Legislation that would allow Portsmouth to create a municipal court to adjudicate town ordinances is moving through the general assembly, according to a state house press release this afternoon.

Today, the House passed H 6044, introduced on behalf of the town by Rep. Dennis Canario (D-71). Co-sponsored by Rep. Jay Edwards (D-70), Rep. Ray Gallison (D-69) and Rep. Linda Finn (D-72), the bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Sen. Chris Ottiano (R-11) introduced the companion Senate bill, 2013-S 0884, which passed by the Senate and is currently before the House Committee on Municipal Government.

Rep. Canario said the hope is that a municipal court will more efficiently allow for local enforcement of minor police violations such as trespassing, as well as traffic violations and zoning infractions. It should also, he said, help accelerate the legal process for disposition of these kinds of violations and should help cut town costs, such as those resulting when town officials, including police, travel to courts outside the town to represent the community.

The legislation will empower the Portsmouth Town Council to appoint a judge and clerk, to enact ordinances governing the personnel, operation and procedure of the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs. The court would be allowed to impose sentences up of to 30 days and fines of up to $500.

Enactment of the legislation will add Portsmouth to a growing list of communities that have established a municipal court to handle local issues, such as Providence, Warwick, Pawtucket, Cranston, Bristol and Barrington, among others.

Editorial note: Written from a press release.

This afternoon, the RI House Judiciary committee will take up a series of proposals on gun regulation, including a package of bills that introduced by legislative leadership and the RI Attorney General. The agenda, with links to the bills, is available on the General Assembly web site.

If you would like to comment, but can't make it to the State House today, you can always send an e-mail to the committee clerk, Robert DiMezza, and indicate that it is for the committee.

Rep. Ray Gallison (photo: GA)

The RI House today passed legislation sponsored by Portsmouth Rep. Ray Gallison (D-69) requiring banks and lenders to make a good-faith attempt to negotiate with homeowners before foreclosing on homes in Rhode Island, according to a release.

“It’s in everyone’s best interest to prevent foreclosure,” said Gallison. “Lenders are better off if they can continue receiving steady payments, even if they are a little lower, from the homeowner. Communities and our state obviously are hurt when houses are left empty and unattended. And of course, foreclosure is a huge loss for a family, who is then at risk for homelessness and has lost whatever investment they’ve made in their home. We need to ensure that lenders are doing their best to avoid foreclosing.”

Under the legislation (H 5335 Sub. Aaa), lenders would be required to attempt to engage a mortgager at risk of foreclosure in a conciliation conference to try to come to an agreement to modify the terms of the mortgage. If the effort is successful and an agreement is reached, the lender would not have to fulfill the requirement again if the mortgager fails to comply within the next nine months. The legislation, which would take effect 60 days after enactment, would apply only to owner-occupied residential properties of one to four housing units.

If the mortgager does not respond or cooperate with the effort to hold a conciliation conference with the lender, the lender may proceed with the foreclosure process.

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate of 9.4 percent is well above the national average, and many Rhode Islanders are struggling to avoid foreclosure. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, Rhode Island ranked first in New England and seventh in the nation for new foreclosures in the fourth quarter of 2012, although the number of foreclosures in the state did decline by 23 percent from the previous year.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush is sponsoring similar legislation.

Editorial note: Written from a press release.

According to a post on the Moms Demand Action - RI Facebook page, a package of gun safety bills will be introduced at a state house press conference on Tuesday by House Speaker Gordon Fox, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, Gov. Lincoln Chafee, and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. The presser is reportedly scheduled for 2:30 in Room 313.

According to a document linked from the Facebook post, "opponents of the bills are planning to attend and make a big show to protest everything that is being introduced."

There is nothing posted yet on the General Assembly web site, no further details are available on the content of the proposed legislation.

Editorial note: I fully expect to get a crap ton of hate mail just for posting this. A word of advice to Second Amendment advocates: you're not doing yourselves any favors.

Portsmouth Rep. Dennis Canario (D-71) has introduced a bill (H5203) which would limit the increases allowed for private educational service providers to the level set by the state tax levy cap, according to a state house news release.

“Students with disabilities and special needs should never be the victims of budget problems in a community,” said Canario.

Yet as school departments face tighter budgets, and as costs increase from private special education providers, it is becoming more difficult for schools to ensure that the special education needs of some students can continue to be met.

