The bill is a comprehensive appropriations bill for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, for the state of Rhode Island. It includes funding for a wide range of state departments and initiatives, such as public health, education, housing, economic development, and transportation. The bill specifies the allocation of general revenues, federal funds, restricted receipts, and other funds to various departments and projects. Notable appropriations include funding for community learning centers, energy resources, capital improvements, and the Office of Cannabis Regulation. The bill also details the distribution of airport impact aid and provides funds to the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation.

The bill mandates bi-monthly reporting from the directors of the departments of children, youth, and families, and human services on their respective progress in implementing plans and recruiting staff. It outlines specific allocations for services under these departments, including behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities, and hospitals. The bill also details appropriations for educational strategies and schools, with a focus on early childhood funds prioritizing low-income families and communities with low-performing schools. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the Rhode Island School for Progressive Education and various scholarship programs.

The bill provides funding for the Office of Postsecondary Commissioner, the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island, with specific allocations for debt service, asset protection, and improvement projects. It also appropriates funds to the RI State Council on the Arts, RI Atomic Energy Commission, and RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, as well as the Attorney General's office and the Department of Corrections. The bill mandates certain funds to support domestic violence advocacy and legal services for housing and eviction defense.

The bill outlines appropriations for the Judiciary, Military Staff, Public Safety, the Office of Public Defender, and the Emergency Management Agency. It includes funding for the State Emergency Ops Center, RI Statewide Communications Infrastructure, and various environmental management and protection activities. The bill also allocates significant funding for transportation infrastructure projects and maintenance, with a focus on the Municipal Roads Grant Program, RIPTA Operating Grant, and the Washington Bridge Project.

The bill details specific funding allocations for infrastructure maintenance, transportation, and other areas, with a grand total of $13,963,224,540. It authorizes the appropriation of these funds, allows the governor to transfer appropriations, and permits the use of contingency funds for unforeseen conditions or emergencies. Additionally, the bill authorizes the state controller to establish internal service accounts for operations that provide services on a cost-reimbursed basis.

The bill includes provisions for the centralization of state fleet operations, the issuance of grants or release of funds, and the appropriation of funds for specific purposes such as temporary disability insurance, employment security, and the lottery division. It sets full-time equivalent (FTE) position authorizations for various departments and agencies and includes provisions for positions supported by non-state general revenue funds to receive limited term appointments.

The bill relates to appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 and includes provisions for the allocation of funds to various state departments and projects in Rhode Island. It specifies the amounts appropriated from the Rhode Island capital plan fund for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2029, for various projects including the Department of Administration (DOA) Civic Center, DOA - Department of Information Technology (DoIT) Enterprise Operations Center, DOA Group Homes Consolidation, and many others. The bill outlines specific funding for the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island, with certain portions of these funds being available only for positions supported by third-party funds. Additionally, the bill includes appropriations for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, the RI Atomic Energy Commission, the Office of the Attorney General, Corrections, Judicial, Military Staff, and other state agencies.

The bill also addresses the employment of contracted services, stating that no agency or department may employ contracted employee services under state employee supervisors without a determination of need by the director of administration, following recommendations by the budget officer and the personnel administrator, and after a public hearing. Furthermore, it prohibits contracting for services that replace work done by state employees at the time without a similar determination of need and public hearing process. The bill supersedes previous appropriations for FY 2025 provided within Pub. L. 2023, ch. 79, art. 1, § 12. It also includes provisions for the reappropriation of unexpended and unencumbered funds from Rhode Island capital plan fund projects, with final approval by the general assembly required for such reappropriations. The Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation is directed to support the Neighborhood Opportunities Program and report on its funding and outcomes. Lastly, the bill appropriates all state economic activity taxes collected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, for various purposes related to the redevelopment of Pawtucket downtown, including debt service on bonds and infrastructure improvements.

The bill outlines the appropriations of federal funds to the State of Rhode Island from the state fiscal recovery fund and capital projects fund as enacted by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the fiscal year 2025. It specifies the allocation of funds to various departments and projects, including the establishment and support of a pandemic recovery office, storage for PPE and COVID-19 supplies, staffing needs for nursing facilities, community learning center programming, assistance to impacted industries like tourism and hospitality, and homelessness assistance programs. Additionally, the bill provides for workforce stabilization, the creation of a 9-8-8 hotline for crisis behavioral health services, support for adult education providers, scholarships for foster care youth, services for survivors of domestic violence, municipal road grants, public transit authority operating support, and the Washington Bridge project.

