Legislation

The House and Senate Judiciary committees considered legislation to drastically Rhode Island’s computer crimes laws by altering the definitions of old laws and creating new offenses.

On June 4th, Governor Chafee signed into law legislation raising value of a stolen object necessary for a felony charge from $500 to $1500.

Despite Affiliate testimony in opposition, the General Assembly approved a bill to severely limit the ability of certain inmates to accrue “good time” reductions of their sentences.

The Affiliate testified against a number of bills seeking to require the use of ignition interlock devices by any person convicted of DUIs, failure to submit to a chemical test, and other crimes – even if the driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of their infraction.

The ACLU testified before the House and Senate Judiciary committees in March in opposition to legislation which would remove the “sunset” provision on the primary seat belt law, rendering it permanent.

ACLU-drafted legislation removing the phrase “moral turpitude” from state licensing statutes was heard in March by the Senate Health and Human Services committee.

The legislature again considered bills to expand the scope of the state’s sex offender registration and notification laws.

In March, the Affiliate testified before the Senate Health and Human Services committee in opposition to legislation barring smoking in any motor vehicle carrying a child.

Until this year, an outdated and overly-broad section of Rhode Island law stated that transmitting any false information over the Internet was a misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 and up to one year in jail.