The "Healthcare Provider Shield Act" is designed to protect the legal right to access gender-affirming and reproductive health care services in the state, as defined by § 23-100-2. It prohibits interference with legally protected health care activities and considers any public act from another state that criminalizes or sanctions such activities as interference with the rights secured by the state. The bill adds Chapter 100 to Title 23 of the General Laws, providing definitions for terms related to health care activities and outlining what constitutes aiding and assisting in these activities. It specifies that aiding and assisting does not include conduct that violates Rhode Island law or deviates from the standard of care. The bill also allows for civil action against hostile litigation and restricts courts from ordering individuals within the state to provide testimony or documents in proceedings outside the state concerning hostile litigation.

The bill introduces new provisions to protect healthcare providers, including prohibiting judges and officials from issuing subpoenas in connection with hostile litigation and preventing business entities from providing assistance in response to out-of-state legal processes related to legally protected healthcare activities. It also restricts public agencies from using resources to further interstate investigations or proceedings that seek to impose liability for such activities. The bill amends Chapter 12-9 of the General Laws to prohibit the governor from complying with extradition requests for persons charged with criminal violations involving legally protected health care activity, except as required by federal law. It also introduces a new chapter that outlines license protections for providers of legally protected healthcare activity, defines terms, and specifies prohibited actions against healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill amends Section 23-17-53 of the General Laws to prevent hospitals from taking adverse actions against healthcare providers based on disciplinary actions from other states that resulted from legally protected healthcare activities. There are no deletions indicated in the provided text.

Statutes affected:
2262  SUB B: 23-17-53, 5-37-9.2
2262  SUB A: 23-17-53, 5-37-9.2
2262: 23-17-53, 5-37-9.2