STATE HOUSE – Rep. Dennis M. Canario’s legislation (2016-H 8082) that requires school bus drivers’ annual training include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s school bus driver in-service training series was passed by the House of Representatives tonight. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“There is nothing more important to Rhode Island’s parents than the safety of their children on our state’s school buses. This legislation ensures that our bus drivers are trained with the most up to date safety procedures and protocols that are available,” said Representative Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton). “The passage of this bill keeps our kids safer, it keeps our roads safer, and it makes sure that our state’s school bus drivers will always have the most current national safety training and do their jobs in the safest manner possible.”
The series includes training on driver attitude; student management; highway and rail grade crossing safety; vehicle training; knowing your route; loading and unloading; driving under adverse weather conditions; emergency evacuation; and transporting students with special needs. If the legislation becomes law, school bus drivers would need to receive the training annually.

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Dennis M. Canario has co-sponsored legislation (2016-H 8189) sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) to broaden the powers of the state’s Ethics Commission by eliminating legislative immunity from Ethics Commission oversight through a constitutional amendment.

“Accountability has been absent for far too long within the walls of the State House and I considered it my duty to the residents of District 71 to co-sponsor and support this important piece of legislation that states unequivocally that no legislator is above the law,” said Representative Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton). “The Ethics Commission was created to ensure that no one within the State House breached the sacred line of public trust and I am pleased to say that this legislation once again reaffirms the powers of the Ethics Commission to protect the best interests of Rhode Island’s taxpayers.”
If passed by the House Committee on Judiciary and the House of Representatives, the proposal would place a referendum on the November ballot to remove legislative immunity from the state’s constitution. The proposal also includes additional changes to the Ethics Commission and Ethics Code. The legislation requires two-thirds of the commission members to change any rule or regulation of the commission. Individuals will also be prohibited from filing a complaint with the commission once the filing period begins for a given election in order to prevent frivolous complaints and the politicization of the Ethics Commission.
The Ethics Commission legislation is the latest of several reforms calling for more transparency at the legislature. Last year, the House of Representatives approved sweeping campaign finance reforms to increase disclosure of campaign account activity. Candidates and office holders are now required to file annual bank statements, maintain separate campaign accounts, and appoint a treasurer if annual account activity exceeds $10,000.
In 2014, the House of Representatives unanimously approved the removal of the “master lever”, which abolished the practice of one-line straight-party voting.
“The taxpayers of this state deserve nothing less than total accountability and transparency within their government and elected officials. The recent reforms passed by the House are a clear statement that we as legislators serve the people of Rhode Island and not the agendas of special interests,” added Representative Canario.

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) has again this year introduced a bill calling for labeling of food products that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
“Rhode Island consumers have the right to know whether the foods they purchase were produced with genetic engineering so they can make informed purchasing decisions,” said Representative Canario. “Everyone has the right and deserves to know what exactly is in their food and this bill restores that right for Rhode Islanders.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that about 70 percent of food products sold in supermarkets contain GMOs. A genetically engineered food is a plant or meat product that has had its DNA artificially altered in a laboratory by genes from other plants, animals, viruses or bacteria. This type of genetic alteration is not found in nature and is experimental.
Unlike the strict safety evaluations required for the approval of new drugs, the safety of genetically engineered foods for human consumption is not adequately tested. There have been no long-term studies conducted on the safety of genetically engineered foods for humans, according to GMO Action Alliance, an alliance of grassroots organizations from states across the U.S. working to educate people about the issue.
U.S. government scientists have said that the artificial insertion of genetic material into plants via genetic engineering can cause a variety of significant problems with plant food, perhaps increasing the levels of known toxins or allergens that could cause health concerns.
The Canario legislation, 2016-H 7274, would add a definition to state law relative to genetically engineered products and would also set forth rules for labeling such products, beginning in January, 2017. Whether packaged food or a raw agricultural commodity, the item would need to be clearly labeled “Produced with Genetic Engineering.”
The Canario bill has been referred to the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare. Co-sponsors include Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence), Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport), and Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence).

STATE HOUSE – “If a drunk driver kills an innocent individual simply because of his or her own recklessness, lack of sound judgment and total lack of concern for others, the punishment cannot be sever enough,” said Rep. Dennis M. Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton).
Current state law allows for individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, resulting in death, to be imprisoned for a term of five to 15 years on a first offense and from 10 to 20 years on a second or subsequent offense.
Legislation introduced this week by Representative Canario would give judges the latitude to imprison such offenders for life.
“We already provide a certain leeway for judges when determining prison time for individuals convicted of this horrific crime,” said Representative Canario. “That suggests to me that although the end result is the same -- the needless death of an innocent person -- some of these incidents call for a stiffer punishment and more years behind bars. I would like to see judges have the option, in dealing with the most heinous incidents, to make those prison terms longer, right up to and including life.”
According to Rhode Island MADD, which has consulted with Representative Canario on the legislation, there were 24 drunk driving fatalities in the state last year, representing 37 percent of all traffic deaths.
“What could be more clear?” said Representative Canario, a retired Portsmouth police officer. “Alcohol and automobiles are a dangerous combination, and anyone ignoring that fact, anyone getting behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or drugs is showing total disregard for the welfare of others. Those who cause the ultimate harm – the death of another individual – deserve no leniency.”
The Canario bill, 2015-H 6073, has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary. Among the more than three dozen co-sponsors are Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), Rep. Raymond H. Johnston Jr. (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket), Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence) and Rep. Joseph S. Almeida (D-Dist. 12, Providence).
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457

