Governor Lincoln Chafee signing same sex marriage into law in May. File photo by Steve Klamkin, WPRO News.
WPRO Newsroom
Minimum Wage Increase
This law will raise Rhode Island’s minimum wage to $8.00 per hour starting January 1, 2014. Rhode Island’s current minimum wage is $7.75 cents.
Human Cloning
No this bill doesn’t allow human cloning, it bans it. The act extends the prohibition of human cloning in Rhode Island. It is retroactive to 2010 (don’t worry), and is set to expire again on 2017.
Ban the Box
Advocates say it’s only fair. This law prohibits employers from asking applicants whether they’ve had prior criminal convictions. It “bans the box” on applications that previous offenders would check in order to indicate convictions.
National Popular Vote
This act joins Rhode Island with nine other states who wish to see the President elected by the people, not the Electoral College. Rhode Island is now part of a pact to give our electoral votes ot he candidate that receives the most popular votes.
Child Support Tracker
A new law will allow the Office of Child Support Services to get limited location information from cell phone companies about individuals who owe child support. This will allow the Office of Child Support Services to obtain billing and residential information.
Bryant Debacle
Chafee signed a bill into law that gives the Town of Smithfield authority to charge Bryant University for police, fire and other emergency services. It’s caused a rift between the town and the school, but Chafee thinks they’ll work it out.
TDI Expansion
This new law gives family members the ability to take a paid leave of absence from work to care for a seriously ill family member or new child. Rhode Island is the third state in the nation to adopt the Temporary Caregiver Insurance policy.
Early Booze Special
Liquor stores can now open at 10 a.m. Sundays. That’s two hours earlier than they used to be able to open. The new law comes after similar laws were passed in neighboring states.
Bills that have become law without Chafee’s signature….
Commerce Secretary
Rhode Island has created the position of commerce secretary to oversee the state’s economic development operations. The first Commerce Secretary will be appointed by the Governor in 2015.
No more EDC
Instead, it’ll be called the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. This bill is a part of a package of bills that aim to reform economic development procedures in the state following the 38 Studios debacle.
This article has been edited. A previous version incorrectly said the state’s new minimum wage would be $8.25 per hour.
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