2021 -- S 0083

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LC000811

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

TO ADJUST PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES THAT ARE HARMING RHODE ISLAND’S

SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Lombardi, Cano, Goodwin, Pearson, Ciccone, Gallo,
and Euer

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s small business community is comprised of a wide array of

diverse business owners, employees, and vendors who together make up the heart and soul of our

state’s economy while providing employment and financial security for hundreds of thousands of

Rhode Islanders; and

     WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Rhode Island has enacted a number of

executive orders and health directives that have negatively impacted Rhode Island’s small

business community; and

     WHEREAS, Some of the directives, mandates, and executive orders – in particular, the

10 p.m. weekday and 10:30 p.m. weekend closing time established on Nov. 8, 2020 – have

caused significant, and in some cases, irreparable harm to restaurants, bars, social clubs, stores,

vendors, indoor recreational facilities, and other small businesses; and

     WHEREAS, This harm has not been adequately recognized, and sufficient resources or

assistance to the small business community has not been provided; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, small businesses have not been informed as to when or how

they may return to normal hours of operations, despite having taken numerous precautions and

complying with all other mandated health procedures; and

     WHEREAS, The closing times established by these directives, mandates, and executive

orders were not decreed with an accompanying scientific or rational explanation, and while

initially promised to be temporary in nature, have now been in effect continuously for several

months; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests

that the Governor of the State of Rhode Island adjust the current public health guidelines that are

harming Rhode Island’s small business community; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island.

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