Woonsocket Radio News Room

MEDIA ADVISORY

House Judiciary Committee to vote on study of line-item veto, runoff and ticket elections

STATE HOUSE – The House Judiciary Committee will vote tomorrow on legislation to create a commission to study enacting a line-item veto, runoff elections for governor, and election of the governor and lieutenant governor as a ticket.

The committee meets tomorrow, Tuesday, June 6, at the rise of the House (around 4:45 p.m.) in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.

Among the bills scheduled for votes are:

·                  2017-H 5340 — This bill sponsored by Rep. Kenneth A. Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) would create a special legislative commission to study the effects of enacting line-item veto power for the governor, potential state constitutional amendments for runoff elections for governor and requirements for the election of the governor and lieutenant governor as a ticket.

·                  2017-H 6059 and 2017-S 0661A— These companion bills sponsored by Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren) and Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), respectively, would require that any applicant for employment or volunteer activity at a religious organization undergo a national background check at the request of the religious organization as a condition of employment.

No testimony will be taken on those bills at this time.

Scheduled for hearings are:

·                     2017-H 6257 — Sponsored by Judiciary Chairman Cale P. Keable (D-Dist. 47, Burrillville, Glocester), this bill would allow involuntary commitment of drug and alcohol abusers who are a danger to themselves or others.

·                     2017-H 6258 — This bill sponsored by Rep. Gregg Amore (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) would require that all people serving on boards and commissions appointed by the governor have a connection to the state through residence or licensure.

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