State House

General Assembly Passes Civic literacy Proficiency Requirement in Rhode Island Schools

Bill Cosponsored By Rep. Amore

State House – The General Assembly today passed legislation cosponsored by Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) which requires students to demonstrate proficiency in civics education before high school graduation.

Representative Amore was a history teacher for 31 years at East Providence High School. The bipartisan bill (2021-H 5028Aaa) was introduced by Rep. Brian C. Newberry (R-Dist. 48, North Smithfield, Burrillville).

“As we watch our country suffer from division, distrust, and disinformation from all directions, it is vital to the health of our democratic republic that the future generations of our country know and understand how our government functions and how our current society came to be from its inception in 1776,” said Representative Amore. “Without this critical knowledge, we are doing a great disservice to our students and hampering their abilities to be engaged and well-informed citizens during their adult lives. In order for a better world to be created by future generations, our students need to know why change is needed and how to advocate for change. This is only possible through civics education.”

Bill which Makes AP Tests Accessible to All Students Included in FY 2022 Budget

State House – Rep. Gregg Amore’s legislation (2021-H 5350) which makes Advanced Placement (AP) courses and tests more accessible to a greater number of students has been included in the FY 2022 state budget.

The bill calls for the state to pay the AP test fee for students who are unable to afford the cost.

“As someone who has taught AP courses, I am a firm believer in their abilities to engage our students and push them past their comfort zones in their educational careers. These courses prepare our students for their future and they should be available to all students who are able to do the work, regardless of the student’s ability to pay to take the test. At $53 per test, the current process was discouraging students in poverty from taking one or multiple tests, forcing the students to forego the college credits that they would receive after doing well on the AP test even though they have completed the AP class. This bill will save money for our students and families that need it the most through absorbing the costs of the AP test and the possible college credits that would not have to be paid for by the student. I thank my colleagues in the legislature for supporting this important bill for our students and families,” said Representative Amore.

The legislation would change the definition of advanced placement to mean a college level class taught at the high school level that provides students the opportunity to earn college credit upon passage of an exam. The bill also expands the reach of access to advanced placement courses to ensure that the opportunity to participate in the advanced placement program and gain college credit is available to the greatest amount of students.

The legislation (2021-S 0055A, 2021-H 6018A), which was passed by the Assembly July 1 and was recently signed into law by the governor, establishes procedures for hospital employees to file complaints with the hospital or the Department of Health for any assaultive behavior or other violation of law occurring on hospital grounds, and requires hospitals to develop plans to protect and respond to violence and employee safety issues and institute safety training for employees.

Said House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence), “Our brave and hardworking hospital employees deserve as much protection as we can provide. While they may selflessly accept that their jobs have inherent risks, there still needs to strong policies that minimize those risks, and structures in place to protect them and respond swiftly and fairly to situations where they have been hurt, threatened or put in danger. Every hospital employee has a human right to safety, security and protection at work.”

General Assembly Passes legislation Banning Guns from School Grounds

State House – The General Assembly today passed legislation which would prohibit anyone, with certain exceptions, from bringing a firearm onto school property. The Senate version of the bill (2021-S 0073) is sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and the House legislation (2021H 5555A) is sponsored by Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian.

The bills are named The Harold M. Metts School Safety Act of 2021 in honor of its longtime champion in the Senate. Whip Kazarian has introduced the legislation for the past several sessions.

“Our nation has suffered so many horrific and tragic school shootings. Every parent deserves an assurance that no one is allowed to enter their child’s school armed. Guns simply have no place in schools, and we shouldn’t accept a situation that allows anyone outside the police to carry them there,” said Whip Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence). “This legislation give schools the same protections already afforded to the Rhode Island Convention Center, our post offices as well as our very own State House.”

New law Protects Hospital Employees From Violence, Harassment On The Job

State House – A new law passed the by General Assembly and sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian will help protect hospital staff from violence and harassment at work.

Assembly OKs Bill to Allow Seniors to Earn Property Tax Credit for Volunteering

State House – The General Assembly has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne and Rep. Jason Knight to allow seniors to put their time and skills to good use helping their cities and towns, while reducing their property taxes.

The legislation (2021-S 0103, 2021-H 6238), which has been transmitted to the governor, would authorize cities and towns to establish programs to offer tax credits to property owners age 60 and over in exchange for volunteer hours. While each city and town adopting the program could set its own parameters, the legislation would allow them to let seniors earn up to $1,500 off their property taxes.

“Many older property owners, particularly retirees, struggle under the burden of their property taxes. Allowing them to reduce their tax liability by volunteering for their city or town lets them use some of resources they have — time and skills — to lighten the load,” said Senator Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence). “This is an idea that would benefit seniors and municipalities alike. Seniors are very dependable volunteers who have a lifetime of skills and experience to offer. In these days of tight municipal budgets, it could bring in some very valuable volunteers for cash-strapped towns.” Continued on next page ...

State House – Candidates who embezzle their campaign funds will no longer be able to pay their restitution to their own campaign accounts under a new law sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Cynthia A. Coyne and Rep. Leonela Felix.

Their legislation (2021-S 0193, 2021-H 6454), which was passed by the General Assembly July 1 and recently signed into law by the governor, instead directs the restitution to be deposited into the Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Program Fund, which assists crime victims with expenses related to putting their lives back together after a violent crime.

