2024 -- S 2087

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LC003811

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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 -- ALCOHOLISM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: January 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-1.10-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1.10 entitled

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"Alcoholism" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-1.10-4. Duties of department.

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     The department shall:

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     (1) Develop, encourage, and foster statewide, regional, and local plans and programs for

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the prevention of alcoholism and treatment of alcoholics and intoxicated persons in cooperation

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with public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals and provide technical assistance

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and consultation services for these purposes;

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     (2) Coordinate the efforts and enlist the assistance of all public and private agencies,

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organizations, and individuals interested in prevention of alcoholism and treatment of alcoholics

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and intoxicated persons;

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     (3) Cooperate with the department of corrections and board of parole in establishing and

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conducting programs to provide treatment for alcoholics and intoxicated persons in or on parole

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from penal institutions;

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     (4) Cooperate with the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, board of

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governors for higher education, schools, police departments, courts, and other public and private

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agencies, organizations, and individuals in establishing programs for the prevention of alcoholism

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and treatment of alcoholics and intoxicated persons, and preparing curriculum materials for use at

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all levels of school education;

 

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     (5) Prepare, publish, evaluate, and disseminate educational material dealing with the nature

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and effects of alcohol;

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     (6) Develop and implement, as an integral part of treatment programs, an educational

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program for use in the treatment of alcoholics and intoxicated persons, which program shall include

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the dissemination of information concerning the nature and effects of alcohol;

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     (7) Organize and foster training programs for all persons engaged in treatment of alcoholics

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and intoxicated persons;

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     (8) Sponsor and encourage research into the causes and nature of alcoholism and treatment

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of alcoholics and intoxicated persons, and serve as a clearing house for information relating to

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alcoholism;

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     (9) Specify uniform methods for keeping statistical information by public and private

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agencies, organizations, and individuals, and collect and make available relevant statistical

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information, including number of persons treated, frequency of admission and readmission, and

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frequency and duration of treatment;

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     (10) Advise the governor in the preparation of a comprehensive plan for treatment of

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alcoholics and intoxicated persons;

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     (11) Review all state health, welfare, and treatment plans to be submitted for federal

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funding under federal legislation, and advise the governor on provisions to be included relating to

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alcoholism and intoxicated persons;

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     (12) Assist in the development of, and cooperate with, alcohol education and treatment

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programs for employees of state and local governments and businesses and industries in the state;

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     (13) Utilize the support and assistance of interested persons in the community, particularly

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recovered alcoholics, to encourage alcoholics to voluntarily undergo treatment;

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     (14) Cooperate with the department of transportation and related agencies both state and

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local in establishing and conducting programs designed to deal with the problem of persons

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operating motor vehicles while intoxicated;

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     (15) Encourage general hospitals and other appropriate health facilities to admit without

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discrimination alcoholics and intoxicated persons and to provide them with adequate and

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appropriate treatment;

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     (16) Encourage all health and disability insurance programs to include alcoholism as a

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covered illness;

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     (17) Submit to the governor an annual report covering the activities of the department; and

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     (18) Establish alcohol and substance abuse prevention programs for students in

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kindergarten through grade twelve (12), in accordance with ยง 35-4-18. The director shall make an

 

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annual report to the governor and the general assembly on the administration of the program and

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shall submit to the governor and the general assembly the results of an independent evaluation of

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the alcohol and substance abuse prevention program established in accordance with this section.

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This evaluation shall address the following areas:

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     (i) Program development;

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     (ii) Implementation;

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     (iii) Impact; and

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     (iv) Recommendations for future needs; and

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     (19) The department, shall coordinate with the Rhode Island department of health and any

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other appropriate public or private agencies, organizations, or individuals to propose revisions and

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updates to this chapter. This shall include, but not be limited to, updates or revisions to statutory

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language, definitions, and evidence-based best practices. The department shall report the proposed

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revisions and updates, described in this subsection, to the general assembly and members of the

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senate committee on health & human services and the house committee on health, education and

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welfare on or before January 1, 2025.

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     SECTION 2. Section 23-10.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-10.1 entitled

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"Emergency Commitment for Drug Intoxication" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-10.1-3. General powers and duties.

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     (a) The department is charged with the execution of the laws relating to the emergency

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admission and custody of drug intoxicated individuals.

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     (b) The department may adopt rules and regulations that it may deem necessary to carry

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out the provisions of this chapter to insure the safety and promote the welfare of individuals

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committed to its custody pursuant to this chapter.

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     (c) The department, shall coordinate with the Rhode Island department of health and any

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other appropriate public or private agencies, organizations, or individuals to propose revisions and

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updates to this chapter. This shall include, but not be limited to, updates or revisions to statutory

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language, definitions, and evidence-based best practices. The department shall report the proposed

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revisions and updates, described in this subsection, to the general assembly and members of the

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senate committee on health & human services and the house committee on health, education and

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welfare on or before January 1, 2025.

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     SECTION 3. 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 -- ALCOHOLISM

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     This act would require the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities

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and hospitals to coordinate with the department of health to propose revisions to sections of the

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general laws relating to alcoholism and emergency commitment for drug intoxication, including

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updates and revisions of statutory language and evidence-based best practices.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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