‌2025 -- H 5076 SUBSTITUTE A

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A N A C T

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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1. ‌ARTICLE 1

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   art.001/5/001/4/001/3/001/2/001/1

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2. RELATING TO MAKING APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF FY 2026

   
   

3. SECTION 1. Subject to the conditions, limitations and restrictions hereinafter contained in

   
   

4. this act, the following general revenue amounts are hereby appropriated out of any money in the

   
   

5. treasury not otherwise appropriated to be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

   
   

6. The amounts identified for federal funds and restricted receipts shall be made available pursuant to

   
   

7. § 35-4-22 and chapter 41 of title 42. For the purposes and functions hereinafter mentioned, the state

8. controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw the state controller’s orders upon the general

   
   

9. treasurer for the payment of such sums or such portions thereof as may be required from time to

   
   

10. time upon receipt by the state controller of properly authenticated vouchers.

    
    

11. Administration

    
    

12. Central Management

13. General Revenues 4,359,358

    
    

14. Federal Funds

    
    

15. Federal Funds 33,000,000

    
    

16. Restricted Receipts 193,701

    
    

17. Total - Central Management 37,553,059

    
    

18. Legal Services

19. General Revenues 2,872,990

    
    

20. Accounts and Control

    
    

21. General Revenues 5,804,845

    
    

22. Restricted Receipts - OPEB Board Administration 150,959

    
    

23. Restricted Receipts - Grants Management Administration 2,540,109

24. Total - Accounts and Control 8,495,913

    
    

25. Office of Management and Budget

    
    

26. General Revenues 11,000,012

    
    

27. Federal Funds

    
    

28. Federal Funds 151,689

29. Federal Funds – Capital Projects Fund

    
    

30. CPF Administration 530,582

    
    

    1 Federal Funds – State Fiscal Recovery Fund
    2 Pandemic Recovery Office	1,436,547
    3 Restricted Receipts	300,000
    4 Other Funds	1,242,011
    5 Total - Office of Management and Budget	14,660,841
    6 Purchasing
    7 General Revenues	4,008,986
    8 Restricted Receipts	1,262,987
    9 Other Funds	636,500
    10 Total - Purchasing	5,908,473
    11 Human Resources
    12 General Revenues	889,580
    13 Personnel Appeal Board
    14 General Revenues	160,838
    15 Information Technology
    16 General Revenues	1,838,147
    17 Restricted Receipts	1,162,424
    18 Total - Information Technology	3,000,571
    19 Library and Information Services
    20 General Revenues	2,143,053
    21 Federal Funds	1,617,500
    22 Restricted Receipts	6,990
    23 Total - Library and Information Services	3,767,543
    24 Planning
    25 General Revenues	1,222,229
    26 Federal Funds	3,050
    27 Restricted Receipts	50,000
    28 Other Funds
    29 Air Quality Modeling	24,000
    30 Federal Highway - PL Systems Planning	3,821,438
    31 State Transportation Planning Match	504,926
    32 FTA - Metro Planning Grant	1,525,830
    33 Total - Planning	7,151,473
    34 General

    
    

    1 General Revenues
    2 Miscellaneous Grants/Payments	811,678
    3 Torts Court Awards	1,750,000
    4 Wrongful Conviction Awards	1,000,000
    5 Resource Sharing and State Library Aid	12,095,022
    6 Library Construction Aid	2,115,628

    
    

    1. Restricted Receipts 1,113,557

       
       

    2. Other Funds

       
       

       9 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
       10 Security Measures State Buildings	700,000
       11 Cranston Street Armory	600,000
       12 State House Renovations	1,759,000
       13 Zambarano Buildings and Campus	4,500,000
       14 Replacement of Fueling Tanks	430,000
       15 Environmental Compliance	225,000
       16 Big River Management Area	797,000
       17 Shepard Building Upgrades	2,805,000
       18 RI Convention Center Authority	2,800,000
       19 Pastore Center Power Plant	2,000,000
       20 DoIT Enterprise Operations Center	5,550,000
       21 Cannon Building	150,000
       22 Old State House	600,000
       23 State Office Building	500,000
       24 State Office Reorganization & Relocation	750,000
       25 William Powers Building	2,500,000
       26 Pastore Center Non-Hospital Buildings Asset Protection	7,750,000
       27 Washington County Government Center	100,000
       28 Chapin Health Laboratory	100,000
       29 560 Jefferson Blvd Asset Protection	2,050,000
       30 Arrigan Center	200,000
       31 Civic Center	3,800,000
       32 Veterans Auditorium	380,000
       33 Pastore Center Hospital Buildings Asset Protection	1,000,000
       34 Pastore Campus Infrastructure	15,000,000

       
       

       1 Community Facilities Asset Protection	225,000
       2 Medical Examiners - New Facility	50,000
       3 Group Home Replacement & Rehabilitation	5,000,000
       4 Expo Center	500,000
       5 Group Homes Consolidation	5,350,000
       6 Total - General	87,056,885
       7 Debt Service Payments
       8 General Revenues	178,801,286
       9 Other Funds
       10 Transportation Debt Service	32,982,697
       11 Investment Receipts - Bond Funds	100,000
       12 Total - Debt Service Payments	211,883,983
       13 Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange
       14 General Revenues	1,889,227
       15 Federal Funds	10,758,473
       16 Restricted Receipts	17,298,973
       17 Total - Rhode Island Health Benefits Exchange	29,946,673
       18 Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
       19 General Revenues	2,308,469
       20 Other Funds	108,978
       21 Total - Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion	2,417,447
       22 Capital Asset Management and Maintenance
       23 General Revenues	10,990,302
       24 Statewide Personnel and Operations
       25 FEMA Contingency Reserve
       26 General Revenues	2,500,000
       27 Primary Care Health Assessment State Cost
       28 General Revenues	750,000
       29 Federal Funds	100,500
       30 Restricted Receipts	44,575
       31 Other Funds	477,295
       32 Total - Statewide Personnel and Operations	3,872,370
       33 Grand Total - Administration	430,628,941
       34 Office of Energy Resources

       
       

       1 Federal Funds	31,554,214
       2 Restricted Receipts	39,089,028
       3 Other Funds
       4 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program	4,668,785
       5 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
       6 Energy Efficiency Improvements	1,000,000
       7 Grand Total – Office of Energy Resources	76,312,027
       8 Business Regulation
       9 Central Management
       10 General Revenues	4,360,810
       11 Restricted Receipts	39,014
       12 Total - Central Management	4,399,824
       13 Banking Regulation
       14 General Revenues	2,107,972
       15 Restricted Receipts	50,000
       16 Total - Banking Regulation	2,157,972
       17 Securities Regulation
       18 General Revenues	1,000,863
       19 Insurance Regulation
       20 General Revenues	5,125,539
       21 Restricted Receipts	1,617,538
       22 Total - Insurance Regulation	6,743,077
       23 Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner
       24 General Revenues	3,107,152
       25 Federal Funds	439,300
       26 Restricted Receipts	603,592
       27 Total - Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner	4,150,044
       28 Board of Accountancy
       29 General Revenues	5,490
       30 Commercial Licensing and Gaming and Athletics Licensing
       31 General Revenues	1,268,739
       32 Restricted Receipts	1,045,581
       33 Total - Commercial Licensing and Gaming and Athletics Licensing	2,314,320
       34 Building, Design and Fire Professionals

       
       

