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SB 2315

AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Victoria Gu and 4 co-sponsors

The bill expands the deinstitutionalization subsidy program to include adoptive parents and siblings as eligible caregivers, enabling financial support for non-institutional, home-

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2315

Summary of Bill SB 2315 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS

Jurisdiction: Rhode Island

Session: 2026

Introduced: January 23, 2026
Referred to: Senate Judiciary
Status: As of action history, recommended to be held for further study (April 30, 2026)

Primary Sponsors: Senators Raptakis, Valverde, Murray, Gu, and Thompson
Co-sponsors: Brian A. Thompson, Bridget Valverde, Victoria Gu, Melissa Murray, Lou Raptakis

1) Main purpose and intent

  • The bill expands the existing deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program within the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH).
  • Specifically, it broadens eligibility to include adoptive parents and siblings (where applicable) who may care for a person under the director’s care and control, either in-state or eligible out-of-state facilities.
  • The aim is to support non-institutional, home- or community-based care arrangements when such placement is in the best interest of the person with developmental disabilities or behavioral health needs, and to provide financial subsidies to the appropriate caregiver.

2) Key provisions and changes

  • Creation/Expansion: The existing deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program is expanded to cover:
    • Adoptive parents
    • Siblings (where appropriate)
  • Eligibility and Certification: The director of BHDDH is empowered to promulgate rules to:
    • Establish eligibility criteria for the parent applicant (including certification of the caregiver)
    • Determine eligibility and qualifications for individuals who may be removed from institutional settings and placed with a qualified caregiver (including out-of-state placements)
    • Set guidelines for licensing, inspection, monitoring, evaluation, and protective standards
    • Provide for recall or return of the person to state institutions if necessary
  • Caregiver Roles: A “qualified parent applicant” may be:
    • A natural parent, adoptive parent, foster parent (or joint combinations of these), or a court-appointed guardian
    • In situations of divorce, separation, or death, the custodian parent legally responsible for the person may apply
    • “Appropriate relative” may include interested and approved relatives of the adult, or siblings
  • Subsidy Purpose and Use: “Subsidy aid” means ongoing financial support to the qualified caregiver for the care, custody, and control of the person under BHDDH authority
  • Related Oversight: The bill authorizes regulatory oversight to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the person placed with a caregiver
  • Specific Institutions Mentioned: Ladd Center, Zambarano Memorial Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, General Hospital, or equivalent out-of-state placements
  • Miscellaneous Provisions: The act references the development of shared-living options for siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities as a broader goal, with the department tasked to analyze fiscal impacts and report recommendations (note: the timeline cited (by December 31, 2013) appears to be boilerplate in the text and predates the 2026 bill; it may be superseded by current/state practice if enacted)

3) Who/what would be affected

  • Eligible recipients:
    • Adoptive parents
    • Siblings (where appropriate) who assume care under the director’s authority
    • Other qualifying relatives or guardians as defined by BHDDH regulations
  • Recipients of subsidy:
    • Qualified parent applicants or appropriate relatives who provide care, custody, and control for a person previously institutionalized (in Rhode Island facilities or eligible out-of-state institutions)
  • Affected individuals:
    • Persons previously residing or receiving care in facilities such as Ladd Center, Zambarano Memorial Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, or General Hospital, who may transition to non-institutional care under subsidy aid
  • Oversight entities:
    • BHDDH, with authority to promulgate rules and monitor compliance, placement, care, and safety

4) Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.
  • Regulatory process: BHDDH would promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the program, including eligibility, placement, monitoring, recall procedures, and safeguard measures.
  • Implementation considerations: The bill envisions ongoing subsidies and supervision to ensure safe, appropriate, non-institutional care arrangements.

5) Observations

  • The bill focuses on expanding family-based and non-institutional care options for individuals who might otherwise remain in state or hospital-based care.
  • By allowing adoptive parents and siblings to qualify for subsidies, the bill broadens the pool of potential guardians able to provide home-based care.
  • Key questions for stakeholders may include:
    • Specific eligibility criteria and subsidy amounts
    • Conditions under which custody could be recalled to the state
    • How out-of-state placements would be regulated and monitored
    • Interaction with existing social services and Medicaid/health coverage

This summary provides the substantive elements and potential impact based on the provided bill text and action history. For implementation, the department’s forthcoming regulations will detail exact eligibility, funding levels, and oversight procedures.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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