Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0480 Compare Versions

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

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5	5	2023 -- S 0480
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7	7	LC001974
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCAT ION
16	16	Introduced By: Senators DeLuca, E Morgan, Rogers, and de la Cruz
17	17	Date Introduced: March 07, 2023
18	18	Referred To: Senate Education
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Chapter 16-59 of the General Laws entitled "Council on Postsecondary 1
23	23	Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby 2
24	24	amended by adding thereto the following section: 3
25	25	16-59-29. Graduate student, faculty, and staff vaccine exemption. 4
26	26	(a) Students enrolled in graduate or professional degree programs, who are granted medical 5
27	27	or religious vaccine exemptions by their sponsoring university or college, as well as faculty and 6
28	28	staff who work in such programs, shall not be subject to discrimination within a required place of 7
29	29	external learning (RePEL), including, but not limited to, places of internships, residencies, 8
30	30	rotations, fellowships, mentorships, clinical laboratories, research laboratories, studios, theaters, 9
31	31	culinary or hospitality venues, and practica. 10
32	32	(b) If any student, faculty member, or other staff is enrolled or working in a degree program 11
33	33	requiring their participation within a contracted place of business identified as a RePEL, whether 12
34	34	compensated or unpaid, that person shall remain chiefly subject to the academic institution’s policy 13
35	35	and protected in the status as a student, faculty member, or other staff, and by providing fair 14
36	36	opportunity to attend RePELs in compliance with the dispatching college's or university’s 15
37	37	immunological requirements and procedures. 16
38	38	(c) Dispatching academies having financial investment with, potential conflicts of interest 17
39	39	with, and/or business partnerships with a company that furnishes a RePEL, are required to uphold 18
40	40	the college or university’s immunological procedures and exemptions any time a pupil, faculty 19
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43	43	LC001974 - Page 2 of 3
44	44	member, or other staff, participates in their duties as a student, faculty member, or other staff, within 1
45	45	the incorporated company. 2
46	46	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 3
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48	48	LC001974
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52	52	LC001974 - Page 3 of 3
53	53	EXPLANATION
54	54	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
55	55	OF
56	56	A N A C T
57	57	RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECON DARY EDUCATION
58	58	***
59	59	This act would prohibit discrimination in postsecondary education of students who are 1
60	60	enrolled in graduate or professional degree programs, along with faculty members and other staff 2
61	61	in those programs, who are granted medical or religious vaccine exemptions by a sponsoring 3
62	62	university or college. 4
63	63	This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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65	65	LC001974
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