       1 General Revenues	8,793,216
       2 Federal Funds	346,788
       3 Restricted Receipts	2,130,377
       4 Other Funds
       5 Quonset Development Corporation	52,983
       6 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
       7 Fire Academy Expansion	7,000,000
       8 Total - Building, Design and Fire Professionals	18,323,364
       9 Grand Total - Business Regulation	39,094,954
       10 RI Cannabis Control Commission
       11 Restricted Receipts	7,303,563
       12 Executive Office of Commerce
       13 Central Management
       14 General Revenues	2,369,982
       15 Quasi-Public Appropriations
       16 General Revenues
       17 Rhode Island Commerce Corporation	8,506,041
       18 Airport Impact Aid	1,010,036

       
       

       1. Sixty percent (60%) of the first $1,000,000 appropriated for airport impact aid shall be

       2. distributed to each airport serving more than 1,000,000 passengers based upon its percentage of the

          
          

       3. total passengers served by all airports serving more than 1,000,000 passengers. Forty percent (40%)

          
          

       4. of the first $1,000,000 shall be distributed based on the share of landings during calendar year 2025

          
          

       5. at North Central Airport, Newport-Middletown Airport, Block Island Airport, Quonset Airport,

          
          

       6. T.F. Green International Airport and Westerly Airport, respectively. The Rhode Island commerce

          
          

       7. corporation shall make an impact payment to the towns or cities in which the airport is located

       8. based on this calculation. Each community upon which any part of the above airports is located

          
          

       9. shall receive at least $25,000.

       
       

       28 STAC Research Alliance	900,000
       29 Innovative Matching Grants/Internships	1,000,000
       30 I-195 Redevelopment District Commission	1,245,050
       31 Polaris Manufacturing Grant	500,000
       32 East Providence Waterfront Commission	50,000
       33 Urban Ventures	140,000
       34 Chafee Center at Bryant	476,200

       
       

       1 Blackstone Valley Visitor Center	75,000
       2 Industrial Recreational Building Authority Obligations	105,094
       3 Other Funds
       4 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
       5 I-195 Redevelopment District Commission	700,000
       6 I-195 Park Improvements	1,100,000
       7 Quonset Infrastructure	2,500,000
       8 PFAS Mitigation at Quonset Business Park	1,000,000
       9 Total - Quasi-Public Appropriations	19,307,421
       10 Economic Development Initiatives Fund
       11 General Revenues
       12 Rebuild RI Tax Credit Fund	10,085,000
       13 Destination Marketing	1,400,000
       14 RI Innovation Ecosystem	250,000
       15 Federal Funds	20,000,000
       16 Total - Economic Development Initiatives Fund	31,735,000
       17 Commerce Programs
       18 General Revenues
       19 Wavemaker Fellowship	2,566,621
       20 Air Service Development Fund	2,728,800
       21 Total - Commerce Programs	5,295,421
       22 Grand Total - Executive Office of Commerce	58,707,824
       23 Housing
       24 General Revenues	6,364,465
       25 Federal Funds	15,596,037
       26 Restricted Receipts	23,018,954
       27 Grand Total - Housing	44,979,456
       28 Labor and Training
       29 Central Management
       30 General Revenues	1,661,890
       31 Restricted Receipts	488,494
       32 Total - Central Management	2,150,384
       33 Workforce Development Services
       34 General Revenues	878,758

       
       

       1 Federal Funds	19,112,629
       2 Total - Workforce Development Services	19,991,387
       3 Workforce Regulation and Safety
       4 General Revenues	5,347,291
       5 Income Support
       6 General Revenues	3,684,566
       7 Federal Funds	22,883,898
       8 Restricted Receipts	4,635,586
       9 Other Funds
       10 Temporary Disability Insurance Fund	287,480,146
       11 Employment Security Fund	249,200,000
       12 Total - Income Support	567,884,196
       13 Injured Workers Services
       14 Restricted Receipts	11,233,092
       15 Labor Relations Board
       16 General Revenues	556,737
       17 Governor’s Workforce Board
       18 General Revenues	6,050,000

       
       

       1. Provided that $600,000 of these funds shall be used for enhanced training for direct care

       2. and support services staff to improve resident quality of care and address the changing health care

          
          

       3. needs of nursing facility residents due to higher acuity and increased cognitive impairments

          
          

       4. pursuant to § 23-17.5-36.

          
          

       5. Restricted Receipts 19,054,596

          
          

       6. Total - Governor’s Workforce Board 25,104,596

          
          

       7. Grand Total - Labor and Training 632,267,683

       8. Department of Revenue

          
          

       9. Director of Revenue

          
          

       10. General Revenues 3,168,518

           
           

       11. Office of Revenue Analysis

           
           

       12. General Revenues 1,173,041

       13. Lottery Division

           
           

       14. Other Funds 448,042,227

           
           

       15. Municipal Finance

           
           

       16. General Revenues 2,045,839

       
       

       1 Taxation
       2 General Revenues	38,331,490
       3 Restricted Receipts	4,660,479
       4 Other Funds
       5 Motor Fuel Tax Evasion	175,000
       6 Total - Taxation	43,166,969
       7 Registry of Motor Vehicles
       8 General Revenues	35,374,576
       9 Federal Funds	493,061
       10 Restricted Receipts	5,429,330
       11 Total - Registry of Motor Vehicles	41,296,967
       12 State Aid
       13 General Revenues
       14 Distressed Communities Relief Fund	14,884,458
       15 Payment in Lieu of Tax Exempt Properties	51,317,647
       16 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Payments	239,547,419
       17 Property Revaluation Program	712,390
       18 Tangible Tax Exemption Program	25,903,228
       19 Restricted Receipts	995,120
       20 Total - State Aid	333,360,262
       21 Collections
       22 General Revenues	994,263
       23 Grand Total - Revenue	873,248,086
       24 Legislature
       25 General Revenues	58,734,623
       26 Restricted Receipts	2,690,297
       27 Grand Total - Legislature	61,424,920
       28 Lieutenant Governor
       29 General Revenues	1,519,219
       30 Secretary of State
       31 Administration
       32 General Revenues	5,975,167
       33 Provided that $100,000 be allocated to	support the Rhode Island Council for the
       34 Humanities for grant making to civic and cultural	organizations, and $50,000 to support Rhode

       
       

       1 Island’s participation in the We the People Civics Challenge.
       2 Corporations
       3 General Revenues	2,913,879
       4 State Archives
       5 General Revenues	356,659
       6 Restricted Receipts	404,790
       7 Total - State Archives	761,449
       8 Elections and Civics
       9 General Revenues	2,107,040
       10 Federal Funds	2,000,000
       11 Total - Elections and Civics	4,107,040
       12 State Library
       13 General Revenues	668,263
       14 Provided that $125,000 be allocated to support the Rhode Island Historical	Society and
       15 $18,000 be allocated to support the Newport Historical Society, pursuant to §§ 29-2-1	and 29-2-2,
       16 and $25,000 be allocated to support the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.
       17 Office of Public Information
       18 General Revenues	840,724
       19 Receipted Receipts	25,000
       20 Total - Office of Public Information	865,724
       21 Grand Total - Secretary of State	15,291,522
       22 General Treasurer
       23 Treasury
       24 General Revenues	3,665,773
       25 Federal Funds	365,134
       26 Other Funds
       27 Temporary Disability Insurance Fund	246,415
       28 Tuition Savings Program - Administration	388,916
       29 Total - Treasury	4,666,238
       30 State Retirement System
       31 Restricted Receipts
       32 Admin Expenses - State Retirement System	13,193,967
       33 Retirement - Treasury Investment Operations	2,846,571
       34 Defined Contribution - Administration	277,654

