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9th Annual Legislative & Employment
Law Update
2nd Annual Legislative Luncheon

Thursday, April 26, 2007       ~       Marriott Hotel, Providence, RI

 
Over 110 Human Resource and other business professionals attended the 9th Annual Legislative and Employment Conference on April 26, 2007 at the Providence Marriott.

The event was presented by the Rhode Island State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Human Resource Management Association of Rhode Island, and the Southern Rhode Island Human Resource Council.

Speakers at the half-day conference included:

• Governor Donald L. Carcieri presented his healthcare agenda which includes a focus on Wellness Programs, Health Information Technology and the need for individuals to take responsibility for their own healthcare. He also discussed the challenges of reducing the current personnel costs in state government, the TDI system in RI and the need to improve education statewide.
   
• Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts discussed current legislative issues including the challenges of providing and paying for healthcare, the Community Healthcare Task Force which she is leading and the new Healthcare Plan designed for small businesses available in October 2007.
   
• Michael Aitken, SHRM’s Director of Government Affairs highlighted SHRM’s Legislative Agenda and positions on The Employee Free Choice Act 2007, Immigration Reform and Electronic Verification System, the Healthy Families Act, FMLA reform, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007,
  and the Mental Health Parity Act.
   
• Bernard Coleman, SHRM Advocacy Specialist who suggested ways attendees could impact workplace legislation by visiting, calling and writing their legislator on the federal and state level. Bernard focused on the importance of building relationships to improve advocacy efforts and demonstrated how HR Voice can
  be used as a tool to contact legislators.
   
• Francis P. Alveraz, a partner from Jackson Lewis LLP reviewed some of the recent key legislative and court decisions at the
  federal and state level in the areas of: Healthcare Reform, Well-
  ness Programs, ADA, Title VII and Wage and Hour updates. 

To view some photographs from the conference, click here.

Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts Receives 2007 Outstanding Public Servant Award

Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts was the recipient of SHRM-RI’s 2007 Outstanding Public Servant Award. This award is presented annually by SHRM-RI to recognize the outstanding contributions of a public servant who has promoted, sponsored, or initiated legislation that affects positive changes in workplace legislation and has an awareness of the value of involvement of human resource professionals in the legislative process.

This year we were pleased to honor Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, for her efforts
to improve the affordability, accessibility, and quality of health care in Rhode Island through her former leadership as a senator and co-chair of the RI General Assembly’s Permanent Joint Committee on Healthcare Oversight and in the passage of the Coordinated Health Planning Act of 2006.

Lt. Governor Roberts has also recently created the Small Business Health Coordinating Council as part of a broader effort to give the Rhode Island small business community a stronger voice in state government and initiatives that will have a positive impact on employers in RI.

Lt. Governor Roberts, who took office in January 2007 and is the first female elected to this position in Rhode Island, spent over a decade distinguishing herself as one of Rhode Island’s most respected advocates for quality, affordable healthcare for every family and has built a statewide reputation for being a tireless leader on health and medical issues.

Throughout her career, she has also been a leader in economic development and job growth, pushing for cleaner air and water, stronger schools, and increased attention to our disaster preparedness. Lt Governor Roberts has an exceptional skill-an ability to collaborate with others, and bring people and groups with differing points of view to the table to partner and develop solutions and implement them -- to solve difficult statewide challenges.

Linda S. Lulli, SPHR, Receives Special Recognition Award

 
Linda S. Lulli, SPHR, who is the Associate Vice President, Human Resources at Bryant University and Co-chair Government Affairs of the RI State Council SHRM, was the recipient of a Special Recognition Award for her dedication to developing Human Resources professionals, and for her service, dedication and advancement of the HR profession.

Linda has held several volunteer leadership positions at HRM-RI, SHRM RI State Chapter and SHRM National for over 15 years. Linda has a passion for Government Affairs and has also served as State Director and HRM-RI President.

So deserving of this award, Linda has left her mark -- building and growing the HR organizations she has been affiliated with and supporting, developing, and befriending so many HR professionals who have had the opportunity to work with her.

Luncheon Program Features In-Depth Panel Discussion

Linda S. Lulli, SPHR, Co-chair Government Affairs of the RI State Council SHRM, facilitated the Luncheon program attended by 75 people, including the following legislators and government officials:

• Senate Majority Leader, M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, who was the key-note luncheon speaker and presented a RI Legislative update
   
• Senator Leo Blais
   
• Christopher Koller, RI Health Insurance Commissioner
   
• State Representative Eileen Naughton
   
• State Representative Victor Moffitt
   
• State Representative Elizabeth Dennigan
   
• State Representative Carol Mumford
   

The Rhode Island State Council of SHRM provided a copy of the RISC SHRM 2007 Legislative Agenda and the luncheon attendees had the opportunity to discuss important issues and key bills with the legislators during lunch. The meeting concluded with an in-depth panel discussion highlighting the areas of healthcare and immigration reform. It was an informative and interesting discussion and attendees appreciated the opportunity to talk one-on-one with legislators about real issues that impact the workplace.

HR Voice Contest Winners

We would like to congratulate the following attendees who won generous prizes donated by Heminways Restaurant, the EDC at Bryant University and Café Paragon for participating in the HR Voice Contest: Carrie Beers, Beth Crawford, Maria Fratiello, and Doreen Gelfuso.

Thank you!

We thank our sponsors who help us bring high quality programs like this to our members:

• Platinum Sponsor -- Jackson Lewis LLP 
• Gold Sponsor -- Cornerstone Group
• Silver Sponsor -- Blue Cross Blue Shield or Rhode Island 
• Bronze Sponsor -- Coventry Credit Union
• Bronze Sponsor -- Aflac
• Bronze Sponsor -- Envision Equity Partners
• Lunch Sponsor -- Transition Solutions
• Online Registration Sponsor -- Ritter Consulting, Inc.

We also thank Heminways Restaurant, the Executive Development Center at Bryant University, and Café Paragon for the generous prizes which those organizations donated for our HR Voice Contest.

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RHODE ISLAND STATE COUNCIL 
Society for Human Resource Management