“Abusing campaign funds is a crime against all those who put their trust and their own money toward helping a candidate with their election. Allowing the perpetrator to pay his or her own campaign back is restitution only in the technical sense, and doesn’t serve as a deterrent. Sending those funds the Rhode Island Crime Victim Compensation Fund instead is better way to prevent the money from going back into the perpetrator’s control, while also serving to benefit victims. This is a more appropriate and constructive consequence for a serious crime,” said Chairwoman Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence).

Said Representative Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket), “We need greater transparency and accountability at all levels of our public systems. Our democracy will not work if the public cannot trust elected officials to act ethically and responsibly. This legislation finally closes a loophole that allowed individuals who violated that trust to avoid the real consequences of their crime. Real restitution involves repairing our community, and that is what this important legislation is designed to do. We cannot tolerate elected officials who threaten the public’s trust.”

Bills from the July Issue that have been passed by the General Assembly include the following:

• Bill That Would Compensate Those

Who Have Been Wrongfully Imprisoned • Whip Kazarian And Sen. Lawson’s

Legislation Which Increases Temporary

Caregiver Benefits • Whip Kazarian and Sen. Cano’s legislation requiring new schools to have water bottle filling stations

For full transcripts of these Press Releases, go to www.ReporterToday.com.

EPVME History (part 5): East Shore Expressway and Deadline for the E Prov Military Service Honor Roll is August 30

contributed by Susan Cady

After the late 1800s, if you were to travel along Warren Ave. (then known as Bristol Road) from Pawtucket Ave. to Seekonk, MA, you would have passed the Horton Brother’s dairy farm on your left. In 1958, this land was owned by 3 Wood Horton families. The land was taken by eminent domain to construct the EP Expressway. One of the dairy barns was sold and moved. Where is the barn located now? On the south side of Warren Ave., land near today’s RIDOT highway facility, to the rocks by Hatton Dr., Evergreen Drive, extending back to RISHO Ave., Hemingway Drive, and Amaral St. was McCormick’s quarry. In the 1920s, primitive horsetail calamite plant fossils were found here. (Some are on display in the Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History.) McCormick’s quarry was the source of rocks and gravel used the build the cobble stone roads throughout EP, RI, and New England. In 1929-1930, McCormick’s company helped build today’s south side arches of the Washington Bridge over the Seekonk River. After the business closed, the old quarry was a popular swimming hole. In the 1950s, it was filled in to create the East Shore Expressway (ESE). The ESE connects the EP Expressway (I-195) to the Wampanoag Trail (Route 114). This road serves as an evacuation route for cities and towns on low lying flood zone land at or below sea level in south eastern RI. As you drive this road through Bristol, Warren, towards E. Providence, you will see evacuation route signs. Where is the evacuation shelter? In 1959, the south bound bridge over Warren Ave. from the EP Expressway to the ESE was named the McCormick Quarry bridge. The one-way span over Route 195 from the ESE was named the Horton Farm bridge. Today when driving on I-195 from MA to E. Prov., a sailboat mural on the southeastern foundation of this span welcomes travelers to the Ocean State. In 1961, these bridges were named for WWII veterans Gustaf Soderlund, Andrew Martin, James Garvin, and Charles Storm Jr., respectively. The north bound bridge over Warren Ave. leaving the ESE was named for WWII veterans Clifford Jackson and Gordon Reid. The bridge memorial signs have been missing for over 40 years. Soon new memorial bridge signs shall appear. Held up on wooden blocks since the 1970s, the recent 2016-2019 replacement of these bridge foundations and roadways was completed ahead of schedule using new construction techniques. To date, 13 of the 14 original bridges on the EP Veterans Memorial Expressway (EPVME) have been replaced. EP Military Service Honor Roll deadline is August 30 Documenting names so their military service is not forgotten, the deadline for correcting and submitting names of past and present E. Prov. residents who are veterans and members of the military is Aug. 30. Names of EP residents (EP, Rumford, Riverside) who served in any war, any time before or after a war, in peacetime, and any reserves event since WWII or are active duty serving now in the military and reserves, who were KIA or came home alive, can be submitted. Non-EP residents (ex. Seekonk) who attended E P High School are included. Minimal info needed “in memory of (dead) “ or “in honor of (alive)” last name, rank, first name, middle name or initial, war or name of the military event served in (or years, country), and service branch. Include KIA, POW, MIA, active duty, National Guard, etc. Optional: awards, medals, job description, etc. Ex. in memory of Carlton, Lt. Donald E., WWI, Army. If not known, state “unknown rank” or “unknown branch”. If desired, you may ask to have your name removed. Email to epvme@hotmail.com You will receive an emailed confirmation.

This virtual EP Military Service Honor Roll is posted at ephist.org under “City Wide Project”. These honor roll names will appear in another veterans’ tribute visual presentation. This detailed documentation of names (with no email or contact info) will be presented to the City of E. Prov. during the Nov. 6th ceremony of the 60th anniversary re-dedication of the EP Expressway for all EP Veterans. Ceremony, parade, meet and salute, 1-3 pm at Pierce Field. Read https://sites.google.com/view/EPVMER2021 for names of EP veterans with individual war memorials. A book with short biographies is being written about them. Learn more about volunteers needed (ex. to direct traffic in parking lot, live trumpet players of Taps or tape recording is needed) for this special Nov. 6th Veterans’ Day celebration. Watch the “Tribute to EP WWII Veterans” at the end of this webpage.