STATE HOUSE – It is widely assumed, said Rep. Dennis M. Canario, that there is fraud in the employment benefits system, that money is being paid to individuals who shouldn’t be getting it.
“If there is fraud, even a speck of it, we should do more than wring our hands and call for changes,” said Representative Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton). “We should investigate thoroughly and if we determine there are individuals who have been scamming the system, we should move to recover any payments made as a result of fraud.”
Legislation introduced by Representative Canario, 2015-H 5937, authorizes the Department of Labor and Training to recover overpayments made to certain individuals due to specific types of fraud committed by a claimant.
The director of the DLT currently has the authority, under Rhode Island law, to make determinations on a claim for benefits, including disqualifications. The Canario legislation would give the benefits office one year from that initial determination to alter that decision if it is found to have been made as a result of non-disclosed or misrepresented information. If that is determined to be the case, the bill allows the DLT director to conduct a fact-finding investigation and to recover any overpayments, as well as penalties and interest, that resulted from a fraud perpetrated by a claimant.
“Understandably, the benefits office tries to expedite decisions on claims because individuals who legitimately are qualified to receive them need to receive them as quickly as possible,” said Representative Canario. “This legislation gives the DLT another year to review those initial decisions, which may have been made with erroneous or, often, bogus information.”
Even though it may take a year to find any fraud in any particular claim, it is better to find it then not, he said. “And when any fraud is found, it is only important to terminate those benefits immediately, but also to be able to recoup any money paid out that shouldn’t have been. People defrauding the system shouldn’t just have their benefits cancelled, they should be compelled to repay what they received illegally.”
The Canario bill has been referred to the House Committee on Labor. Co-sponsors include Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) and Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick).

For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457

STATE HOUSE – “I believe absolutely in the right to assemble, the right to protest,” said Rep. Dennis M. Canario, “but I believe protestors cross the line when their actions threaten the safety of others.”
Responding to last year’s incident that saw protestors shut down I-95 in Providence, and a more recent, similar event outside Boston, Representative Canario (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Little Compton, Tiverton) has introduced legislation making obstruction of a freeway a misdemeanor.
The Canario bill, 2015-H 5193, would make it a punishable crime for anyone to “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, alone or with others, restrict traffic flow of a freeway.” Punishment for such a misdemeanor would be a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
“I do not want this legislation to be misconstrued as preventing lawful picketing or lawful demonstrations,” said Representative Canario. “But gathering on a highway, shutting down the flow of traffic, possibly preventing rescue vehicles from reaching their destination – whether that’s a hospital or the home of a person in distress – is an entirely different matter. That kind of protest is potentially threatening the welfare of others and should not be allowed.”
The bill had its first hearing this week before the House Committee on Judiciary and was held for further study. Co-sponsors include by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth), Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence), Rep. Joseph S. Almeida (D-Dist. 12, Providence) and Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick).

I have focused a great deal of energy and attention in my first term as a State Representative on the issue of economic development. My highest priority has been to get the economy of the East Bay and the state moving in the right direction.

On the statewide level, I believe the General Assembly did that by dropping the corporate tax rate from 9% to 7%, the lowest in New England.

Another positive step taken in this year’s legislative session was expanding the Enterprise Zone in Portsmouth to several acres of land at the northern end of East Main Road. I sponsored this successful bill while working closely with William Clark, the Director of Business Development, and the Town Council, which requested the change to help spur job growth. 

I strongly believe the Enterprise Zone program is a great tool for our communities to promote business growth. Businesses in the existing Portsmouth zone are already benefiting from the program, and adding this acreage to the zone increases the town’s opportunities to grow our economy. 

Under this program, businesses opening and operating within a zone can qualify for tax credits for new jobs that are created. Other tax-saving options are available under the program for owners of member businesses who reside within the zone. 

I am extremely excited about adding this tract to the existing zone because it contains about a half dozen retail businesses and about five acres for potential development. The existing zone, which was established in the late 1990’s, extends from East Main Road down to the area of the marine businesses. 

Attracting business to Portsmouth and creating jobs for our residents is vital to the welfare of our town. The program is a creative and effective economic development tool and I look forward to new businesses taking advantage of the program and bringing new jobs to Portsmouth.