House committee to meet on bills to raise sentences for driving to endanger, fatal DUI crashes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing will discuss a series of bills that are a part of house speaker Joseph Shekarchi’s 12-bill package of housing legislation.

One bill calls for allowing municipalities to create more housing where public water and sewers are available.

The purpose is to create more types of housing beyond single family homes.

Another bill would allow cities and towns to create co-housing spaces where there are common facilities and private bedrooms.

An additional bill would require municipalities to receive mixed-use zoning to allow residential use within some commercial zoning districts.

The committee will also vote on a bill to increase the maximum amount of the Kingston water district’s bonding authority.

The bill would raise the amount from $4 million to $15 million.

The committee meets Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the state house.

The house judiciary committee will meet Tuesday to discuss a bill that would dramatically increase the penalties for dangerous driving.

Under the proposal, maximum prison time would be increased to fifteen years for leaving the scene of a crash where someone was hurt or driving to endanger, resulting in injury.

The sentencing cap for fatal DUI and dangerous driving crashes, would increase from 10 to 30 years.

It would also drastically increase how long a person’s license can be suspended.