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Legislative Testimony

Throughout the legislative session, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT tracks the budget and other bills being considered by the Rhode Island General Assembly and presents policy information and data-based testimony to General Assembly committees. Bill numbers are included for each bill Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is tracking as well as information on the latest hearings and progress of each bill.

Please see below for all written testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session.

Budget Testimony

Budget testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the

 2023 legislative session:

H6110 Equity – State Budget - April 18, 2023

S-527, Equity – State Budget - May 11, 2023

Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner- RI Reconnect - March 23, 2023

Governor's FY 2023 Revised and FY 2024 & Capital Budgets — Department of Children, Youth and Families and Office of the Child Advocate - House Finance Committee - March 7, 2023

Governor's FY 2023 Revised and FY 2024 & Capital Budgets — Department of Children, Youth and Families and Office of the Child Advocate - Senate Finance Committee - March 30, 2023

H-5200, RIDE Budget, RI Pre-K funding, Senate Finance Committee - March 8, 2022

H-5200, RIDE Budget, RI Pre-K funding - April 4, 2023

H5200 Related to DHS Budget, Medicaid Redeterminations - March 21, 2023

H5200, RIDE Budget, RI Pre-K funding - Senate Finance Committee - March 8, 2022

H-5200, Article 3, Section 1 Related to Government Reform and Reorganization (RI Longitudinal Data System Act) - Senate Finance - February 14, 2023

H5200, Article 8 Relating to Education (Funding Formula) - House Finance - March 1, 2023

H5200, Budget Article 9: Medical Assistance -- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and Cedar Rate Increase - House Finance Committee - March 2, 2023

H5200, Budget Article 9: Medical Assistance -- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and Cedar Rate Increase - Senate Finance Committee - May 4, 2023

Governor’s Budget Amendment 9 (RI Hope Scholarship) - /Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/2023 Testimony/Budget%20Amendment%209-%20Rhode%20Island%20Hope%20Scholarship%20April%2019%202023_PC-FINAL.pdf?ver=2023-04-28-123654-917April 20, 2023

 

Child Welfare Testimony

Early Learning & Development Testimony

Early Learning testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session.

H5085 Relating to Education – Establishing a Class Size Maximum for Kindergarten through Grade 2 - February 15, 2023

H5166 Office of the Special Education Ombud - April 19, 2023

H5339 Relating to Education – Education Services to Very Young Children - March 1, 2023

H5371 Relating to Labor – Removing Exemption from Minimum Wage Statute for People Who Work In/About Private Homes - March 29, 2023

H5429 Relating to Health and Safety – Licensing of Summer Camps - February 28, 2023

H5447, Temporary Caregivers Insurance - March 15, 2023

H5616 Relating to State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings - April 5, 2023

H5722 Relating to State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings - April 5, 2023

H5770 to approve and publish and submit to the electors a proposition of Amendment to the Constitution – Samed Day Voter Registration - March 14, 2023

H5781 Temporary Caregivers Insurance - March 1, 2023

H5810 The Rhode Island Family Home Visiting Act - May 4, 2023

H6044 An Act Relating to Insurance – Kids Connect program - March 8, 2023

H6148 An Act Relating to Taxation – Revenue for Rhode Island - May 9, 2023

H6253 Relating to Education – Certification of Teachers - April 19, 2023

H5983 Stay Invested in Wavemaker Fellowships – Early Intervention - April 20, 2023

H6378 The Office of Early Childhood Development and Learning - May 24, 2023

S63 Office of the Special Education Ombud - May 17, 2023

S122 Relating to State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings - April 4, 2023

S139 Temporary Caregivers Insurance - March 1, 2023

S232 An Act Relating to Taxation – Revenue for Rhode Island - February 28, 2023

S145 Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act - March 1, 2023

S177 Relating to Education – Establishing a Class Size Maximum for Kindergarten through Grade 2 - March 8, 2023

