2022 -- S 2332

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LC004074

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COVID-19 RAPID TEST KIT AND N95 MASK

PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Mendes, Calkin, Valverde, Mack, Anderson, and Acosta

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 97

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COVID-19 RAPID TEST KIT AND N95 MASK PROGRAM

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     23-97-1. Distribution of COVID-19 rapid test kits and N95 masks.

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     (a) The department of health shall establish a program for the distribution of COVID-19

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rapid test kits and N95 masks, to be distributed by US mail to all households and household

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members in the State of Rhode Island, as determined by the most recent census conducted by the

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United States Census Bureau test kits and N95 masks. Additional distribution centers will be made

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available to serve unhoused or housing insecure Rhode Islanders with the manual distribution of

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N95 masks and rapid test kits. Homeless shelters, warming centers, harm reduction centers, and

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health equity zones shall be provided with a sufficient supply of COVID-19 rapid test kits and N95

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masks to serve their typical client demands.

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     (b) The provisions of this section shall remain in effect for six (6) months after passage or

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so long as the COVID-19 related disaster emergency declaration is made pursuant to ยง 30-15-9,

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whichever is longest.

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     (c) Each delivery shall include one mask per member of the household and one test kit per

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member of the household, and shall be delivered weekly to each household. Each delivery shall

 

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include a one page fact sheet about the importance of wearing a mask in English, and a translation

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into the appropriate language or languages for the area/community.

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     (d) The department of health shall be empowered to institute such rules and regulations

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necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COVID-19 RAPID TEST KIT AND N95 MASK

PROGRAM

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     This act would require the department of health to institute a program for distribution of

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N95 masks and COVID-19 test kits to every household in Rhode Island and manual distribution to

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unhoused, housing insecure Rhode Islanders, homeless shelters, warming centers, harm reduction

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centers and health equity zones.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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