| Chapter 312 |
| 2025 -- H 6384 Enacted 06/30/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |
Introduced By: Representative Matthew S. Dawson |
| Date Introduced: June 04, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 23-1-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department |
| of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 23-1-17. Additional general powers. |
| (a) In addition to the other powers given to the director of health or the department of health |
| by other provisions of the general laws, and in order to permit the director to properly perform the |
| duties given to him or herthe director by the general assembly, and to enforce the rules and |
| regulations the director is authorized to promulgate and adopt, the director is further authorized to |
| promulgate and adopt rules and regulations for the establishment of information collection, |
| minimum sanitary requirements, and other duties given to the director by § 23-1-1 or by any other |
| provision of law, and to enforce those rules and regulations. The director is further authorized to |
| issue licenses or permits, and to revoke, suspend, or annul them, to aid in the enforcement of those |
| rules and regulations. |
| (b) In the event of a public health emergency, the director is authorized to grant a temporary |
| Rhode Island healthcare provider license for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days and limited to |
| those healthcare providers who hold an active valid license in another state. The director is |
| authorized to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to establish a process for this temporary |
| emergency license. |
| (c) In the event an application for professional licensure is delayed as a result of a board of |
| licensure’s inability to establish a quorum, the director shall have the authority to review and issue |
| licenses for any pending applications pursuant to all applicable rules and regulations. |
| (1) Review of applications by the director shall apply to those boards that have business |
| pending but have been unable to establish a quorum for more than thirty (30) business days. |
| (2) The authority granted by this subsection shall not extend to any pending disciplinary |
| actions. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002992 |
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