       
       

       1 Total - State Retirement System	16,318,192
       2 Unclaimed Property
       3 Restricted Receipts	3,338,043
       4 Crime Victim Compensation
       5 General Revenues	934,450
       6 Federal Funds	467,993
       7 Restricted Receipts	250,000
       8 Total - Crime Victim Compensation	1,652,443
       9 Grand Total - General Treasurer	25,974,916
       10 Board of Elections
       11 General Revenues	4,474,931
       12 Rhode Island Ethics Commission
       13 General Revenues	2,419,632
       14 Office of Governor
       15 General Revenues
       16 General Revenues	9,184,918
       17 Contingency Fund	150,000
       18 Grand Total - Office of Governor	9,334,918
       19 Commission for Human Rights
       20 General Revenues	2,249,158
       21 Federal Funds	523,529
       22 Grand Total - Commission for Human Rights	2,772,687
       23 Public Utilities Commission
       24 Federal Funds	753,555
       25 Restricted Receipts	14,592,152
       26 Grand Total - Public Utilities Commission	15,345,707
       27 Executive Office of Health and Human Services
       28 Central Management
       29 General Revenues	32,413,726
       30 Provided that of this amount, $900,000 will be for Mobile	Response and Stabilization

       
       

31. Services for uninsured and underinsured child and youth and cover services and costs not otherwise

    
    

32. reimbursed. Also $500,000 is for Thundermist’s Family Residency Program contingent upon

    
    

33. receiving federal funds.

    
    

34. All-Payer Claims Database 509,950

1. Total - Medical Assistance 3,977,332,126

   
   

2. Grand Total – Executive Office of Health and Human Services 4,226,436,784

   
   

3. Children, Youth and Families

4. Central Management

   
   

5. General Revenues 17,937,159

   
   

6. The director of the department of children, youth and families shall provide to the speaker

   
   

7. of the house and president of the senate at least every sixty (60) days beginning September 1, 2021,

   
   

8. a report on its progress implementing the accreditation plan filed in accordance with § 42-72-5.3

   
   

9. and any projected changes needed to effectuate that plan. The report shall, at minimum, provide

10. data regarding recruitment and retention efforts including attaining and maintaining a diverse

    
    

11. workforce, documentation of newly filled and vacated positions, and progress towards reducing

    
    

    12 worker caseloads.
    13 Federal Funds	15,237,654
    14 Total - Central Management	33,174,813
    15 Children's Behavioral Health Services
    16 General Revenues	7,109,636
    17 Federal Funds	8,824,070
    18 Total - Children's Behavioral Health Services	15,933,706
    19 Youth Development Services
    20 General Revenues	25,678,366
    21 Federal Funds	647,931
    22 Restricted Receipts	1,500
    23 Other Funds
    24 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
    25 Training School Asset Protection	250,000
    26 Residential Treatment Facilities	11,000,000
    27 Total - Youth Development Services	37,577,797
    28 Child Welfare
    29 General Revenues	211,849,897
    30 Federal Funds	93,910,710
    31 Restricted Receipts	1,743,471
    32 Total - Child Welfare	307,504,078
    33 Higher Education Incentive Grants
    34 General Revenues	200,000

    1. Provided that these funds and any unexpended or unencumbered previous years’ funding

       
       

    2. are to be used exclusively to fund awards to eligible youth.

       
       

    3. Grand Total - Children, Youth and Families 394,390,394

    4. Health

       
       

    5. Central Management

       
       

    6. General Revenues

       
       

    7. General Revenues 2,588,732

       
       

    8. Of this amount, $50,000 is to support the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource

       
       

    9. Foundation and the organization’s new survivorship and well-being center in Lincoln, RI.

    10. Psychiatry Resource Network 750,000

        
        

    11. Primary Care Training Sites Program 2,000,000

        
        

    12. Provided that unexpended or unencumbered balances as of June 30, 2026 are hereby

        
        

    13. reappropriated to the following fiscal year.

        
        

    14. Federal Funds 4,884,431

    15. Restricted Receipts 22,233,391

        
        

    16. Provided that the disbursement of any indirect cost recoveries on federal grants budgeted

        
        

    17. in this line item that are derived from grants authorized under The Coronavirus Preparedness and

        
        

    18. Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-123); The Families First Coronavirus

        
        

    19. Response Act (P.L. 116-127); The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-

    20. 136); The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (P.L. 116-139); the

        
        

    21. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260); and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

        
        

    22. (P.L. 117-2), are hereby subject to the review and prior approval of the director of management and

        
        

    23. budget. No obligation or expenditure of these funds shall take place without such approval.

        
        

    24. Total - Central Management 32,456,554

        
        

    25. Community Health and Equity

    26. General Revenues 2,051,358

        
        

    27. Federal Funds 88,096,432

        
        

    28. Restricted Receipts 67,695,968

        
        

    29. Total - Community Health and Equity 157,843,758

        
        

    30. Environmental Health

    31. General Revenues 6,836,896

        
        

    32. Federal Funds 14,433,189

        
        

    33. Restricted Receipts 1,104,785

        
        

    34. Total - Environmental Health 22,374,870

1. Provided that $200,000 of this amount and its corresponding federal match is used for loan

   
   

2. repayment assistance specifically for primary care physicians and pediatricians through the Health

1. General Revenues 8,050,831

   
   

2. Of this amount, $400,000 is to support the domestic violence prevention fund to provide

   
   

3. direct services through the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, $25,000 for the Center for

4. Southeast Asians, $450,000 to support Project Reach activities provided by the RI Alliance of Boys

   
   

5. and Girls Clubs, $300,000 is for outreach and supportive services through Day One, $950,000 is

   
   

6. for food collection and distribution through the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, $500,000 for

   
   

7. services provided to the homeless at Crossroads Rhode Island, $600,000 for the Community Action

   
   

8. Fund, $250,000 is for the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence’s Reduction Strategy,

   
   

9. $200,000 to provide operational support to the United Way’s 211 system, $125,000 is to support

10. services provided to the immigrant and refugee population through Higher Ground International,

    
    

11. $50,000 is for services provided to refugees through the Refugee Dream Center and $150,000 for

    
    

12. the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of RI.

    
    

13. The director of the department of human services shall provide to the speaker of the house,

    
    

14. president of the senate, and chairs of the house and senate finance committees at least every sixty

15. (60) days beginning August 1, 2022, a report on its progress in recruiting and retaining customer

    
    

16. serving staff. The report shall include: documentation of newly filled and vacated positions,

    
    

17. including lateral transfers, position titles, civil service information, including numbers of eligible

    
    

18. and available candidates, plans for future testing and numbers of eligible and available candidates

    
    

19. resulting from such testing, impacts on caseload backlogs and call center wait times, as well as

20. other pertinent information as determined by the director.