S185 Relating to Human Services – Early Learning Hubs - April 26, 2023

S207 The Rhode Island Family Home Visiting Act - May 4, 2023

S377 Child Care for Child Care Educators (RI Works) - May 18, 2023

S424 Relating to Labor – Removing Exemption from Minimum Wage Statute for People Who Work In/About Private Homes - April 26, 2023

S463 Relating to Education – Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act - April 26, 2023

S482 Relating to State Affairs and Government – The Office of Early Childhood Development and Learning - April 26, 2023

S492 Rhode Island Early Educator Investment Act - April 26, 2023

S523 Stay Invested in Wavemaker Fellowships – Early Intervention - April 27, 2023

S534 Temporary Caregivers Insurance - June 6, 2023

S608 to approve and publish and submit to the electors a proposition of Amendment to the Constitution – Same Day Voter Registration - April 4, 2023

S699 Relating to Education – Education Services to Very Young Children - April 26, 2023

S790 An Act Relating to Insurance – Kids Connect program Senate - May 11, 2023

S815 Relating to State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings - April 4, 2023

S977 Department of Human Services Child Care Licensing Inspectors - May 24, 2023

S978 Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act – Enrollment at Progreso Latino - May 24, 2023

 

Economic Well-Being Testimony

Economic Well-Being testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session.

H5160- An Act Relating to Financial Institutions - Licensed Activities - Lenders and Loan Brokers - Check Cashing - March 20, 2023

H5622 Rhode Island Public Transit Authority - May 11, 2023

H5644 Rhode Island Works - May 3, 2023

5799 Public Assistance Act SNAP Benefit - May 3, 2023

S227 Rhode Island Works - May 18, 2023

S527 Relating to Public Finance – State Budget - May 11, 2023

Education Testimony

Education testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session.

H5010- School-Based Mental Health Reimbursement - February 15, 2023

H5099 The Rhode Island Hope Scholarship - April 20, 2023

H5396 Increase School Social Workers - April 26, 2023

H5520 Sub A Building Opportunities for Out of School Time - May 3, 2023

H5547 Council on Elementary and Secondary Education - March 15, 2023

H5628 Categorical Funding for School Security - April 26, 2023

H5638- LANGUAGE ACADEMIES ACT - April 25, 2023

H5772 Relating to Education -- Children With Disabilities - March 20, 2023

H5421- Recruitment and retention of diverse educators - March 1, 2023

H6007 Federal AID School Lunch and Breakfast Program - April 26, 2023

H5639 Healthy School Meals for All - May 2, 2023

H6053 Relating to The Paul W. Crowley Rhode Island Student Success Investment Initiative -
March 22, 2023

H5739 Curriculum - March 29, 2023

H5741 Relating to-Education Accountability Act - March 21, 2023

H5777-An Act Relating to Education-Support and Access to Bilingual Education Act - Committee
March 20, 2023

H6023 Multilingual Educators Investment Act - April 26, 2023

H6149 School Resource Officers - April 26, 2023

H6243 Appropriating Funds to Support Rhode Island College’s Hispanic-Serving Institution Status
 - May 2, 2023

S35 - Ability to vote - March 7, 2023

S64 - Mental health providers in schools - March 6, 2023

S67 - The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act - March 6, 2023

S68 - Healthy School Meals for All - May 10, 2023

S72-  Amendment to the Rhode Island Constitution-Right to An Adequate Education - March 8, 2023

S77 Regarding The Rhode Island Hope Scholarship - April 27, 2023

S178 An Act Relating to Education-Apprenticeships - April 18, 2023

S180 - Children with Disabilities - March 8, 2023

S183, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government -- Department of Children, Youth and Families - March 8, 2023 

S229 Wavemaker Fellowship - April 27, 2023

S236 - Increase student success factor - March 6, 2023

S456 - Multilingual Learner funding - March 6, 2023

S484 Council on Elementary and Secondary Education - April 19, 2023

S258 Increase School Social Workers - May 9, 2023

S491 Language Academies Act - May 31, 2023

S549 An Act Relating to Education-Support and Access to Bilingual Education Act - May 9, 2023

S559- Multilingual Educators Investment Act - May 9, 2023

S780 Department of Children, Youth and Families' Higher Education Opportunity Incentive Grant - May 18, 2023

S861 Building Opportunities for Out-of-School Time - May 16, 2023

Health & Dental Testimony

Housing & Homelessness Testimony

Juvenile Justice Testimony

Safety Testimony

Safety testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session.

