The Time for Action on Gun Control in Rhode Island is NOW!

ACT TODAY on GUN LEGISLATION in RHODE ISLAND

In view of the horrific massacre in Orlando, the League asks all Rhode Islanders to contact your legislators today to demand a vote on the bills presented this year that would help to control rampant gun violence.  The LWVRI has testified this year in support of HB 7199 and SB 2835 which would ban high capacity magazines over 10 rounds; on HB 7283 and SB 2730 to keep guns away from domestic violence abusers; and on  HB 7243 and  SB 2761 that would restrict concealed firearms on K-12 School grounds to law enforcement personnel.

Many states including Massachusetts and Connecticut have laws to prevent domestic violence abusers from access to guns. Many States including Massachusetts and Connecticut have banned high capacity magazines. Almost every state including Massachusetts and Connecticut does not allow  concealed carry of firearms on K-12 School property. This is the third year in a row, since the Sandy Hook massacre, that these bills  are being “held for further study” here in Rhode Island.  We urge the Governor, the Speaker and the Senate President to do everything necessary to have these bills voted out of committee.  It is time for the Judiciary Committees to stop hiding behind a pretext of study. In a recent poll, the vast majority of Rhode Islanders said they want a vote.  It is time to respect not only their wishes but their health and safety as well.  We want a vote.

The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island is a member of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence,  an organization that was created by concerned citizens of Rhode Island  in 2013 after the Rhode Island General .Assembly failed to pass common sense gun legislation. With the coalition, we recognize gun violence as a public health issue. Using common sense means and methods, we seek to reduce injuries and deaths from gun violence.

The time to act is now.  Please do your part by contacting your legislators today, before they adjourn without doing anything for another year.

To contact your senator visit this page on the RI government site; for your Assembly person, go here. You can also contact  Senator President Paiva Weed (sen-paivaweed@rilegislature.gov) and Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello (rep-mattiello@rilegislature.gov).

Follow-up: Call for Accommodations for Breastfeeding Mothers is Answered

In the past, if you were a lactating woman, you could not expect to receive any special treatment from the RI Bar. According to the results of a survey (www.aclu.org/map/breastfeeding-policies-during-bar-exam-state) conducted by the ACLU and Law Students for Reproductive Justice, Rhode Island has rated a D- for it efforts in accommodating women who are breastfeeding during the time that the bar exam is offered.

The ACLU notes that the “report card findings highlight the widespread barriers that women face in pursuit of their legal careers. State boards must acknowledge that their outdated policies contribute to this problem and must take an active role in eliminating these barriers. Women should not be forced to make a decision between their families and their careers.”
In November  David Wollin, Chair of the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners received a letter sent by some pretty powerful names—LWVRI, ACLU of Rhode Island, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, Rhode Island NOW, and Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association. The letter noted that every other New England state does make appropriate accommodations, and that this coalition believed, “...there is no reason for this to be delayed any longer. We therefore request the Board to take up this matter expeditiously and adopt a policy designed to meaningfully accommodate breastfeeding applicants in time for the next Bar exam.”
Two months after the letter was sent, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has now adopted amendments to the Board’s Rules of Practice that will allow breastfeeding applicants to request and obtain accommodations easily. The new regulations note:
"An applicant who is otherwise eligible to take the bar examination, but who does not qualify for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, may request administrative nonstandard test accommodations when applying for admission.
"Examples of nonstandard test accommodations are: ...whatever accommodations may be necessary to pump breast milk during the bar examination.....”

Happily in February 2016, mothers can be assured that being a mother won’t interfere with their need to take the Rhode Island Bar.

Thanks to the RI Judiciary for changing this arcane policy and to all the members of the coalition for taking up the cause!

Calling on the RI Bar to Accommodate Breastfeeding Women

Taking the bar examination in Rhode Island this February?  If you are a lactating woman, don’t expect to receive any special treatment from the RI Bar. As the results of a survey (https://www.aclu.org/map/breastfeeding-policies-during-bar-exam-state) conducted by the  ACLU and Law Students for Reproductive Justice, Rhode Island rates a D- for it efforts in  accommodating women who are breastfeeding during the time that the bar exam is offered.

The ACLU notes that the “report   card findings highlight the widespread barriers that women face in pursuit of their legal careers. State boards must acknowledge that their outdated policies contribute to this problem and must take an active role in eliminating these barriers. Women should not be forced to make a decision between their families and their careers.”

The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island, ACLU of Rhode Island,  Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, Rhode Island NOW, and Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association sent a letter to David Wollin, Chair of the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners, on November 16, noting that every other New England state does make appropriate accommodations, and “we strongly believe there is no reason for this to be delayed any longer. We therefore request the Board to take up this matter expeditiously and adopt a policy designed to meaningfully accommodate breastfeeding applicants in time for the next Bar exam.”

The full text of the letter sent to David Wollin of the RI Board of Bar Examiners appears below.

Letter to David A. Wollin

November 16, 2015

BY EMAIL AND MAIL

David A. Wollin, Esquire, Chair

Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners

Licht Judicial Complex

250 Benefit St. Providence, RI 02903

Dear Chair Wollin:

We write as a follow-up to our letters dated July 20, August 4, and October 1, 2015, and your latest letter of October 21, regarding accommodations for candidates who are nursing during the bar exam.

Your most recent letter to us advised that the Board was “was continuing to review and consider its policies concerning breastfeeding by bar examinees” and that we would be provided a substantive response “once the consideration of the matter by the Board and the Court is completed.”

We certainly appreciate the Board’s desire to carefully consider this issue and “get it right.” However, we note that December 1st is the cut-off date for applying to sit for the next Bar examination (taking place in February), and is also the cut-off date for any person needing special accommodations under the ADA to seek them. We assume the same deadline would be in place for other requested accommodations. Even if there is only a slim possibility that an applicant needing breastfeeding accommodations will be applying for the upcoming exam, we believe it is critical that this issue be addressed before another exam period goes by.

In calling for prompt action at this point, we note that it has been over three months since this issue was first raised with the Board. In addition, while they may vary in the details, every other state in New England has some type of breastfeeding accommodation policy in place. As we have previously noted, many other states across the country also have strong policies to accommodate breastfeeding women, and we have provided the Board with ready-made model language to consider.

Under the circumstances, we strongly believe there is no reason for this to be delayed any longer. We therefore request the Board to take up this matter expeditiously and adopt a policy designed to meaningfully accommodate breastfeeding applicants in time for the next Bar exam.

We thank you again for your consideration of this matter, and are hopeful for a positive response. We remain available to talk in more detail about this with you and members of the Board. In light of the time constraints referenced here, we look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Steven Brown, Executive Director

American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island

128 Dorrance Street, Suite 220 – Providence, RI  02903 sbrown@riaclu.org

Jane W. Koster, President

League of Women Voters of Rhode Island

172 Taunton Avenue, Suite 8 - East Providence, RI 02914 state@lwvri.org

Susan Yolen, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy

Planned Parenthood of Southern New England

111 Point Street – Providence, RI 02903

Susan.Yolen@ppsne.org

Jenn Steinfeld, Executive Director

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island

One Union Station - Providence, Rhode Island 02903 jsteinfeld@wfri.org

Shandi Hanna, President

Rhode Island NOW

PO Box 8413 - Warwick, RI  02888 shanna@rinow.org

Board Members

Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association

10 Weybosset Street, #800 - Providence, RI 02903 riwomensbar@gmail.com

cc:            Nancy Mahoney

Galen Sherwin, ACLU Women’s Rights Project