    
    

21. Federal Funds 8,064,314

    
    

22. Of this amount, $3.0 million is to sustain Early Head Start and Head Start programs.

    
    

23. Restricted Receipts 300,000

    
    

24. Total - Central Management 16,415,145

    
    

25. Child Support Enforcement

26. General Revenues 4,390,046

    
    

27. Federal Funds 10,229,053

    
    

28. Restricted Receipts 3,816,099

    
    

29. Total - Child Support Enforcement 18,435,198

    
    

30. Individual and Family Support

31. General Revenues 35,143,366

    
    

32. Federal Funds 128,579,088

    
    

33. Restricted Receipts 115,000

    
    

34. Other Funds

1. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

   
   

2. Blind Vending Facilities 165,000

   
   

3. Total - Individual and Family Support 164,002,454

4. Office of Veterans Services

   
   

5. General Revenues 33,499,864

   
   

6. Of this amount, $200,000 is to provide support services through veterans’ organizations,

   
   

7. $50,000 is to support Operation Stand Down, and $100,000 is to support the Veterans Services

   
   

8. Officers (VSO) program through the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

   
   

9. Federal Funds 15,752,830

10. Restricted Receipts 1,725,342

    
    

11. Other Funds

    
    

12. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

    
    

13. Veterans Home Asset Protection 665,000

    
    

14. Veterans Memorial Cemetery Asset Protection 300,000

15. Total - Office of Veterans Services 51,943,036

    
    

16. Health Care Eligibility

    
    

17. General Revenues 10,511,087

    
    

18. Federal Funds 16,662,419

    
    

19. Total - Health Care Eligibility 27,173,506

20. Supplemental Security Income Program

    
    

21. General Revenues 16,680,780

    
    

22. Rhode Island Works

    
    

23. General Revenues 9,891,538

    
    

24. Federal Funds 109,225,738

    
    

25. Total - Rhode Island Works 119,117,276

26. Other Programs

    
    

27. General Revenues 2,231,840

    
    

28. Federal Funds 382,432,873

    
    

29. Restricted Receipts 8,000

    
    

30. Total - Other Programs 384,672,713

31. Office of Healthy Aging

    
    

32. General Revenues 15,623,340

    
    

33. Of this amount, $325,000 is to provide elder services, including respite, through the

    
    

34. Diocese of Providence; $40,000 is for ombudsman services provided by the Alliance for Long

1. Term Care in accordance with chapter 66.7 of title 42; and $1,600,000 is for Senior Services

   
   

2. Support and $730,000 is for elderly nutrition, of which $680,000 is for Meals on Wheels.

   
   

3. Federal Funds 19,011,572

4. Restricted Receipt 46,200

   
   

5. Other Funds

   
   

6. Intermodal Surface Transportation Fund 4,267,406

   
   

7. The Office shall reimburse the Rhode Island public transit authority for the elderly/disabled

   
   

8. transportation program expenses no later than fifteen (15) days of the authority’s submission of a

   
   

9. request for payment.

10. Total - Office of Healthy Aging 38,948,518

    
    

11. Grand Total - Human Services 837,388,626

    
    

12. Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals

    
    

13. Central Management

    
    

14. General Revenues 8,058,892

15. Federal Funds 2,631,491

    
    

16. Restricted Receipts 559,071

    
    

17. Total - Central Management 11,249,454

    
    

18. Services for the Developmentally Disabled

    
    

19. General Revenues 218,735,702

20. Provided that of this general revenue funding, an amount certified by the department shall

    
    

21. be expended on certain community-based department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

    
    

22. disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH) developmental disability private provider and self-directed

    
    

23. consumer direct care service worker raises and associated payroll costs as authorized by BHDDH

    
    

24. and to finance the new services rates implemented by BHDDH pursuant to the Consent Decree

    
    

25. Addendum. Any increase for direct support staff and residential or other community-based setting

26. must first receive the approval of BHDDH.

    
    

27. Provided further that of this general revenue funding, $928,200 shall be expended on a

    
    

28. Transformation Fund to be used for I/DD integrated day activities and supported employment

    
    

29. services, or which a total of $650,000 shall be expended specifically on those who self-direct for

    
    

30. creation of regional service advisement models and pool of substitute staff. All unexpended or

31. unencumbered balances of this designation at the end of the fiscal year shall be reappropriated to

    
    

32. the ensuing fiscal year and made immediately available for the same purpose.

    
    

33. Federal Funds 286,950,145

    
    

34. Provided that of this federal funding, an amount certified by the department shall be

    1. expended on certain community-based department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

       
       

    2. disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH) developmental disability private provider and self-directed

       
       

    3. consumer direct care service worker raises and associated payroll costs as authorized by BHDDH

    4. and to finance the new services rates implemented by BHDDH pursuant to the Consent Decree

       
       

    5. Addendum. Any increase for direct support staff and residential or other community-based setting

       
       

    6. must first receive the approval of BHDDH.

       
       

    7. Provided further that of this federal funding, $371,800 shall be expended on a

       
       

    8. Transformation Fund to be used for I/DD integrated day activities and supported employment

       
       

    9. services. All unexpended or unencumbered balances of this designation at the end of the fiscal year

    10. shall be reappropriated to the ensuing fiscal year and made immediately available for the same

        
        

    11. purpose.

        
        

    12. Restricted Receipts 1,300,866

        
        

    13. Other Funds

        
        

    14. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

    15. DD Residential Support 100,000

        
        

    16. Total - Services for the Developmentally Disabled 507,086,713

        
        

    17. Behavioral Healthcare Services

        
        

    18. General Revenues 4,817,486

        
        

    19. Federal Funds

    20. Federal Funds 32,467,553

        
        

    21. Provided that $250,000 from Social Services Block Grant funds is awarded to The

        
        

    22. Providence Center to coordinate with Oasis Wellness and Recovery Center for its support and

        
        

    23. services program offered to individuals with behavioral health issues.

        
        

    24. Federal Funds – State Fiscal Recovery

        
        

    25. 9-8-8 Hotline 1,800,000

    26. Restricted Receipts 5,416,046

        
        

    27. Provided that $450,000 from the opioid stewardship fund is distributed equally to the seven

        
        

    28. regional substance abuse prevention task forces to fund priorities determined by each Task Force.

        
        

    29. Total - Behavioral Healthcare Services 44,501,085

        
        

    30. Hospital and Community Rehabilitative Services

    31. General Revenues 53,723,206

        
        

    32. Federal Funds 61,515,889

        
        

    33. Restricted Receipts 4,634,700

        
        

    34. Other Funds

1. Provided that this will be used for home modification and accessibility enhancements to

   
   

2. construct, retrofit, and/or renovate residences to allow individuals to remain in community settings.

   
   

3. This will be in consultation with the executive office of health and human services. All unexpended

4. or unencumbered balances, at the end of the fiscal year, shall be reappropriated to the ensuing fiscal

1. General Revenues 32,922,798

   
   

2. Provided that $90,000 be allocated to support the hospital school at Hasbro Children’s

   
   

3. Hospital pursuant to § 16-7-20; $395,000 be allocated to support child opportunity zones through

4. agreements with the department of elementary and secondary education to strengthen education,

   
   

5. health and social services for students and their families as a strategy to accelerate student

   
   

6. achievement; $450,000 and 3.0 full-time equivalent positions be allocated to support a special

   
   

7. education function to facilitate individualized education program (IEP) and 504 services; and

   
   

8. further provided that $130,000 be allocated to City Year for the Whole School Whole Child

   
   

9. Program, which provides individualized support to at-risk students.

10. Federal Funds

    
    

11. Federal Funds 255,593,813

    
    

12. Provided that $684,000 from the department’s administrative share of Individuals with

    
    

13. Disabilities Education Act funds be allocated to the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities to

    
    

14. support the Rhode Island Vision Education and Services Program.