The bill also includes provisions for the reappropriation of unexpended and unencumbered funds, monitoring and reporting requirements for the pandemic recovery office, and the potential reallocation of funds to prevent the forfeiture of federal funds. It mandates the state controller to transfer funds to the Group Home Facility Improvement Fund and establishes that the act will take effect on July 1, 2024, with some provisions being effective immediately. There are no specific insertions or deletions from current law indicated in the provided text.

The bill amends Chapter 35-4 of the General Laws by introducing a new section, 35-4-21.1, which establishes a medical debt relief program. This program, to be administered by the general treasurer, allows for the purchase, cancellation, and forgiveness of medical debts under certain conditions: the debt must be for medical services, products, or devices; it must be in collection or sold/assigned by the original provider; and it must be owed by a state citizen with a federal adjusted gross income of 400% or less than the federal poverty line, or whose debt exceeds 5% of their adjusted gross income. Citizens whose debts are forgiven will be notified and the forgiven amount will not be included in state income tax calculations. The treasurer is tasked with providing quarterly updates on the program starting January 1, 2025, and may establish regulations for the program. The definition of medical debts is to be interpreted broadly to include various medical-related expenses.

Section 2 of the bill amends Section 35-4-27, concerning indirect cost recoveries on restricted receipt accounts. It specifies that a 10% indirect cost recovery from all restricted-receipt accounts will be transferred to the general fund, with exceptions for certain types of receipts. The amendment also lists various restricted receipt accounts that are exempt from this provision, including new additions such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program-Claims and the Group Home Facility Improvement Fund. The bill also includes changes to the Department of Housing, renaming the Housing Resources Commission to Housing Resources and Homelessness, and adding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Fund. Additionally, the bill amends sections 37-7-13 and 37-7-15 regarding the sale of surplus group homes and state-owned land, stipulating that proceeds from the sale of group homes will be transferred to the group home facility improvement fund, and clarifying the allocation of proceeds from the sale of other state-owned properties.

This bill pertains to the management and allocation of proceeds from the sale of state-owned properties in Rhode Island, specifically those identified as surplus land from the Interstate Route 195 relocation project. It introduces new provisions regarding the transfer of proceeds from the sale of state-owned group homes or "community residences," which are defined in § 40.1-24-1(2) and licensed by the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH). The bill stipulates that proceeds from the sale of these properties will not be included in the general transfer of proceeds outlined in subsection (a), but instead will be transferred to the newly established "group home facility improvement fund," as per § 40.1-1-22. This fund is created within the state's general fund as a restricted receipt account, and its resources will be used for the upkeep and maintenance of state-owned facilities as directed by the department's strategic priorities.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of the General Laws to establish and define the use of restricted receipt accounts and funds. For instance, it modifies the "2021 Act on Climate" to include provisions for funding the council through a restricted receipt account. It also amends the "Department of Administration" section to establish an "Information Technology Restricted Receipt Account" and a "Large Systems Initiatives Fund" for information technology improvements across state departments and agencies. Furthermore, the bill outlines the duties of the Office of Healthy Aging, emphasizing its role as the principal agency for planning and implementing programs for the dignity and independence of elderly persons, as well as serving as an advocate for the needs of adults with disabilities in relation to long-term care services.

The bill outlines the responsibilities and powers of the division responsible for addressing the needs of elderly persons. The division is tasked with investigating reports of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect and coordinating protective services. The director is authorized to assist communities with elderly-related issues, facilitate communication between communities and state entities, encourage the development of home- and long-term care programs, act as a clearinghouse for information, and coordinate state programs for the elderly. Additionally, the director is to advise the governor on elderly affairs, represent the state in federal grant programs, seek federal aid, and coordinate with various departments to support caregivers and establish a statewide family-caregiver support association and resource network, subject to available funding.

The bill also includes the creation of two restricted receipt accounts within the general fund. The first is the "commodity supplemental food program-claims" account, which will handle funds collected in payment of claims for donated food losses, with expenditures used for purchasing replacement foods, administrative costs, and compliance with federal regulations. The second is the "electric vehicle charging stations operating and maintenance fund," which will be used for installing, operating, and maintaining electric vehicle charging stations on state properties. The office of energy resources will establish fees for these charging stations, effective January 1, 2025, and will solicit public comment on the proposed fees. Funds in this account will be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions. The bill specifies that Section 5 will take effect on July 1, 2023, while the remainder will take effect on July 1, 2024.

The bill proposes several amendments to the General Laws, focusing on government reform and reorganization. In Section 1, it amends Section 13-7-15, which pertains to the operations and budget of correctional industries. The amendment includes new language that requires entities placing orders with correctional industries to pay 50% of their quoted material costs once items are ordered. Additionally, Section 2 adds a new section, 13-7-8.2, allowing the Department of Corrections to accept orders from any 501(c)(3) organizations for goods, services, or materials similar to those produced at adult correctional institutions.