H5300, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Assault Weapons - April 17, 2023

H5434, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - April 17, 2023

S321, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - Safe Storage - April 25, 2023

S379, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Assault Weapons - April 25, 2023

Other Testimony

Other testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session.

H-5763 Equity Impact Statement Act - March 14, 2023

SR-152 – Adopting the Rules of the Senate for 2023-2024 - remote testimony - February 6, 2023

2022 Legislative Testimony

Budget testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the

 2022 legislative session:

*Joint testimony from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and RIght from the Start

 

H7123 - FY 2023 Budget —Department of Children, Youth and Families and Office of the Child Advocate - March 8, 2022

H7123 - Governor's FY 2023, FY 2022 Revised and Capital Budgets — DCYF and Office of the Child Advocate - March 23, 2022

H7123 - Elementary and Secondary Education FY2023 Budget - March 24, 2022

H7123 - Elementary and Secondary Education FY2023 Budget - March 31, 2022

H7123 - Department of Labor & Training FY 23 Budget, FY 2022 Revised and Capital Budget for the Department of Labor and Training, Funding for Information Technology Investment Fund for the TDI system - March 30, 2022

H7123, ARPA Proposals in Article 1, Section 16 Related to Higher Education Academy - March 1, 2022

H7123, Article 1, Section 16 - Child Care Support - March 2, 2022*

H7123 - Article 1, Section 16 Early Intervention Recovery - March 3, 2022*

H7123 -  Article 1, Section 16 Regarding ARPA Proposals on Housing - March 9, 2022

H7123 - ARPA Article 1, Section 16- Behavioral Health Crisis Services System - March 10, 2022

H7123 - ARPA Proposals in Article 1- Section 16 Related to Municipal Learning Centers - March 24, 2022

H7123 -  Article 1, Section 16 Child Care Support - March 29, 2022*

H7123 - ARPA Proposals in Article 1, Section 16 Related to Higher Education Academy - March 31, 2022

H7123 - Article 1, Section 16, ARPA Proposals on Housing - April 7, 2022

H7123 - Article 5, Question 2 Relating to Rhode Island School Buildings - February 17, 2022

H7123 - Article 10 - Education - March 24, 2022

H7123 - Article 12- Cover All Kids and Extending Postpartum Medicaid Coverage - March 22, 2022

H7123, Article 13 - Child Care Assistance Program - March 2, 2022*

H7123 - Article 13 - Child Care Assistance Program - March 29, 2022*

H7123, Budget Article 13, Section 1 (the Rhode Island Works Program) - March 2, 2022

H7123, Budget Article 13, Section 1 (the Rhode Island Works Program) - March 29, 2022

 

Child Welfare testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session: 

 

H7707 - An Act Relating to Human Services -- Abused And Neglected Children - March 24, 2022

S2639 - An Act Relating to Domestic Relations—Adoption of Children - April 7, 2022

S2311- An Act Relating To Human Services -- Social And Human Services Programs Rate Review And Rate Setting Process Act Of 2022 - April 26, 2022

 

Early Learning testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

*Joint testimony from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and RIght from the Start

 

H7177 - Child Care is Essential Act - March 2, 2022*

H7283 - Rhode Island Early Educator Investment Act - May 31, 2022*

H7440 – Revenue for Rhode Island House Finance Committee - May 17, 2022*

H7444 – TDI/TCI General Provisions - April 13, 2022*

H7551 - TDI/TCI Benefits - April 13, 2022*

H7628 – Maternal and child health services for children with special health care needs – Early Intervention and First Connections Act - May 12, 2022*

H7675 - Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island House - March 16, 2022