1. Provided that the criteria for the allocation of early childhood funds shall prioritize pre-

2. kindergarten seats and classrooms for four-year-olds whose family income is at or below one

   
   

3. hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of federal poverty guidelines and who reside in communities

1. Provided that $455,000 shall be allocated to Onward We Learn pursuant to § 16-70-5,

   
   

2. $75,000 shall be allocated to Best Buddies Rhode Island to support its programs for children with

   
   

3. developmental and intellectual disabilities. It is also provided that $7,367,460 shall be allocated to

   
   

4. the Rhode Island promise scholarship program; $151,410 shall be used to support Rhode Island’s

1. membership in the New England Board of Higher Education; $5,476,723 shall be allocated to the

   
   

2. Rhode Island hope scholarship program; and $100,000 shall be allocated to the Rhode Island

   
   

3. School for Progressive Education to support access to higher education opportunities for teachers

4. of color.

   
   

5. Federal Funds

1. Provided that in order to leverage federal funding and support economic development,

   
   

2. $700,000 shall be allocated to the small business development center, $125,000 shall be allocated

3. to the Institute for Labor Studies & Research, $50,000 shall be allocated to Special Olympics Rhode

   
   

4. Island to support its mission of providing athletic opportunities for individuals with intellectual and

   
   

5. developmental disabilities, and $874,069 shall be used to support programming related to career

   
   

6. readiness, career placement, internships, and work-based learning.

   
   

   24 Debt Service	31,526,482
   25 RI State Forensics Laboratory	1,803,420
   26 Other Funds
   27 University and College Funds	847,374,010
   28 Debt - Dining Services	781,957
   29 Debt - Education and General	5,076,811
   30 Debt - Health Services	16,032
   31 Debt - Housing Loan Funds	13,863,455
   32 Debt - Memorial Union	758,853
   33 Debt - Ryan Center	2,888,322
   34 Debt - Parking Authority	889,077

   1. URI Restricted Debt Service - Energy Conservation 536,169

      
      

   2. URI Debt Service - Energy Conservation 1,956,906

      
      

   3. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

   4. Asset Protection 14,606,536

      
      

   5. Mechanical, Electric, and Plumbing Improvements 7,293,838

      
      

   6. Fire Protection Academic Buildings 1,641,903

      
      

   7. Bay Campus 8,146,722

      
      

   8. Athletics Complex 33,942,707

      
      

   9. Provided that total Rhode Island capital plan funds provide no more than 80.0 percent of

   10. the total project.

       
       

   11. Stormwater Management 4,252,678

       
       

   12. PFAS Removal Water Treatment Plant 13,759,400

       
       

   13. Campus Accessibility 2,300,000

       
       

   14. Building Envelope Improvements 3,000,000

   15. Total - University of Rhode Island 1,111,723,299

       
       

   16. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 35-3-15, all unexpended or unencumbered balances as

       
       

   17. of June 30, 2026 relating to the university of Rhode Island are hereby reappropriated to fiscal year

       
       

   18. 2027.

       
       

   19. Rhode Island College

   20. General Revenues

       
       

   21. General Revenues 70,714,722

       
       

   22. Provided that $464,377 shall be used to support programming related to career readiness,

       
       

   23. career placement, internships, and work-based learning.

       
       

   24. Debt Service 7,933,336

       
       

   25. Rhode Island Vision Education and Services Program 1,800,000

   26. Other Funds

       
       

   27. University and College Funds 120,309,539

       
       

   28. Debt - Education and General 1,478,585

       
       

   29. Debt - Student Union 212,200

       
       

   30. Debt - G.O. Debt Service 1,585,353

   31. Debt - Energy Conservation 762,375

       
       

   32. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

       
       

   33. Asset Protection 5,950,000

       
       

   34. Infrastructure Modernization 5,675,000

1. Total - Rhode Island College 216,421,110

   
   

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 35-3-15, all unexpended or unencumbered balances as

   
   

3. of June 30, 2026, relating to Rhode Island college are hereby reappropriated to fiscal year 2027.

4. Community College of Rhode Island

   
   

5. General Revenues

   
   

6. General Revenues 63,740,346

   
   

7. Provided that $391,175 shall be used to support programming related to career readiness,

   
   

8. career placement, internships, and work-based learning.

   
   

9. Debt Service 1,097,898

10. Restricted Receipts 953,442

    
    

11. Other Funds

    
    

12. University and College Funds 114,885,691

    
    

13. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

    
    

14. Asset Protection 3,469,452

15. Data, Cabling, and Power Infrastructure 5,750,000

    
    

16. Flanagan Campus Renovations 3,200,000

    
    

17. CCRI Renovation and Modernization Phase I 15,000,000

    
    

18. CCRI Renovation and Modernization Phase II - IV 6,100,000

    
    

19. CCRI Accessibility Improvements 290,000

20. Total - Community College of RI 214,486,829

    
    

21. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 35-3-15, all unexpended or unencumbered balances as

    
    

22. of June 30, 2026, relating to the community college of Rhode Island are hereby reappropriated to

    
    

23. fiscal year 2027.

    
    

24. Grand Total - Public Higher Education 1,597,894,736

    
    

25. RI State Council on the Arts

26. General Revenues

    
    

27. Operating Support 1,224,685

    
    

28. Grants 1,190,000

    
    

29. Provided that $400,000 be provided to support the operational costs of WaterFire

    
    

30. Providence art installations.

31. Federal Funds 1,022,711

    
    

32. Restricted Receipts 115,058

    
    

33. Other Funds

    
    

34. Art for Public Facilities 690,000

1. Grand Total - RI State Council on the Arts 4,242,454

   
   

2. RI Atomic Energy Commission

   
   

3. General Revenues 1,278,282

4. Restricted Receipts 25,036

   
   

5. Other Funds

   
   

6. URI Sponsored Research 361,177

   
   

7. Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds

   
   

8. Asset Protection 50,000

   
   

9. Grand Total - RI Atomic Energy Commission 1,714,495

10. RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission

    
    

11. General Revenues 1,969,751

    
    

12. Provided that $30,000 support the operational costs of the Fort Adams Trust’s restoration

    
    

13. activities and that $25,000 shall be allocated to Rhode Island Slave History Medallions.

    
    

14. Federal Funds 822,451

15. Restricted Receipts 511,827

    
    

16. Other Funds

    
    

17. RIDOT Project Review 144,602

    
    

18. Grand Total - RI Historical Preservation and Heritage Comm. 3,448,631

    
    

19. Attorney General

20. Criminal

    
    

21. General Revenues 23,147,524

    
    

22. Federal Funds 3,404,012

    
    

23. Restricted Receipts 2,096,085

    
    

24. Total - Criminal 28,647,621

    
    

25. Civil

26. General Revenues 7,301,706

    
    

27. Federal Funds 100,000

    
    

28. Restricted Receipts 4,724,238

29 Total - Civil 12,125,944

1. Bureau of Criminal Identification

2. General Revenues 2,440,742

   
   

3. Federal Funds 64,547

   
   

4. Restricted Receipts 1,329,498

   
   

5. Total - Bureau of Criminal Identification 3,834,787

1. The director of the department of corrections shall provide to the speaker of the house and

   
   

2. president of the senate at least every ninety (90) days beginning September 1, 2022, a report on

   
   

3. efforts to modernize the correctional industries program. The report shall, at minimum, provide

   
   

4. data on the past ninety (90) days regarding program participation; changes made in programming

1. to more closely align with industry needs; new or terminated partnerships with employers,

   
   

2. nonprofits, and advocacy groups; current program expenses and revenues; and the employment

   
   

3. status of all persons on the day of discharge from department care who participated in the

4. correctional industries program.

