Legislation

We opposed two pieces of legislation which would have indefinitely extended the reimbursement structure that had previously existed for SROs, incentivizing schools to continue to hire personnel who are not adequately trained in youth mental and behavioral health, such as SROs.

We strongly supported legislation which would have required a fiscal impact analyses for any bills which increase or put in place criminal sentences.

We strongly supported this bill which would have appropriately allocated $2,000,000 for the hiring of school social workers.

While ensuring a healthy workplace is a laudable goal, we opposed a piece of far-reaching and subjective legislation which would have imposed liability on employers or co-workers who, among other actions, provide “persistent criticism.”

We strongly supported legislation that would have provided legal representation to indigent individuals facing an eviction proceeding.

In accordance with the ACLU of RI’s longstanding opposition to laws that disqualify former felons from a wide array of rights, benefits, and privileges, we opposed this broad legislation which would have made it a crime under state law for any ex-felon to possess a firearm.

We strongly supported this legislation, which aimed to give formerly incarcerated individuals access to Medicaid coverage promptly upon their release.

In a move to ban a pervasive form of racial discrimination, we strongly supported a bill which would have expanded the definition of race under our state anti-discrimination laws to include “traits historically associated with race,” importantly including hair texture and protective hairstyles.

We supported a critical piece of legislation which would have largely eliminated the ability for a K-5 student to be given an out-of-school suspension and strengthen the current reporting requirements for school districts.