2024 -- S 2759

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LC004322

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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 -- LONG-TERM CARE COORDINATING

COUNCIL

     Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

     Date Introduced: March 08, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-17.3-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.3 entitled "Long-

Term Care Coordinating Council" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-17.3-2. Membership.

     (a) The council shall be comprised of thirty-three (33) members, as follows: the lieutenant

governor or designee; the director of the department of health or designee; the secretary of the

executive office of health and human services or designee; the director of the department of

behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals or designee; the attorney general or

designee; the director of the office of healthy aging or designee; the chair of the Rhode Island

advisory commission on aging or designee; the director of the Rhode Island Chapter of the

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) or designee; the state long-term care

ombudsman or designee; the president of the Rhode Island Senior Center Directors Association or

designee; the executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or

designee; a representative of a not-for-profit long-term-care provider organization other than a

nursing home owner and a representative of a long-term-care service provider that primarily serves

persons with developmental disabilities, both to be appointed by the governor; a representative of

an assisted living residence other than a nursing home, to be appointed by the lieutenant governor;

a public member with no direct interest in long-term-care ownership representing a senior advocacy

organization, to be appointed by the speaker; a representative of the state program of all inclusive

care for the elderly, to be appointed by the lieutenant governor; a representative of senior housing,

to be appointed by the lieutenant governor; a representative of a hospice provider organization, to

be appointed by the senate president; a licensed home-care provider or a licensed home nursing

care provider, to be appointed by the speaker; a representative of a community mental health center,

to be appointed by the president of the senate; a registered nurse experienced in the care of the

elderly, to be appointed by the governor; a representative of nonmanagerial nursing home

employees, to be appointed by the president of the senate; two (2) members of the house, not more

than one (1) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker; a nursing home owner,

to be appointed by the speaker; two (2) members of the senate, not more than one from the same

political party, to be appointed by the president of the senate; one consumer of home- and

community-based care or a caregiver of a consumer of home- and community-based care, to be

appointed by the lieutenant governor; one consumer of behavioral health services or a caregiver of

a consumer of behavioral health services, to be appointed by the speaker; a member of the public

representing the interests of parents of children with special care needs, to be appointed by the

governor; a person with developmental disabilities or a representative of an organization that

advocates for the rights of persons with developmental disabilities, to be appointed by the lieutenant

governor; a general physician or advanced practice nurse with experience in serving persons with

long-term care and behavioral health needs, to be appointed by the president of the senate; and a

representative of a managed care health insurer providing long-term support and services, to be

appointed by the governor. The members of the council shall serve two-year (2) terms, expiring on

the second anniversary of each individual’s appointment or on the date that their respective

successors are appointed and qualified, whichever is later.

     (b) A quorum shall consist of twelve (12) members of the council.

     23-17.3-4. Public meetings.

     (a) The council shall meet at least four (4) times annually. All meetings of the council shall

be open to the public, and the public shall be duly notified of the date, time, and location of each

meeting.

     (b) Council members are authorized to participate remotely in open public meeting of the

council; provided, however, that:

     (1) The remote members and all persons present at the meeting location are clearly audible

and visible to each other;

     (2) If videoconferencing is used to conduct a meeting, the public notice for the meeting

shall inform the public that videoconferencing will be used and include instructions on how the

public can access the virtual meeting.

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     SECTION 2. 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 -- LONG-TERM CARE COORDINATING

COUNCIL

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     This act would provide for remote participation in open public meetings of the long-term

care coordinating council and would provide that a quorum of the council consists of twelve (12)

members.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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