   
   

5. Federal Funds 386,256

   
   

6. Restricted Receipts 1,300,000

1. Provided however, that no more than $1,430,073 in combined total shall be offset to the

2. public defender’s office, the attorney general’s office, the department of corrections, the department

   
   

3. of children, youth and families, and the department of public safety for square-footage occupancy

   
   

4. costs in public courthouses and further provided that $500,000 be allocated to the Rhode Island

   
   

5. Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the domestic abuse court advocacy project pursuant to §

   
   

6. 12-29-7 and that $90,000 be allocated to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. to provide housing and

   
   

   25 eviction defense to indigent individuals.
   26 Defense of Indigents	7,875,432
   27 Federal Funds	205,395
   28 Restricted Receipts	4,312,243
   29 Other Funds
   30 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
   31 Judicial Complexes - HVAC	500,000
   32 Judicial Complexes Asset Protection	1,500,000
   33 Judicial Complexes Fan Coil Unit Replacements	500,000
   34 Garrahy Courthouse Restoration	1,125,000

   
   

   1 Total - Supreme Court	52,683,551
   2 Judicial Tenure and Discipline
   3 General Revenues	188,686
   4 Superior Court
   5 General Revenues	30,216,228
   6 Restricted Receipts	325,000
   7 Total - Superior Court	30,541,228
   8 Family Court
   9 General Revenues	29,167,951
   10 Federal Funds	5,392,549
   11 Total - Family Court	34,560,500
   12 District Court
   13 General Revenues	17,697,776
   14 Federal Funds	696,951
   15 Restricted Receipts	60,000
   16 Total - District Court	18,454,727
   17 Traffic Tribunal
   18 General Revenues	11,704,985
   19 Workers' Compensation Court
   20 Restricted Receipts	11,090,756
   21 Grand Total - Judiciary	159,224,433
   22 Military Staff
   23 General Revenues	3,424,058
   24 Federal Funds	28,982,412
   25 Restricted Receipts
   26 RI Military Family Relief Fund	55,000
   27 RING Counterdrug Program	11,000
   28 Other Funds
   29 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
   30 Aviation Readiness Center	4,538,673
   31 Asset Protection	2,564,675
   32 Quonset Airport Runway Reconstruction	446,663
   33 Counter-Drug Training Facility	1,025,250
   34 Squadron Ops Facility (Air Guard)	600,000

   
   

   1 Grand Total - Military Staff	41,647,731
   2 Public Safety
   3 Central Management
   4 General Revenues	1,899,154

   
   

   1. Provided that $400,000 shall be allocated to support the Family Service of Rhode Island’s

      
      

   2. GO Team program of on-scene support to children who are victims of violence and other traumas.

      
      

      7 Federal Funds
      8 Federal Funds	18,479,969
      9 Federal Funds – State Fiscal Recovery Fund
      10 Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence	29,753
      11 Restricted Receipts	738,584
      12 Total - Central Management	21,147,460
      13 E-911 Emergency Telephone System
      14 Restricted Receipts	10,730,138
      15 Security Services
      16 General Revenues	33,685,555
      17 Municipal Police Training Academy
      18 General Revenues	349,440
      19 Federal Funds	417,455
      20 Total - Municipal Police Training Academy	766,895
      21 State Police
      22 General Revenues	96,907,970
      23 Federal Funds	8,126,146
      24 Restricted Receipts	2,845,158
      25 Other Funds
      26 Airport Corporation Assistance	151,310
      27 Road Construction Reimbursement	3,355,100
      28 Weight and Measurement Reimbursement	402,401
      29 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
      30 DPS Asset Protection	1,205,000
      31 Southern Barracks	16,750,000
      32 Training Academy Upgrades	1,550,000
      33 Statewide Communications System Network	245,048
      34 Total - State Police	131,538,133

      
      

      1 Grand Total - Public Safety	197,868,181
      2 Office of Public Defender
      3 General Revenues	18,178,679
      4 Federal Funds	85,035
      5 Grand Total - Office of Public Defender	18,263,714
      6 Emergency Management Agency
      7 General Revenues	7,457,256
      8 Federal Funds	34,906,616
      9 Restricted Receipts	428,308
      10 Other Funds
      11 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
      12 RI Statewide Communications Infrastructure	315,404
      13 RI Statewide Communications Network Tower	550,000
      14 Grand Total - Emergency Management Agency	43,657,584
      15 Environmental Management
      16 Office of the Director
      17 General Revenues	9,446,875

      
      

      1. Of this general revenue amount, $180,000 is appropriated to the conservation districts and

         
         

      2. $100,000 is appropriated to the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island for a

      3. veterinarian at the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island.

         
         

      4. Federal Funds 354,975

         
         

      5. Restricted Receipts 5,930,220

         
         

         23 Total - Office of the Director	15,732,070
         24 Natural Resources
         25 General Revenues	32,325,750
         26 Provided that of this general revenue amount, $150,000 is to be used for marine mammal
         27 response activities in conjunction with matching federal funds.
         28 Federal Funds	31,528,201
         29 Restricted Receipts	6,185,022
         30 Other Funds
         31 DOT Recreational Projects	762,000
         32 Blackstone Bike Path Design	1,000,000
         33 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
         34 Dam Repair	6,815,000

         
         

         1 Fort Adams Rehabilitation	500,000
         2 Port of Galilee	20,500,000
         3 Newport Pier Upgrades	500,000
         4 Recreation Facilities Asset Protection	750,000
         5 Recreational Facilities Improvements	2,900,000
         6 Natural Resources Office and Visitor's Center	1,836,709
         7 Fish & Wildlife Maintenance Facilities	200,000
         8 Marine Infrastructure/Pier Development	700,000
         9 Total - Natural Resources	106,502,682
         10 Environmental Protection
         11 General Revenues	16,607,743
         12 Federal Funds	12,825,343
         13 Restricted Receipts	12,660,382
         14 Other Funds
         15 Transportation MOU	95,967
         16 Total - Environmental Protection	42,189,435
         17 Grand Total - Environmental Management	164,424,187
         18 Coastal Resources Management Council
         19 General Revenues	3,904,812
         20 Federal Funds	3,331,166
         21 Restricted Receipts	624,768
         22 Other Funds
         23 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
         24 South Coast Restoration Project	7,000,000
         25 Grand Total - Coastal Resources Mgmt. Council	14,860,746
         26 Transportation
         27 Central Management
         28 Federal Funds	13,777,360
         29 Other Funds
         30 Gasoline Tax	9,004,830
         31 Total - Central Management	22,782,190
         32 Management and Budget
         33 Other Funds
         34 Gasoline Tax	3,839,065

         
         

         1 Infrastructure Engineering
         2 Federal Funds	460,804,783
         3 Restricted Receipts	6,066,037
         4 Other Funds
         5 Gasoline Tax	88,272,135

         
         

         1. Provided that of this amount, $6,500,000 is appropriated to the Municipal Roads Grant

            
            

         2. Program known as RhodeRestore to provide funding to municipalities for the construction and

            
            

         3. maintenance of roads, sidewalks, and bridges. The funds shall be distributed equally to each city

            
            

         4. and town provided that each municipality is required to provide a sixty-seven percent (67%) match.

