Legislation

The ACLU of RI testified in February before the House Health, Education and Welfare committee in opposition to legislation allowing school committees to charge fees to those students participating in extracurricular activities.

The General Assembly is again considering perennial legislation barring adults under the age of 21 from entering nightclubs where alcohol is served.

ACLU-drafted legislation sought to limit the use of suspensions by requiring them to be served in-school unless the student poses a physical risk or serious distraction to other students.

The ACLU of RI is again working with student and education groups to stop high-stakes testing from keeping otherwise qualified students from graduating.

The ACLU of RI testified in February before the House Health, Education and Welfare committee in opposition to legislation allowing school committees to charge fees to those students participating in extracurricular activities.

In March, the Affiliate testified before the House Health, Education and Welfare committee in favor of legislation to prevent the use of standardized tests as a barrier to graduation.

While tobacco use among teenagers is by no means to be encouraged, legislation mandating participation in a tobacco treatment program for any minor caught using or possessing tobacco products brought opposition from the ACLU and health groups, including anti-smoking advocacy groups.

Over ACLU objections, the General Assembly has enacted a law making it illegal for minors to engage in “sexting,” the widespread practice among teenagers of transmitting nude photos of themselves to others.

Over ACLU objections, Governor Chafee has signed into law problematic legislation designed to address the problem of bullying in the schools.