 - $6,894,825
RISD FTE - 62.8

* Department of Elderly Affairs and Advocacy has 44.6 FTEs altogether including RICDHH, Governor's Commission on Disabilities, RI Developmental Disabilities Council and Department of Elderly Affairs.

Article 39 - Newborn Hearing Screening Program

The receipt account be created to receive fees from the hospitals that conduct the newborn hearing screening tests instead of receiving fees and putting them into the General Treasury fund.

~~Article 43 -~~ Reorganization/consolidation (Department of Elderly Affairs and Advocacy):

Language proposed by the Governor that RICDHH, Governor's Commission on Disabilities, and RI Developmental Disabilities Council merged into the Department of Elderly Affairs and the new name of department is Department of Elderly Affairs and Advocacy.

Status:
- Introduced on February 6th and then, referred to House Finance Committee.
06/11/2008 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
06/11/2008 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
06/11/2008 Placed on House Calendar
06/18/2008 Scheduled to be heard and /or considered in anticipation of House passage
06/18/2008 House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

RI CDHH Position: N/A.