         5. Provided that of this amount, sufficient funds from the Rhode Island public transit

            
            

         6. authority’s share of gasoline tax proceeds shall be allocated to maintain the RIde paratransit

            
            

         7. program, also known as RIde Anywhere.

      
      

      13 Land Sale Revenue	6,239,422
      14 Tolling Revenue	10,000,000
      15 Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds
      16 Highway Improvement Program	115,617,814
      17 Bike Path Asset Protection	400,000
      18 RIPTA - Land and Buildings	6,905,927
      19 RIPTA - Pawtucket/Central Falls Bus Hub Passenger Facility	1,500,000
      20 RIPTA - Providence High-Capacity Transit Corridor Study	90,000
      21 Total - Infrastructure Engineering	695,896,118
      22 Infrastructure Maintenance
      23 Other Funds
      24 Gasoline Tax	41,781,096

      
      

7. The department of transportation will establish a municipal roadway database, which will

8. include information concerning the name, condition, length, roadway infrastructure, and pedestrian

   
   

9. features of each municipal roadway, updated annually by municipalities. The database will serve

   
   

10. as a comprehensive and transparent list of municipal roadway conditions.

1. Train Station Asset Protection 500,000

   
   

2. Total - Infrastructure Maintenance 160,278,218

   
   

3. Grand Total - Transportation 882,795,591

4. Statewide Totals

   
   

5. General Revenues 5,807,838,121

   
   

6. Federal Funds 5,108,485,986

   
   

7. Restricted Receipts 454,981,900

   
   

8. Other Funds 2,963,385,019

   
   

9. Statewide Grand Total 14,334,691,026

10. SECTION 2. Each line appearing in section 1 of this article shall constitute an

    
    

11. appropriation.

    
    

12. SECTION 3. Upon the transfer of any function of a department or agency to another

    
    

13. department or agency, the governor is hereby authorized by means of executive order to transfer or

    
    

14. reallocate, in whole or in part, the appropriations and the full-time equivalent limits affected

15. thereby; provided, however, in accordance with § 42-6-5, when the duties or administrative

    
    

16. functions of government are designated by law to be performed within a particular department or

    
    

17. agency, no transfer of duties or functions and no re-allocation, in whole or part, or appropriations

    
    

18. and full-time equivalent positions to any other department or agency shall be authorized.

    
    

19. SECTION 4. From the appropriation for contingency shall be paid such sums as may be

20. required at the discretion of the governor to fund expenditures for which appropriations may not

    
    

21. exist. Such contingency funds may also be used for expenditures in the several departments and

    
    

22. agencies where appropriations are insufficient, or where such requirements are due to unforeseen

    
    

23. conditions or are non-recurring items of an unusual nature. Said appropriations may also be used

    
    

24. for the payment of bills incurred due to emergencies or to any offense against public peace and

    
    

25. property, in accordance with the provisions of titles 11 and 45, as amended. All expenditures and

26. transfers from this account shall be approved by the governor.

    
    

27. SECTION 5. The general assembly authorizes the state controller to establish the internal

    
    

28. service accounts shown below, and no other, to finance and account for the operations of state

    
    

29. agencies that provide services to other agencies, institutions and other governmental units on a cost

    
    

30. reimbursed basis. The purpose of these accounts is to ensure that certain activities are managed in

31. a businesslike manner; promote efficient use of services by making agencies pay the full costs

    
    

32. associated with providing the services; and allocate the costs of central administrative services

    
    

33. across all fund types, so that federal and other non-general fund programs share in the costs of

    
    

34. general government support. The controller is authorized to reimburse these accounts for the cost

1. of work or services performed for any other department or agency subject to the following

   
   

2. expenditure limitations:

   
   

3. Account Expenditure Limit

4. State Assessed Fringe Benefit Internal Service Fund 37,255,808

   
   

5. Administration Central Utilities Internal Service Fund 30,366,642

   
   

6. State Central Mail Internal Service Fund 9,020,425

   
   

7. State Telecommunications Internal Service Fund 3,426,061

   
   

8. State Automotive Fleet Internal Service Fund 21,610,397

   
   

9. Surplus Property Internal Service Fund 44,789

10. Health Insurance Internal Service Fund 272,933,573

    
    

11. Other Post-Employment Benefits Fund 63,854,008

    
    

12. Capitol Police Internal Service Fund 1,659,403

    
    

13. Corrections Central Distribution Center Internal Service Fund 8,679,440

    
    

14. Correctional Industries Internal Service Fund 8,477,292

15. Secretary of State Record Center Internal Service Fund 1,231,684

    
    

16. Human Resources Internal Service Fund 18,711,878

    
    

17. DCAMM Facilities Internal Service Fund 40,492,965

    
    

18. Information Technology Internal Service Fund 70,587,805

    
    

19. SECTION 6. The director of the department of administration shall exercise his powers

20. under chapter 11 of title 42 to centralize state fleet operations under the department as it relates to

    
    

21. light and medium duty vehicle management, in accordance with best practices.

    
    

22. SECTION 7. Legislative Intent - The general assembly may provide a written "statement

    
    

23. of legislative intent" signed by the chairperson of the house finance committee and by the

    
    

24. chairperson of the senate finance committee to show the intended purpose of the appropriations

    
    

25. contained in section 1 of this article. The statement of legislative intent shall be kept on file in the

26. house finance committee and in the senate finance committee.

    
    

27. At least twenty (20) days prior to the issuance of a grant or the release of funds, which

    
    

28. grant or funds are listed on the legislative letter of intent, all department, agency, and corporation

    
    

29. directors shall notify in writing the chairperson of the house finance committee and the chairperson

    
    

30. of the senate finance committee of the approximate date when the funds are to be released or

31. granted.

    
    

32. SECTION 8. Appropriation of Temporary Disability Insurance Funds -- There is hereby

    
    

33. appropriated pursuant to §§ 28-39-5 and 28-39-8 all funds required to be disbursed for the benefit

    
    

34. payments from the temporary disability insurance fund and temporary disability insurance reserve

1. fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

   
   

2. SECTION 9. Appropriation of Employment Security Funds -- There is hereby appropriated

   
   

3. pursuant to § 28-42-19 all funds required to be disbursed for benefit payments from the employment

4. security fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

   
   

5. SECTION 10. Appropriation of Lottery Division Funds -- There is hereby appropriated to

   
   

6. the lottery division any funds required to be disbursed by the lottery division for the purposes of

   
   

7. paying commissions or transfers to the prize fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

   
   

8. SECTION 11. Appropriation of CollegeBoundSaver Funds - There is hereby appropriated

   
   

9. to the office of the general treasurer designated funds received under the collegeboundsaver

10. program for transfer to the division of higher education assistance within the office of the

    
    

11. postsecondary commissioner to support student financial aid for the fiscal year ending June 30,

    
    

12. 2026.

    
    

13. SECTION 12. Departments and agencies listed below may not exceed the number of full-

    
    

14. time equivalent (FTE) positions shown below in any pay period. Full-time equivalent positions do

15. not include limited period positions or, seasonal or intermittent positions whose scheduled period

    
    

16. of employment does not exceed twenty-six consecutive weeks or whose scheduled hours do not

    
    

17. exceed nine hundred and twenty-five (925) hours, excluding overtime, in a one-year period. Nor

    
    

18. do they include individuals engaged in training, the completion of which is a prerequisite of

    
    

19. employment. Provided, however, that the governor or designee, speaker of the house of

20. representatives or designee, and the president of the senate or designee may authorize an adjustment

    
    

21. to any limitation. Prior to the authorization, the state budget officer shall make a detailed written

    
    

22. recommendation to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate. A copy

    
    

23. of the recommendation and authorization to adjust shall be transmitted to the chairman of the house

    
    

24. finance committee, senate finance committee, the house fiscal advisor, and the senate fiscal advisor.

