Legislation

While addressing the serious issue of maternal mental health disorders is a laudable goal, legislation under consideration this year requiring a mental health screening for mothers before release from a birthing facility would have set a troubling precedent for the privacy and treatment of new moms.

Some of the most concerning civil liberties legislation this year came in the form of legislation dealing with your health, including bills to require that all adult immunization records be automatically included in a DOH database unless the patient opts out.

This year, the General Assembly considered yet another exemption to the confidentiality of the state prescription drug monitoring database in the form of legislation allowing health insurers, workers’ compensation insurers and HMOs, among others, to access private prescription information.

Legislation aimed to make Rhode Island the next state to adopt “death with dignity” legislation, allowing terminal patients to obtain medication to end their lives.

Through a combination of cheap, sophisticated technology and financial incentives provided by the federal government, law enforcement entities nationwide have begun obtaining and using drones. Yet, the laws protecting us from misuse have not caught up with the technology or the demand.

After the recent passage of S.J. Resolution 34 in Congress, which will overturn an FCC rule that requires Internet service providers to get customers’ permission before selling sensitive consumer data, such as browsing history, legislation like H 6086 and H 6087 is imperative.

This legislation seeks to address the use of technology and sharing of data on Rhode Island’s highways. Last year, the General Assembly authorized the highway truck toll program, which included the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs).

Just a few years ago, the General Assembly took some important steps to protect the privacy of individuals by requiring law enforcement to have a warrant before accessing records in the state’s prescription drug monitoring program (PMP).