Legislation In RI - 2015

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 ("7786" for House Bill 7786) next to "Bills:" and click on "enter" button on the screen. (not on the keyboard).

Rhode Island Legislative News for 2015:

Governor's Proposed Budget Plan - To watch video - please click here
Article 18 and Article 19 of House Bill No. 5900
RELATING TO DIVISION OF ADVOCACY - Article 18
RELATING TO CONSOLIDATION OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BOARDS - Article 19

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE:
HEARING DATE: Tuesday, March 31, 2015
TIME: 2:30 PM
PLACE: Room 211 - State House
Agenda - please click here

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE:
HEARING DATE: Thursday, April 02, 2015
TIME: Rise of the House
PLACE: Room 35 - State House
Agenda - please click here

House Bill No. 5685 To watch video - please click here
BY Naughton, Jacquard, Tanzi, Handy, Canario
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION--INFORMATION ACCESSIBILITY SERVICE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(Includes wireless telephones in the adaptive telephone equipment loan program that services the needs of persons who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, severely speech impaired, or those with neuromuscular impairments.)
2/26/2015 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE:
HEARING DATE: Wednesday, April 15, 2015
TIME: Rise of the House
PLACE: Room 101 - State House
Agenda - please click here

House Bill No. 5697 To watch video - please click here
BY Handy, Jacquard, Naughton, Messier, Williams
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- INSTRUCTION FOR DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING STUDENTS
(Mandates that the department of education in conjunction with the department of human services develop programs to assess and monitor developmental language benchmarks for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.)
2/26/2015 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE:
HEARING DATE: Wednesday, April 15, 2015
TIME: Rise of the House
PLACE: Room 101 - State House
Agenda - please click here

House Bill No. 5696 To watch video - please click here
BY Handy, Jacquard, Naughton, Maldonado, Messier
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION - 504 AND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS
(Requires each city and town school administration to file an annual report commencing September 30, 2015, providing the names of persons responsible for 504 and individualized education plans along with information regarding those plans with the RIDE.)
2/26/2015 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.

HEARING DATE: Wednesday, 3/25/15
TIME: Rise of the House
PLACE: Room 101 - State House

House Bill No. 5695 To watch video - please click here
BY Handy, Jacquard, Naughton, Maldonado, Messier
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF
(Amends the chapter on licensure to include new definitions that establish qualifications for new categories. Also adds requirements for licensing.)
2/26/2015 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE:
HEARING DATE: Wednesday, April 15, 2015
TIME: Rise of the House
PLACE: Room 101 - State House
Agenda - please click here

Senate Bill No. 0478 To watch video - please click here
BY Walaska, Felag, Ciccone, McCaffrey
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS - INTERPRETERS FOR THE DEAF
(Amends the chapter on licensure to include new definitions that establish qualifications for new categories. Also adds requirements for licensing.)
2/26/2015 Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

House Bill No. 5014 To watch video - please click here
BY Lombardi
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING
(Requires mandatory training standards for police officers and trainees, in identifying, responding, and handling all incidents involving any person with a developmental disability.)
01/08/2015 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.
01/23/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
01/28/2015 Meeting postponed (01/28/2015)
01/30/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/04/2015)
02/04/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

House Bill No. 5015 To watch video - please click here
BY Lombardi
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING
(Requires for Police Officer Commission on Standards and Training to establish mandatory training standards for police officers and trainees in all incidents involving mental health literacy.)
01/08/2015 Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.
01/23/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
01/28/2015 Meeting postponed (01/28/2015)
01/30/2015 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/04/2015)
02/04/2015 Committee recommended measure be held for further study