The legislation introduced by Canario would prohibit providers such as the Groden Center, Bradley Hospital and others, from seeking an annual increase in payments from school departments greater than the 4 percent increase in tax levy increases allowed for municipalities by state law.

“As a result of law enacted some years ago, the so-called “3050” that sets a 4 percent cap on municipal tax levy increases, municipal and school budgets can grow only so much,” said Representative Canario. “In the face of that, it is a nightmare for schools departments to deal with special ed costs from private providers grow at 5 or 8 or 10 percent each year.”

Rep. Canario, who has been working with members of the Tiverton School Committee who sought out his help to address the issue, said the answer “is not short-changing special needs students or trimming back other areas of a school budget to cover higher special education costs. It is finding a way to keep those outside costs from rising so much, so often.”

“There may be instances when the specific kind of services provided by these agencies represents a significant change in the normal kinds of services, and obviously that would entail a higher fee,” he said. “But all else being equal, if communities have to live with a 4 percent increase every year, service agencies should not expect more than a 4 percent increase for their services.”

The Canario bill has been referred to the House Committee on Finance. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Jay Edwards (D-70), Rep. Linda Finn (D-72), Rep. Ray Gallison (D-69) and Rep. Frank Ferri (D-22, Warwick).

Editorial note: Written from a press release.

Clerk, please lock the machine…

With all four of Portsmouth's representatives (Canario, Edwards, Finn, and Gallison) voting in favor, the RI House passed marriage equality bill H5015 this afternoon following a series of spirited floor speeches. Full vote tally here.

Thanks to our Portsmouth delegation for being on the right side of history, and thanks to everyone who has worked so hard for these past 16 years to get us to this point.

Now on to the Senate and let's win there.

Rep. Dennis Canario (GA photo)

Newly elected Portsmouth Rep. Dennis Canario (D 71) has been appointed by House Speaker Gordon Fox to two committees for the 2013-2014 legislative session, according to a state house press release today.

Canario will serve on the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare and the House Committee on Small Business.

The House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare considers all bills affecting the health care system, public education, human services and children and families.

The House Committee on Small Business reviews matters relating to the streamlining of licenses and permits, eliminating or decreasing bureaucratic steps and uncoordinated or duplicative filings, and reducing associated costs to businesses.

Congratulations, Rep. Canario!

Editorial note: Written from a state house press release.

Overflow crowd watches in the State Room. Click to embiggen.

In a 2-hour ceremony at the Rhode Island state house marking the start of the 2013-14 legislative session, Portsmouth's four state representatives were among the 75 members sworn in by Secretary of State Ralph Mollis.

Portsmouth's two sitting reps, Ray Gallison (D 69) and Jay Edwards (D 70) were joined by their newly elected colleagues Dennis Canario (D 71) and Linda Finn (D 72). Canario and Finn joined a freshman class of 16 new members of the house.

It was an occasion rich with tradition. Rep. Peter Martin, as the senior house member from Newport, chaired the session until the election of the speaker. After being sworn in, the new legislators cast their first vote, by an overwhelming majority, to return Rep. Gordon Fox to his position as Speaker.

In opening remarks, Fox acknowledged the challenges facing the incoming legislature, and quoted Abraham Lincoln, urging the lawmakers to work through the difficult times ahead. He announced that the House will spend Jan 17 in a full-day economic conference at Rhode Island College seeking policy ideas for the upcoming session. Fox also reiterated his promise to bring marriage equality to a floor vote in the House by the end of January.

Governor Lincoln Chafee offered brief remarks, then the members, as is tradition, introduced their colleagues' guests.

Hope you'll join me in congratulating our new reps Canario and Finn, and welcoming back Gallison and Edwards. Thanks for your service, and for representing our town.

Dennis Canario, now the sole candidate for RI representative in District 71 after incumbent Dan Gordon's failure to gather enough signatures to make the ballot, promised to continue campaigning when reached for comment.

In an e-mail to harddeadlines this morning, Canario said, "Gathering signatures for nomination papers is just the first step, and I want to thank everyone who helped get me on the ballot. I intend to continue my campaign, and look forward to talking with the residents of District 71 over the months to come. I will be a Representative that we can all be proud of."

You can find Canario on on the web at DennisCanario.com, and on Facebook.

Full disclosure: I am a supporter of Dennis Canario.

LOL. No comment necessary.