Creates a special legislative commission to study and provide recommendations relating to supporting community-based solutions to reduce the incarceration of women in Rhode Island.
Adds a new category to the eligibility of childcare assistance to include a "protective services category" which would include foster or kinship children served through DCYF.
Establishes a fund and the operations necessary for a hotline for suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis management. Also instates a monthly surcharge on telephone lines to fund the 988 call center.
Amends the Rhode Island works program to allow lawful permanent residents to receive benefits without a waiting period and increases the monthly cash benefit to one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty level effective July 1, 2026.
Removes the requirement that families consent to, and cooperate with the department of human services in establishing paternity and enforcing child and medical support orders as a condition of eligibility for child care assistance.
Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations.
Eliminates the sunset on the provision of funding, modify eligibility requirement to 85% of state median income and expand funding to at least 20 hours per week.
Maddy summaryHB 7393, the "Rhode Island Childcare Is Essential Act," expands eligibility for childcare assistance to families with incomes at or below 85% of the state median income, aligning with federal guidelines. This change directly affects low-income families with children under 12 who need childcare to work, attend job training, or enroll in college. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to provide free childcare for families at or below 100% of the federal poverty level and a sliding fee scale (capping at 7% of income) for others. It also maintains a $1 million liquid assets limit for eligibility and emphasizes meeting federal "equal access" standards for childcare rates.
Codifies child care copayments in law, expand zero copays to families under 125% FPL, lower costs for working families, and cap most copayments at 6% while preserving a 7% statutory maximum.
Changes annual reporting requirements for the state’s family home-visiting program and also impacts appropriation and spending of funds in order to access maximum federal funding for these programs.
