The bill amends Title 23 of the General Laws by adding a new chapter, Chapter 106, titled "International Public Health Collaboration." This chapter establishes definitions related to public health collaboration, including terms such as "Department," "Global outbreak response network," and "Public health collaboration agreement." It grants the Rhode Island Department of Health the authority to participate in international public health collaboration networks, including the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and to enter into public health collaboration agreements with federal agencies, international organizations, academic institutions, and public health authorities. The department is also authorized to designate a state public health office, department of health laboratory, or program as the institutional partner representing the state in such networks, and to participate in training programs, data-sharing initiatives, and technical assistance programs related to outbreak detection and response. Additionally, the department may provide voluntary deployment of qualified public health personnel to assist in outbreak investigations or response efforts coordinated through these networks.

The bill includes provisions to ensure privacy and legal protections, mandating compliance with all applicable federal and state privacy laws, protecting individually identifiable health information consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and state public health confidentiality statutes, and clarifying that participation in these networks will not transfer regulatory or policymaking authority of the state to any international organization. Furthermore, the department is required to coordinate its participation in international public health collaboration networks with relevant agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when appropriate. The act will take effect upon passage.