Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5279 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5	2023 -- H 5279
6	6	========
7	7	LC000504
8	8	========
9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCAT ION
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives Perez, J. Lombardi, Lima, Hull, Fellela, and Vella-
17	17	Wilkinson
18	18	Date Introduced: February 01, 2023
19	19	Referred To: House Education
20	20
21	21
22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Chapter 16-59 of the General Laws entitled "Council on Postsecondary 1
24	24	Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby 2
25	25	amended by adding thereto the following section: 3
26	26	16-59-29. Graduate student, faculty, and staff vaccine exemption. 4
27	27	(a) Students enrolled in graduate or professional degree programs, who are granted medical 5
28	28	or religious vaccine exemptions by their sponsoring university or college, as well as faculty and 6
29	29	staff who work in such programs, shall not be subject to discrimination within a required place of 7
30	30	external learning (RePEL), including, but not limited to, places of internships, residencies, 8
31	31	rotations, fellowships, mentorships, clinical laboratories, research laboratories, studios, theaters, 9
32	32	culinary or hospitality venues, and practica. 10
33	33	(b) If any student, faculty member, or other staff is enrolled or working in a degree program 11
34	34	requiring their participation within a contracted place of business identified as a RePEL, whether 12
35	35	compensated or unpaid, that person shall remain chiefly subject to the academic institution’s policy 13
36	36	and protected in the status as a student, faculty member, or other staff, and by providing fair 14
37	37	opportunity to attend RePELs in compliance with the dispatching college's or university’s 15
38	38	immunological requirements and procedures. 16
39	39	(c) Dispatching academies having financial investment with, potential conflicts of interest 17
40	40	with, and/or business partnerships with a company that furnishes a RePEL, are required to uphold 18
41	41	the college or university’s immunological procedures and exemptions any time a pupil, faculty 19
42	42
43	43
44	44	LC000504 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	member, or other staff, participates in their duties as a student, faculty member, or other staff, within 1
46	46	the incorporated company. 2
47	47	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 3
48	48	========
49	49	LC000504
50	50	========
51	51
52	52
53	53	LC000504 - Page 3 of 3
54	54	EXPLANATION
55	55	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
56	56	OF
57	57	A N A C T
58	58	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECON DARY EDUCATION
59	59	***
60	60	This act would prohibit discrimination in postsecondary education of students who are 1
61	61	enrolled in graduate or professional degree programs, along with faculty members and other staff 2
62	62	in those programs, who are granted medical or religious vaccine exemptions by a sponsoring 3
63	63	university or college. 4
64	64	This act would take effect upon passage. 5
65	65	========
66	66	LC000504
67	67	========