HB 7127 is a state budget bill allocating hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Rhode Island's fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. It directs specific funding amounts to state agencies and programs, including Central Management, Health Benefits Exchange, Debt Service Payments, and infrastructure projects like building renovations and facility upgrades. The bill establishes concrete funding levels for departments such as Health and Human Services, Education, and Information Technology, with detailed allocations for both general revenue and restricted funds. This legislation directly affects state agencies and programs that will receive these designated funds to operate during the 2027 fiscal year.
Directs middle and high schools which issue student identification cards to include on those cards on or before September 8, 2026, contact crisis telephone numbers for suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention.
Includes licensed school psychologists under the provisions of the general laws governing the regulations of psychologists and expands the licensing of school psychologists for independent practice.
Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.
SR 2377 is a joint resolution appropriating $200,000 from the state treasury for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the Rhode Island Free Clinic. This funding directly helps the clinic provide free medical care and preventive services to uninsured adults who cannot afford healthcare, while also supporting its role as a training site for healthcare students. The resolution authorizes the state controller to pay the funds upon receipt of proper documentation, ensuring the clinic can continue its mission of serving vulnerable residents. This is a straightforward funding measure with no additional policy provisions.
Allows advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and physicians who are and are not licensed in Rhode Island to provide telemedicine services to patients who are in the state when those services are rendered.
HB 7418 would establish medical and dental schools at the University of Rhode Island, authorizing the conferral of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degrees. The bill requires the schools to seek accreditation from medical (LCME) and dental (CODA) bodies and mandates clinical training partnerships with hospitals and health centers. It also allows the university to retain revenue from faculty practice plans to support educational, clinical, and research activities. The legislation directly affects Rhode Island residents by aiming to expand healthcare workforce capacity and improve access to care, particularly for underserved communities.
HB 7365 proposes a voluntary portable benefit plan for independent contractors, allowing them to access benefits like health insurance or retirement savings that stay with them across different jobs. The bill establishes that contributions to this plan cannot be used to determine employment classification (e.g., employee vs. independent contractor) or affect employer liability for workers' compensation. Key provisions require the plan to be offered through regulated insurance or employment security programs, ensuring benefits remain tied to the individual, not any specific employer. This applies directly to independent contractors and hiring parties who choose to participate, with no mandatory participation for either party. The bill takes effect upon passage and does not create new benefits but enables existing systems to operate portably.
Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.
Allows for the licensing of certified surgical first assistants to assist in surgeries through the department of health and a 7 member board of licensure.