H7717 – Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act - April 7, 2022

H7794  – Temporary Disability Insurance Contributions - April 13, 2022*

H8098 – Licensing of Summer Camps - April 26, 2022

S2235 - Rhode Island Early Educator Investment Act - March 30, 2022*

S2243 Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act - April 4, 2022

S2245 Temporary Disability Insurance/Temporary Caregivers Insurance - March 30, 2022*

S2264 – Revenue for Rhode Island - May 10, 2022*

S2282 Relating to Education – Establishing a Class Size Maximum for Kindergarten through Grade 2 - March 15, 2022

S2546 - Maternal and child health services for children with special health care needs – Early Intervention and First Connections Act - April 28, 2022*

S-2557 – Open Meetings - May 17, 2022

S2662 – Removing Exemption from Minimum Wage Statute for People Who Work In/About Private Homes - May 11, 2022

S2678 – The Office of Early Childhood Development and Learning - March 30, 2022

S2679 Relating to Human Services – Early Learning Hubs - March 30, 2022

S2680 - Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act - March 30, 2022

S2681 - Child Care is Essential Act - March 30, 2022*

S2902 – Licensing of Summer Camps - May 17, 2022

S2944 – Psychiatric Resource Network Funding Act - May 31, 2022

 

Education testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

Public Comment Re: Oversight of Providence Public Schools - February 28, 2022

Public Comments Re: Proposed Revisions to the Secondary Regulations (200-RICR-20-10-2) - May 10, 2022

H8310 - School Resource Officers - June 14, 2022

H6665 - Regarding School Lunches - June 14, 2022

H6666 - Access to High-Speed Internet - January 26, 2022

H6667 - Trauma Informed Schools Act - January 26, 2022

H7162 - Suspensions - February 2, 2022

H7163  - Health and Safety of Pupils - February 2, 2022

H7164 - Right to Read Act - February 2, 2022

H7167 - Compulsory Attendance - February 9, 2022

H7168 - COVID Recovery Plans - February 9, 2022

H7272- Asian American History and Culture - March 9, 2022

H7485 - School Resource Officers - May 10, 2022

H7519 - Amendment to the Constitution -- Right to an Adequate Education - April 6, 2022

H7536 - Office of the Special Education Ombud

H7539 - Curriculum - April 11, 2022

H7546 - School Social Workers - May 10, 2022

H7607 - Seal of Biliteracy - March 30, 2022

H7636 - Rhode Island Hope Scholarship - May 4, 2022

H7736 - Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Disability Impact Statement Act - April 6, 2022

H7848 - Alternatives to Suspensions - April 11, 2022

H7915 - The Rhode Island Quality Enhancement in Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Act - May 10, 2022

H7974 - The College and Career Success for All Students Act - April 11, 2022

S2043 – Teacher Training and Evaluation - March 23, 2022

S2095 - Amendment to the Constitution -- Right to an Adequate Education - March 9, 2022

S2169 - Right to Read Act - May 25, 2022

S2174 Regarding Multilingual Learner/English Learner Education Funding - March 24, 2022

S2176 - School Social Workers - March 15, 2022

S2190 - The Rhode Island Quality Enhancement in Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Act - March 24, 2022

S2279 - Advanced Placement Courses for All Students Act - March 15, 2022

S2281 - Compulsory Attendance Monitoring - March 9, 2022

S2280 - College Crusade Scholarship - April 6, 2022

S2284 - Curriculum-Dual Language Model Policy - March 15, 2022

S2290 - Rhode Island Hope Scholarship  -March 24, 2022

S2440 - Psychologists - May 25, 2022

S2528 - Trauma Informed Schools Act - April 12, 2022

S2545 - Relating to State Affairs and DCYF - March 23, 2022

S2571 - The College and Career Success for All Students Act - April 6, 2022

S2573 - Office of the Special Education Ombud - March 23, 2022

S2578 - School Committee and Superintendents - March 23, 2022

S2591 - Rhode Island Promise Scholarship - March 24, 2022

S2910 - Asian American History and Culture - May 4, 2022

S2953 - Seal of Biliteracy - May 25, 2022

 

