Commences July 1, 2025, this act would eliminate the provision of this section that requires new applicants for employment under this section to pay the expense for their criminal background checks.
Maddy summarySB 665 expands Rhode Island's crime victim compensation program to include hit-and-run victims who suffer serious bodily injury. The bill amends the law by adding a new category (section 19) specifically covering "failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in serious bodily injury." This change directly affects victims of hit-and-run crashes where injury occurs, making them eligible for financial assistance previously unavailable under the existing program. The law takes effect upon passage.
Directs the RITBA design a safety barrier or netting system on the several bridges within its authority. Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100 ft) would be required to have safety barriers of safety netting.
Provides that the renewable energy fund remains in existence until December 31, 2033, to align with the mandate that 100% of Rhode Island's electricity demand is from renewable energy and also complies with federal grant requirements.
Maddy summarySB 466 changes how Massachusetts pays nursing facilities for Medicaid services. It replaces the current cost-based payment system with a new method that adjusts rates based on patient care needs (acuity), facility occupancy, and inflation. Crucially, 80% of certain annual rate increases must be used to raise wages for direct-care staff like nurses and aides (excluding exempt employees and contracted workers), with facilities required to certify compliance annually. This applies to all nursing facilities serving Medicaid patients under both fee-for-service and managed care programs.
Establishes, encourages and supports the establishment of family councils and resident councils in managed residential communities providing assisted living services.
Maddy summarySB 215 increases the minimum cash wage for tipped workers (like restaurant servers) from $3.89 to $6.75 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. It directly affects employees in restaurants, hotels, and similar service industries who rely on tips as part of their income, excluding taxicab drivers. The bill sets a new hourly cash wage floor that employers must pay, ensuring tipped workers earn at least $6.75/hour without relying on tip deductions. This change follows a phased increase schedule, raising the current $3.89 floor by $2.86 over time. The law applies to all qualifying employers in these industries and takes effect upon passage.
Establishes a task force managed by the children’s cabinet to develop recommendations to improve access to early intervention and early childhood special education services.
Maddy summarySB 54 prohibits Rhode Island health insurance providers from requiring prior approval (preauthorization) for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services. This directly affects insurers and patients seeking these specific treatments, ensuring they can access care without waiting for insurance approval. The bill amends existing law to align mental health/substance use coverage with medical care parity, building on an existing 2018 agreement by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. It does not change coverage for other medical conditions or out-of-network services.
Maddy summarySB 193 requires health insurance plans (including group plans and individual policies) to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment on the same terms as physical health care. Key provisions include banning annual or lifetime dollar limits, ensuring cost-sharing (like copays) matches primary care, and prohibiting stricter restrictions (such as prior authorizations) for mental health services. The bill mandates insurers to use established clinical standards - like those from the American Society of Addiction Medicine - to determine coverage levels. This directly affects all insured individuals seeking mental health or addiction treatment, ensuring parity in coverage with medical conditions.
