Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and helps control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).
Requires every individual or group health insurance contract effective on or after January 1, 2025, to provide coverage to the insured and the insured's spouse and dependents for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and other products.
Provides the state would cover dialysis for the treatment of end stage renal disease ("ESRD") and kidney transplants for persons who do not qualify for full Medicaid due to their immigration status.
Provides eligibility for an additional forty dollars ($40.00) per month in food stamp benefits to certain qualifying persons or households eligible for food stamp benefits, commencing July 1, 2024.
Appropriates $1,875,000 for the creation of a 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline within the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH).
Imposes a seventy-five cent (0.75) surcharge on fares charged by rideshare companies as well as an account to benefit RIPTA from the payment of sales taxes collected from rideshares.
Establishes and funds an incentive program for landlords to offer reduced rents to eligible tenants. The program would be administered by the state department of housing with an appropriation of $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025.
Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.
Authorizes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish a program to expand the issuance of teaching certificates to bilingual dual language and world language teachers in urban and urban ring schools.
Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to restore $20 million in funding for Rhode Island's Down Payment Assistance program, which helps first-time homebuyers with low to moderate incomes afford a home. The legislation would direct the state treasurer to release these funds to eligible buyers, providing up to $20,000 toward their down payment to remove financial barriers to homeownership. It specifically addresses the removal of this funding in the 2024-2025 proposed budget by authorizing the appropriation from the state treasury for that fiscal year.