Further amendments include changes to the Department of Health's reporting requirements. Section 3 amends Section 23-1-5.5, changing the submission date of the annual report on private well water contamination from January 15th to July 1st. Section 4 repeals Section 23-1-9, which required the director of health to make an annual report to the general assembly. Section 5 repeals Section 23-1.1-3, which involved reporting on the activities of the Division of Occupational Health. Section 6 amends Section 23-6.4-8, removing the requirement for the Department of Health to annually publish a report summarizing the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors. Section 7 amends Section 23-12.7-3, changing the reporting requirement for the free mammography screening program from quarterly to annually, with a due date of May 15th. Lastly, Section 8 amends Section 23-13.7-2, detailing the components of the Rhode Island Family Home-Visiting Act, emphasizing the coordination and implementation of evidence-based home-visiting programs to improve outcomes for vulnerable families with young children.

The bill includes several amendments to existing Rhode Island laws. One significant change is to the Rhode Island department of health's requirement for issuing a state home-visiting report. The deletion of the previous requirement for the report to begin on or before October 1, 2016, and the insertion of a new requirement for the report to be due annually by March 1 each year have been made. The report must outline the components of the home-visiting system and include various details such as the number of families served, demographic data, duration of participation, cross-departmental coordination, and outcomes related to health and family economic security. Additionally, it must provide an estimate of the number of children born to families facing significant risk factors and a plan to expand access to evidence-based home-visiting programs, including the associated fiscal costs and benefits.

Other changes include the repeal of Section 23-19.10-11 of the General Laws, which previously required annual reporting on hazardous waste reduction research and demonstration projects. Furthermore, amendments to Section 23-20.11-4 establish standards for cigarette fire safety, requiring cigarettes to be tested and certified for compliance with specific ignition strength standards and marked accordingly. Manufacturers must maintain test reports for three years and make them available upon request. The bill also addresses the reporting of post-consumer materials purchase rates by publications and provides for judicial review of compliance orders related to newspaper recyclability.

The bill includes several key changes to existing laws, with insertions and deletions aimed at updating and refining legal requirements and programs. One significant amendment is the deletion of a requirement for the director to review the effectiveness of a section related to cigarette ignition strength and report findings to the legislature every three years. This deletion suggests that the previously mandated periodic review and reporting are no longer required. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section that mandates towns or fire districts without an appointed assistant deputy state fire marshal to notify the state fire marshal within ten business days. It outlines the information required in the notice and establishes that failure to provide such notice may result in additional fees. The state fire marshal is authorized to assign deputy state fire marshals to the town or fire district during the absence, with the costs to be reimbursed by the town or fire district.

Furthermore, the bill repeals an existing section regarding a Women’s Cardiovascular Screening and Risk Reduction Pilot Program and replaces it with a new provision, although the details of the new provision are not included in the provided text. Lastly, the bill introduces the "Rhode Island Healthcare Workforce Data Collection Act," which aims to establish a framework for collecting data on healthcare professionals. This includes defining relevant terms such as "department" and "healthcare professional," indicating a focus on gathering information that could be used to inform healthcare policy and workforce planning. The specific details of the data collection act are not fully outlined in the provided text, but the title suggests an intent to systematically collect and analyze healthcare workforce data within Rhode Island.

The bill introduces new provisions for the collection and protection of healthcare workforce data in Rhode Island. It authorizes the department to collect data from all healthcare professionals licensed by the department as part of the licensure and license renewal process. The data elements to be collected include principal specialty, education level, current practice status, ethnicity, race, languages spoken other than English, additional years planning to practice or anticipated retirement year, total number of clinical/non-clinical hours per week, practice name(s) and location(s), acceptance of Medicaid as a form of payment, and other data as defined by the department. Additionally, the bill ensures the privacy of individual healthcare workforce data, stating that such data will remain confidential and will only be available as de-identified aggregate analysis to support healthcare planning, workforce analysis, and other health program and policy recommendations.

The bill also amends the State Purchases chapter by clarifying the conditions under which a vendor or entity can participate in a request for proposal (RFP). It states that no vendor with a conflict of interest may bid on an RFP unless in situations outlined in a new subsection (f), which exempts requests for information and emergency procurements, as well as feasibility studies and preliminary evaluations under certain conditions. Furthermore, the bill repeals the section that allowed the chief purchasing officer to establish an annual bidder registration fee and repeals "The Micro Businesses Act" in its entirety, removing all references and definitions related to micro