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3/16/2021
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MEDIA ADVISORY: House Judiciary Committee meets twice this week to hear testimony on immigration and firearm bills
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STATE HOUSE – The House Judiciary Committee will be meeting twice this week to hear testimony relating to immigration and firearms.
On Wednesday, March 17 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will consider legislation (2021-H 5470) sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) which creates an action authorizing any person who has been sentenced to imprisonment greater than one year subsequent to being wrongfully convicted of a criminal offense to petition the courts for an award of compensation and damages, including attorney's fees. The committee will consider a proposed substitute (2021-H 5470A) at the meeting.
The committee will also hear testimony on the following bills:
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2021-H 5305, sponsored by Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence), authorizes driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.
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2021-H 5652, sponsored by Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence), designates schools, places of worship and courts as sensitive locations and would require that a judicial warrant be obtained before federal immigration authorities could be granted access to those premises to enforce immigration laws.
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2021-H 5734, sponsored by Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls), prohibits a landlord from asking about the immigration status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property.
On Friday, March 19 at 1 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on the following bills relating to firearms:
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2021-H 5554, sponsored by Rep. Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich), bans firearm magazines that hold 10 or more rounds.
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2021-H 5555, sponsored by House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence), prohibits the possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack on motor vehicles.
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2021-H 5556, sponsored by Representative Caldwell, bans the possession, sale, and transfer of assault weapons.
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2021-H 5639, sponsored by Rep. Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick), allows reciprocal concealed carry permits from out of state to be valid in Rhode Island, which is either authorized by the Attorney General or subject to other reciprocal restrictions.
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2021-H 5882, sponsored by Rep. David J. Place (R-Dist. 47, Burrillville, Glocester), amends the definition of firearms to include tasers, as well as define taser and stun gun.
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2021-H 5971, sponsored by Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick), creates an appeal for applicants denied a concealed firearms permit/firearms transfer with the right to a Superior Court hearing with all records deemed as non-public records.
The State House remains closed to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing will be televised live on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox on Channels 15 and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers. It will also be live-streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV. Media members wishing to arrange for in-person coverage are asked to contact Larry Berman at lberman@rilegislature.gov.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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