The Providence Working Waterfront Alliance, a group of port businesses, has endorsed a Rhode Island Senate resolution that would set up a special legislative commission to study economic opportunities related to port development in the state.

The alliance said that with international shipping volumes expanding, Rhode Island’s ports, including the Port of Providence, are perfectly situated to take advantage of the trend.

Development of the ports would create jobs and help the region meet its needs for energy and raw materials, the alliance said.

Sen. Paul Moura, D-Providence, has sponsored the resolution that would create a 10-member panel, with 5 appointed from the House of Representatives and 5 from the Senate. The members would receive no compensation.

Bill would up fines at Central Landfill

Haulers who dump at the Central Landfill any trash that originates outside of Rhode Island would face steep fines under legislation introduced by Rep. Deborah A. Fellela, D-Johnston. Her bill calls for a $50,000 fine per offense for out-of-state trash dumpers. State law already provides for imprisonment of up to three years for out-of-state trash dumping, but the fine is $5,000 per violation.

“The Central Landfill in Johnston is expected to reach capacity in less than two years, and this estimate doesn’t include the out-of-state dumping that still occurs,” said Fellela. “We need to do everything we can to preserve our landfill. Imposing stiffer fines will hopefully make out-of-state haulers think twice about dumping trash in our landfill illegally.”

The legislation would also require any commercial entity collecting and disposing of solid waste at the Central Landfill to certify in writing every 30 days that the waste was not generated outside the state.

Any fines collected as a result of the violations would be deposited in the existing Environmental Response Fund, so that the Town of Johnston and the attorney general could be reimbursed from that fund for the cost of enforcement and prosecution of anyone dumping out-of-state trash.

Homestead limit could be increased

Rhode Island’s current homestead protection law shields the first $300,000 of equity in a house from legal judgments.

Sen. Daniel J. Issa, D-Central-Falls, is proposing to increase the threshold to $400,000

“The figure merely recognizes the prices, the values of homes today, compared to 10 years ago when the law was enacted and even compared to just a few short years ago,” he said.

Without such a law, Issa said, someone who had been involved in an auto accident, for example, and whose insurance policy was insufficient to cover the full amount of the settlement, faced the possibility of a lawsuit that attached the individual’s house.

“With the monetary levels of lawsuits increasing, and with the value of homes high, it seems prudent to increase the homestead exemption limit. Many states now have similar laws, and in some cases the exemption limit is even more liberal than ours,” said Issa. “Ten years ago I sponsored the homestead exemption bill to make Rhode Island a better and safer place to live and own a home. Today, I am still trying to do that, by recognizing the realities of home prices and lawsuit claims.”

The bill raising the threshold to $400,000 proposes no other changes in the exemption law. Attachment of a house is still allowed in various circumstances, such as for sale for taxes, sewer and water liens or for a Family Court order in regard to spousal or child support.

Deduct tuition from R.I. taxes

A federal tax deduction for college tuition and fees would be extended to Rhode Islanders on their state income taxes under legislation filed by Rep. Edwin R. Pacheco, D-Burrillville. Students are already able to deduct as much as $4,000 for tuition and fees on their federal income taxes, but those deductions are not available on Rhode Island state returns.

“Rhode Island has identified the creation of a better-educated workforce as one of our priorities and one of our methods for strengthening our economy. Just like the federal government, we should provide a tax break for people who are working toward a degree. Since they are spending a significant amount of money on their education, this tax break would provide them some needed relief. It will also serve as an incentive to encourage more Rhode Islanders to pursue higher education,” said Pacheco.

His legislation would create a state tax deduction that would be available to people paying for their own education or that of a spouse or dependent, as long as the tax filer’s adjusted gross income (AGI) is below $80,000, or $160,000 if filing a joint return.

Just like the federal credit, it would allow taxpayers to take a credit of up to $4,000 a year if their AGI is below $65,000, or below $130,000 if filing jointly. Those with an AGI between $65,000 and $80,000, or between $130,000 and $160,000 for joint filers, would be allowed to deduct up to $2,000 a year.