Health & Dental testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

*Joint testimony from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and RIght from the Start

 

State of the Behavioral Health System of Care House Oversight Committee - May 4, 2022

H7290 and Budget Article 12, Section 7 – Extending Postpartum Medicaid Coverage - March 3, 2022

H7484 and Budget Article 12, Section 7– Health Care for Children - March 3, 2022

H7500,H7560 - Safeguard ACA Consumer Protections - March 9, 2022

H7725 - Tobacco Control Enabling Legislation - April 12, 2022

H7801 - Infant and Early Childhood Mental Wellness - April 5, 2022*

H7805 - Testimony Re: Sale of Tobacco Products in Pharmacies - March 29, 2022

H7871 - Ban Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Service Devices - April 5, 2022

H8153- Lead Poisoning Prevention Act - May 5, 2022

H8354 – Psychiatric Resource Network Funding Act - June 21, 2022

S2075 – Children’s Catastrophic Illness Fund - March 31, 2022

S2187 - Cover All Kids - March 22, 2022*

S2200 – Medical and Clinical Rate Review and Setting Process - April 26, 2022

S2202 - Extending Postpartum Medicaid Coverage - March 3, 2022

S2310 - Retail SNAP Incentive Program - March 29, 2022

S2467- Behavioral Health Crisis Services System - March 10, 2022

S2469 - Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics - April 12, 2022

S2608- Limit out of Pocket Co-pays for Specialty Drugs - March 29, 2022

S2614 - Infant and Early Childhood Mental Wellness - March 31, 2022*

S2765 - Lead Poisoning Prevention Act - April 12, 2022

S2896 - COVID-19 Premium Payment Program - May 3, 2022

 

Housing & Homelessness testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

H7680 - Immigration Status of Tenant - March 17, 2022

H7892 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act – Sealing of Residential Eviction Proceedings - April 27, 2022

H7893 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act – Requirement to Participate in Rental Relief - March 17, 2022

H7940 - Executive Office of Commerce House Housing and Municipal Government Committee  -March 31, 2022

S2375 - Residential Landlord and Tenant Act – Sealing of Residential Eviction Proceedings - May 10, 2022

S2381 - Immigration Status of Tenants - May 10, 2022

 

Juvenile Justice testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

 

H7188 -  Youth Interrogation - March 3, 2022

H7461 - Minimum Age for Incarceration - March 3, 2022

S2370, An Act Relating to Delinquent and Dependent Children – Proceedings in Family Court - April 12, 2022

S2382 Relating to Delinquent and Dependent Children – Proceedings in Family Court - April 12, 2022

S2633 - An Act Relating to Criminals – Correctional Institutions – Parole - April 26, 2022

 

Safety testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

 

H7300 - An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - March 30, 2022

H7457 -  An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - March 30, 2022

H7764 - An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - March 30, 2022

S2224 - An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Assault Weapons - March 31,2022

S2637- An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - March 31, 2022

S2653 - An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Large Capacity Feeding Device Ban of 2022 - March 31, 2022

S2733 - An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - March 31, 2022

S2734 - An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses –Weapons - March 31, 2022

 

Other testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly during the 2022 legislative session.

*Joint testimony from Rhode Island KIDS COUNT and RIght from the Start

 

S2006 - Drivers’ Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants - March 10, 2022

S2007 - An Act Relating to Elections - Let RI Vote Act - February 15, 2022*

S2216 - to approve and publish and submit to the electors a proposition of Amendment to the Constitution – Persons Entitled to Vote - February 15, 2022*

H7100 - An Act Relating to Elections - Let RI Vote Act - March 24, 2022*

H7139 - an Act Relating to State Affairs and Government – Open Meetings - February 15, 2022

H7225  - to approve and publish and submit to the electors a proposition of Amendment to the Constitution – Persons Entitled to Vote - March 24, 2022*

H7708 - Drivers’ Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants - March 24, 2022

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT works to improve the health, safety, education, economic security, and development of Rhode Island’s children.

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