Senate Judiciary Committee
to meet twice this week
STATE HOUSE – The Senate Committee on Judiciary is scheduled to meet twice this week; on Tuesday, March 21 and Thursday, March 23. Both meetings will take place at the rise of the Senate (sometime after 4:30 p.m.) in room 313 on the third floor of the State House.
On Tuesday, the committee will hear 16 bills, including:
§ 2023-S 0604 — This bill, introduced by Senate Committee on Judiciary Chairwoman Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), would prohibit abusive litigation in the context of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking and allow the court to dismiss a case or complaint upon a finding, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the person who filed the case or complaint is doing so as a means to have further contact with or abuse the person against whom the complaint was filed.
§ 2023-S 0128 — This bill, introduced by Senate Committee on Education Chairwoman Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), would establish presumption for non-monetary bail for pretrial release of detainees. It would provide that pretrial services unit prepare pre-arraignment report which may include an assessment utilizing a risk assessment tool to assist the court in establishing bail.
§ 2023-S 0405 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence), would require courts to consider the parental status of defendants at the time of sentencing. Unless the parent poses a significant risk to the community that outweighs the harm of the parent’s absence from the child’s life, the court shall impose a sentence that does not include imprisonment.
On Thursday, the Committee will hear 10 bills, including:
§ 2023-S 0121 — This bill, introduced by Chairwoman Euer, would provide a streamlined adoption process for children born through assisted reproduction and who need adoption to confirm, not establish, their legal parentage to protect them against discrimination in all jurisdictions.
§ 2023-S 0398 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Thomas J. Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield), would allow for the extension of child support obligations for noncustodial parents beyond emancipation if the children are attending a two- or four-year college and still live with the custodial parent until such children reach the age of 21.
§ 2023-S 0609 — This bill, introduced by Senate Committee on the Judiciary Vice Chairman Frank S. Lombardi (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), would provide that parents and guardians of children with disabilities in private school have the same rights and remedies as parents/guardians of children in public school.
The meetings will be televised by Capitol Television, which can be seen on channels 15 and 61 for high definition by Cox Communications subscribers, channel 15 for i3Broadband (formerly Full Channel) viewers and channel 34 for Verizon subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.
Vice President Harris is receiving the endorsement of Barack and Michelle Obama in the Democratic race for president. The former president and first lady released a video this morning showing Vice President Harris speaking on the phone with both of them. In a joint statement announcing the endorsement, the Obamas said, "There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people." 
