ARTICLE 14 SUBSTITUTE A

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LEGAL FEES

     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-1 of the General Laws entitled “Department of Health” is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

23-1-53.  Cost of legal fees. – (a) The director is hereby authorized and may in his or

her discretion recover the reasonable cost of legal services provided to the department of health

by attorneys of the office of legal counsel or attorneys under contract to perform attorney

functions and activities for the department of health pursuant to RIGL chapters 23-15 and 23-

17.14 and RIGL sections 23-17-14.3 and 23-17-14.4. Nothing in this section shall limit the

power of the director to retain legal counsel and to recover the costs of such legal counsel

pursuant to other provisions of the general laws.

(b) There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as

the "health systems reimbursement account". All funds deposited in the account shall be utilized

by the department of health to implement the provisions of this section incurred by the

department pursuant to RIGL chapters 23-15 and 23-17.14 and RIGL sections 23-17-14.3 and

23-17-14.4. All funds received for the department pursuant to this section shall be deposited in

the “health system reimbursement account”. The general treasurer is authorized and directed to

draw his or her orders on the account upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers from the

department of health.

     SECTION 2. This article shall take effect upon passage.