The bill amends Section 23-1-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1, which pertains to the Department of Health. It introduces new provisions that grant the director of health additional powers, including the authority to establish rules for information collection and minimum sanitary requirements, as well as the ability to issue, revoke, suspend, or annul licenses and permits. In the event of a public health emergency, the director can grant temporary Rhode Island healthcare provider licenses for up to 90 days to those with valid licenses from other states.

Furthermore, the bill allows the director to review and issue licenses for pending applications if a medical or dental board has been unable to establish a quorum for more than 30 business days. This provision ensures that delays in professional licensure due to quorum issues do not hinder the licensing process, although it explicitly excludes pending disciplinary actions from this authority. The act will take effect upon passage.