It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 42-66.8 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Assisted Housing Living Waiver" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

42-66.8-7. Additional assisted living waiver request. -- In addition to the waiver request required by section 42-66.8-2, the directors of the departments of human services and elderly affairs shall cooperate and collaborate in obtaining approval from the health care financing administration for additional home and community based waiver services designated to fund assisted living support services for an additional one hundred eighty (180) persons, including fifty (50) persons with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia with similar care and service needs, residing in licensed assisted living residences that demonstrate the capacity to meet the standards for service and care required under the conditions of the waiver. Application for the additional one hundred eighty (180) persons shall be submitted to the federal government by January 1, 2002. For purposes of this section, assisted living residence shall mean those facilities licensed by the state pursuant to chapter 17.4 of title 23.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.