5 minute read
State House
From the State House
Senate Approves Bill to Prevent Elder Financial Exploitation
State House – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne to require financial institutions to report suspected financial exploitation of seniors to the Office of Healthy Aging, and authorizing them to temporarily hold transactions they suspect as such.
“Financial exploitation is a serious and growing problem for the elderly,” said Senator Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence). “Many elderly people rely on caregivers to handle their financial matters, and unfortunately, some people abuse that trust. Banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions can be very helpful in preventing that abuse, because they are often able to identify suspicious activity in accounts. We should make sure we are taking full advantage of their tools, and making them our partner in protecting senior citizens from this type of abuse.”
Senate Passes Bill to Update State Tobacco Purchase Age to 21
State House – The Senate today approved legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21, updating state law to match the federal law enacted shortly before the pandemic started. Senator Coyne, who has been sponsoring the legislation since 2016, said she was relieved when the change occurred nationwide, because it could help prevent addiction, saving lives and health care dollars.
“Most smokers start and become addicted when they are teenagers. Raising the legal age for tobacco purchases makes a significant difference in access for young people, reducing their likelihood to develop a potentially lethal lifelong addiction. The more we can hold off on young people starting smoking, the better the effect is on public health and families,” said Senator Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence). The bill applies to all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.
Bill that would Ban Gender Discrimination in
Health Insurance Premiums Passes the House
State House – House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian’s (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) legislation (2021-H 5763) that would ban health insurers from utilizing the discriminatory practice known as gender rating, or routinely charging women and men different premiums for individual insurance, passed the House of Representatives.
This bill would prohibit insurance companies from varying the premium rates charged for a health coverage plan based on the gender of the individual policy holder, enrollee, subscriber, or member. The bill will codify into Rhode Island law a practice that has already been instituted federally within the Affordable Care Act.
Senate Passes Bill which Requires Feminine Hygiene Products to be Provided in Public Schools
State House – The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) which would require all public schools to provide feminine hygiene products at no cost.
The bill (2021-S 0086) states that at the beginning of the 20222023 school year, all public schools teaching grades six through 12 shall make feminine hygiene products available in the schools. The products will be available in all gender-neutral bathrooms and any female designated bathrooms. The products shall be provided at no cost to the students.
House Passes Bill to Create Genocide and Holocaust Education Commission
State House – A month after President Biden became the first American President to recognize the Armenian genocide, the House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Kislak to create a permanent commission to promote and continually improve genocide and Holocaust education in schools.
The legislation formalizes a commission to implement a 2016 law introduced by House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian and Sen. Gayle L. Goldin to require public schools to teach students about genocide and the Holocaust.
Bill that Excludes Chronic Intractable Pain from Medication Prescribing Guidelines Passed
State House – Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) and Sen. Valarie J. Lawson’s (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) legislation (2021-H 5247A / 2021-S 0384A) that would exclude chronic intractable pain from the definition of “acute pain management” for the purposes of prescribing opioid medication was passed by the General Assembly tonight.
“As we have witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic severely exacerbate our state’s opioid abuse crisis, we must make sure that our public policy in regard to addressing the opioid crisis does not have the unintended consequence of hurting patients who are trying to manage chronic pain. These patients are not addicts, they are suffering with pain associated with cancer, palliative care, and in many cases, chronic intractable pain. We need to let physicians determine how best to manage their patients’ pain,” said Representative Amore.
“There is no denying that we are still grappling with the severity of the opioid crisis and the pandemic has only made this matter worse, but we also cannot forget that to some, this medication allows them to function in their daily lives due to extreme chronic pain. This bill allows our doctors to treat their patients suffering from chronic pain how they best see fit and provides these patients with the pain relief that they so desperately need,” said Senator Lawson.
Senate Passes Bill that Increases Temporary Caregiver Benefits
State House – The Senate passed legislation tonight sponsored by Sen. Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) which would increase temporary caregiver benefits for Rhode Islanders.
The bill (2021-S 0688) increases temporary caregiver benefits to six weeks in a benefit year starting January 1, 2022 and would increase temporary caregiver benefits to eight weeks in a benefit year beginning January 1, 2023.
“Temporary caregiver benefits have been a lifeline to so many in our state who are going through difficult times and their need and usefulness have only increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While people are still struggling with the negative health and financial impacts of the pandemic, it is crucial that we provide the needed support necessary for our families to recover from these difficult times. This bill provides that support and it will continue to help our families for the foreseeable future,” said Senator Lawson.
