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HB 8402

AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PERMANENT JOINT STUDY COMMISSION ON AGING AND MULTI-SECTOR PLAN ON AGING

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Carson

Creates a permanent, cross-agency plan and commission to coordinate aging initiatives across housing, transportation, health, and services, with ongoing updates and reporting.

06/09/2026 Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
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Bill Summary · HB 8402

Summary of HB 8402 ( Rhode Island, 2026 )

AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES — PERMANENT JOINT STUDY COMMISSION ON AGING AND MULTI-SECTOR PLAN ON AGING

Purpose and overall aim

  • Establishes a permanent joint legislative study commission in Rhode Island to guide, develop, and oversee a comprehensive, long-term, cross-sector plan on aging called the Multi-Sector Plan on Aging (MPA).
  • The MPA is intended to address the needs of older adults and persons with disabilities across multiple domains and to coordinate action across state agencies, municipalities, and community partners.

Key provisions

1) Establishment and mandate

  • Creates the “Permanent Joint Legislative Study Commission on Aging” (the permanent commission) to implement the MPA.
  • The MPA serves as the general assembly’s coordinated framework for aging-related planning and action.

2) Membership and leadership

  • Commission size: 19 members total.
    • House: 3 members (one designated as co-chair).
    • Senate: 3 members (one designated as co-chair).
    • State officials: directors/secretaries from relevant agencies (Office of Healthy Aging, EHHS, Department of Health, Housing, RI Public Transit Authority).
    • Chairs: state aging commission and long-term care coordinating council.
    • Local/state partners: RI League of Cities and Towns; Senior Agenda Coalition of RI.
    • Municipal/advocacy representation: one municipal senior center director; three public members representing aging or disability communities (with lived experience), including at least one 60+ and at least one adult with disabilities or disability organization representative.
  • Terms: Legislative members serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority; public members serve staggered three-year terms.
  • Quorum: A majority of legislative members.

3) Multi-sector Plan on Aging (MPA)

  • The permanent commission develops and periodically updates the MPA, a long-term, cross-sector framework.
  • Domains covered (at minimum): Housing, Transportation, Access to Services, Municipal Services, Economic Security, and Healthcare.
  • The MPA must include:
    • Demographic trends and projections.
    • Identification of disparities and structural barriers.
    • Goals and strategic priorities per domain.
    • Interagency and municipal collaboration opportunities.
    • Legislative, regulatory, and budgetary action recommendations.
    • Strategies for aging in place and for home- and community-based services.
  • Timeline: The initial MPA must be adopted within 18 months of enactment; updates at least every four years.

4) Duties of the permanent commission

  • Promote aging-focused planning across government.
  • Facilitate joint policy development and improve efficiency.
  • Request information and implementation updates from relevant agencies.
  • Establish subcommittees aligned with MPA domains.
  • Hold at least four public meetings annually.

5) Annual reporting

  • By January 15 each year, submit a progress report on the MPA and recommendations for legislative or budgetary action to designated leaders and committees.
  • State agencies must respond within 90 days with actions, planned actions, or reasons for non-implementation.
  • Reports and responses must be public.

6) Administrative and financial support

  • The General Assembly will provide staff support; the Office of Healthy Aging can provide technical assistance.
  • Annual appropriation authorized: $1,000,000 to support the permanent commission.
  • Funding supports at least one full-time staffer at the EHHS to staff the commission.

7) Permanency

  • The commission is permanent and does not sunset unless repealed by further act.

8) Federal coordination

  • The state Office of Healthy Aging must coordinate Older Americans Act reporting with the MPA and permanent commission.
  • Data and performance measures from federal reporting should inform the MPA.
  • Federal reporting data should be integrated into statewide aging planning, without diminishing federal obligations.

Timing and status

  • Effective date: September 1, 2026.
  • Action history indicates the measure was recommended to be held for further study by the committee (April 28, 2026) after consideration and scheduling in April 2026.
  • Sponsored by Rep. Lauren H. Carson (co-sponsor noted).

Potential impact

  • Provides a formal, cross-agency, long-term planning mechanism to address aging in Rhode Island.
  • Aims to improve coordination across housing, transportation, health care, and social services for older adults and people with disabilities.
  • Establishes structured reporting, accountability, and public engagement through regular meetings and annual reporting.
  • Committed funding and staff support to sustain ongoing work.

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

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