Legislation

The ACLU testified in support of legislation permitting the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Individuals seeking housing should be concerned with paying the rent and being good neighbors; they should not have to be concerned about intrusive and unnecessary questions regarding their immigration or citizenship status.

The ACLU testified in May in opposition to legislation overhauling the state’s sex offender registration and community notification laws. The proposed legislation would replace the existing law with federal standards so costly that few other states have chosen to implement them.

The ACLU testified before the House Finance and Senate Education Committees in May, in opposition to legislation sending state money to parochial schools through a “school choice” program.

When Rhode Island decriminalized marijuana just two years ago, it did so in part to keep youth out of jail for minor marijuana use. Yet, legislation under consideration this year sought to undo that progress and put juveniles found with under an ounce of marijuana back in front of a judge.

Legislation sought to make Rhode Island the fifth state to adopt “death with dignity” legislation, allowing terminal patients to seek medication to end their lives.

In March and April, the ACLU testified before the Senate and House Judiciary committees, respectively, in opposition to legislation extending from 300 to 1,000 feet the distance sex offenders must reside from a school.

In April, despite ACLU testimony in opposition, the Senate passed legislation requiring that individuals convicted of first or second degree murder serve at least fifty percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole; the House followed in May.

The ACLU testified before the House Labor committee in February in opposition to legislation requiring random drug testing of employees driving state-owned vehicles.