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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

     Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Cano, Lawson, Valverde, Miller, Pearson, Lauria,
Bissaillon, Euer, and Murray

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-1-45 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department

of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-1-45. Immunization account.

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

“childhood immunization account”. All money in the account shall be utilized by the department

of health to effectuate the provisions of § 23-1-44 that relate to the childhood immunization

program. All money received pursuant to §§ 23-1-46 and 23-1-47 for the childhood immunization

program shall be deposited in the childhood immunization account. Funding dedicated exclusively

to effectuate the provisions of § 23-1-44 and this subsection received by the department of health

from sources other than those identified in §§ 23-1-46 and 23-1-47 may also be deposited in the

childhood immunization account. Up to 15% of the annual revenues from this account may be used

to support costs associated with childhood immunization program administrative and quality

assurance services and KIDSNET. 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. Provided that for FY 2025 only, the department shall use up to eight hundred and fifty

thousand dollars ($850,000) of available resources from the account to effectuate coverage for the

following services: the existing PediPRN and MomsPRN information lines together with any

additional information line, referral service, or hotline which is available to providers or residents

in the state, and which is funded pursuant to regulation adopted by the director of the department

of health. The department must submit a report to the speaker of the house and senate president no

later than March 1, 2025, regarding use of these funds as well as recommendations for support

beyond FY 2025.

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

“pandemic medications and equipment account” for the purposes of funding pandemic medications

and equipment. There shall be an expenditure in FY 2007 not to exceed one million dollars

($1,000,000) for pandemic influenza medications and equipment. Funding dedicated exclusively

to effectuate the provisions of this subsection and received by the department of health from sources

other than those identified in §§ 23-1-45, 23-1-46 and 23-1-47 may also be deposited in the

pandemic medications and equipment 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.

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

“adult immunization account”. All funds in the account shall be utilized by the department of health

to effectuate the provisions of § 23-1-44 that relate to the adult immunization program. All funds

received for adult immunization programs pursuant to §§ 23-1-46 and 23-1-47 shall be deposited

in the adult immunization account. Funding dedicated exclusively to effectuate the provisions of

this subsection and received by the department of health from sources other than those identified

in §§ 23-1-46 and 23-1-47 may also be deposited in the adult immunization 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. Provided that for FY 2025 only, the

department shall use up to eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($850,000) of available

resources from the account to effectuate coverage for the following services: the existing PediPRN

and MomsPRN information lines together with any additional information line, referral service, or

hotline which is available to providers or residents in the state, and which is funded pursuant to

regulation adopted by the director of the department of health. The department must submit a report

to the speaker of the house and senate president no later than March 1, 2025, regarding use of these

funds as well as recommendations for support beyond FY 2025.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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     This act would designate, for fiscal year 2025, the usage for certain funds within the

immunization account.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2024.

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