    
    

25. State employees whose funding is from non-state general revenue funds that are time

26. limited shall receive limited term appointment with the term limited to the availability of non-state

    
    

27. general revenue funding source.

    
    

28. FY 2026 FTE POSITION AUTHORIZATION

    
    

29. Departments and Agencies Full-Time Equivalent

30. Administration 684.6

31. Provided that no more than 434.1 of the total authorization would be limited to positions

32. that support internal service fund programs.

    
    

33. Office of Energy Resources 17.0

    
    

34. Business Regulation 155.0

1. Provided that 18.0 of the total authorization would be limited to independent facilitators

   
   

2. positions to comply with the Consent Decree Addendum.

   
   

3. Office of the Child Advocate 13.0

   
   

4. Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 4.0

5. Governor’s Commission on Disabilities 5.0

   
   

6. Office of the Mental Health Advocate 6.0

7. Elementary and Secondary Education 156.1

8. Provided that 3.0 of the total authorization would be available only for positions that are

9. supported by the healthy environments advance learning grant at the school building authority.

10. School for the Deaf 61.0

    
    

11. Davies Career and Technical School 125.0

    
    

12. Office of Postsecondary Commissioner 48.0

    
    

13. Provided that 1.0 of the total authorization would be available only for positions that are

    1. supported by third-party funds, 12.0 would be available only for positions at the state’s higher

       
       

    2. education centers located in Woonsocket and Westerly, 10.0 would be available only for positions

       
       

    3. at the nursing education center, and 9.0 would be available for the longitudinal data systems

    4. program.

       
       

    5. University of Rhode Island 2,671.0

       
       

    6. Provided that 378.8 of the total authorization would be available only for positions that are

       
       

    7. supported by third-party funds.

    8. Rhode Island College 949.2

    9. Provided that 76.0 of the total authorization would be available only for positions that are

    10. supported by third-party funds.

    11. Community College of Rhode Island 849.1

    12. Provided that 89.0 of the total authorization would be available only for positions that are

    13. supported by third-party funds.

        
        

    14. Rhode Island State Council on the Arts 10.0

    15. RI Atomic Energy Commission 8.6

    16. Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission 15.6

    17. Office of the Attorney General 268.1

    18. Corrections 1,461.0

    19. Judicial 749.3

    20. Military Staff 93.0

    21. Emergency Management Agency 38.0

    22. Public Safety 634.0

    23. Office of the Public Defender 104.0

    24. Environmental Management 439.0

    25. Coastal Resources Management Council 32.0

    26. Transportation 755.0

    27. Total 15,920.8

    28. No agency or department may employ contracted employee services where contract

    29. employees would work under state employee supervisors without determination of need by the

    30. director of administration acting upon positive recommendations by the budget officer and the

    31. personnel administrator and fifteen (15) days after a public hearing.

    32. Nor may any agency or department contract for services replacing work done by state

    33. employees at that time without determination of need by the director of administration acting upon

    34. the positive recommendations of the state budget officer and the personnel administrator and thirty

1. (30) days after a public hearing.

2. SECTION 13. The amounts reflected in this article include the appropriation of Rhode

3. Island capital plan funds for fiscal year 2026 and supersede appropriations provided for FY 2026

4. within Pub. L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 1, § 13.

5. The following amounts are hereby appropriated out of any money in the State’s Rhode

6. Island capital plan fund not otherwise appropriated to be expended during the fiscal years ending

7 June 30, 2027, June 30, 2028, June 30, 2029, and June 30, 2030. These amounts supersede

1. appropriations provided within Pub. L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 1, § 13.

2. For the purposes and functions hereinafter mentioned, the state controller is hereby

3. authorized and directed to draw the controller's orders upon the general treasurer for the payment

4. of such sums and such portions thereof as may be required by the controller upon receipt of properly

5. authenticated vouchers.

6. FY Ending FY Ending FY Ending FY Ending

1. Any unexpended and unencumbered funds from Rhode Island capital plan fund project

   
   

2. appropriations shall be reappropriated in the ensuing fiscal year and made available for the same

   
   

3. purpose. However, any such reappropriations are subject to final approval by the general assembly

4. as part of the supplemental appropriations act. Any unexpended funds of less than five hundred

   
   

5. dollars ($500) shall be reappropriated at the discretion of the state budget officer.

   
   

6. SECTION 15. For the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2026, the Rhode Island housing and

   
   

7. mortgage finance corporation shall provide from its resources such sums as appropriate in support

   
   

8. of the Neighborhood Opportunities Program. The corporation shall provide a report detailing the

   
   

9. amount of funding provided to this program, as well as information on the number of units of

10. housing provided as a result to the director of administration, the chair of the secretary of housing,

    
    

11. the chair of the house finance committee, the chair of the senate finance committee, and the state

    
    

12. budget officer.

    
    

13. SECTION 16. Appropriation of Economic Activity Taxes in accordance with the city of

    
    

14. Pawtucket downtown redevelopment statute -- There is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year

15. ending June 30, 2026, all state economic activity taxes to be collected pursuant to § 45-33.4-4, as

    
    

16. amended (including, but not limited to, the amount of tax revenues certified by the commerce

    
    

17. corporation in accordance with § 45-33.4-1(13)), for the purposes of paying debt service on bonds,

    
    

18. funding debt service reserves; paying costs of infrastructure improvements in and around the

    
    

19. ballpark district, arts district, and the growth center district; funding future debt service on bonds;

20. and funding a redevelopment revolving fund established in accordance with § 45-33-1.

    
    

21. SECTION 17. The appropriations from federal funds contained in section 1 shall not be

    
    

22. construed to mean any federal funds or assistance appropriated, authorized, allocated or

    
    

23. apportioned to the State of Rhode Island from the state fiscal recovery fund and capital projects

    
    

24. fund enacted pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2 for fiscal year 2026

    
    

25. except for those instances specifically designated.

26. The State fiscal recovery fund and capital projects fund appropriations herein shall be made

    
    

27. in support of the following projects:

    
    

28. Federal Funds - State Fiscal Recovery Fund

    
    

29. Department of Administration (DOA)

    
    

30. DOA- Pandemic Recovery Office. These funds shall be allocated to finance the pandemic

31. recovery office established within the department of administration.

    
    

32. Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)

    
    

33. EOHHS - Certified Community Behavioral Clinics. These funds shall be allocated to a

    
    

34. program to support certified community behavioral health clinics to bolster behavioral health

1. supports, medical screening and monitoring, and social services to particularly vulnerable

   
   

2. populations in response to a rise in mental health needs during the public health emergency.

   
   

3. Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals

4. (BHDDH)

   
   

5. BHDDH – 9-8-8 Hotline. These funds shall be allocated for the creation and operation of

   
   

6. a 9-8-8 hotline to maintain compliance wit the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020

   
   

7. and the Federal Communications Commission-adopted rules to assure that all citizens receive a

   
   

8. consistent level of 9-8-8 and crisis behavioral health services.

   
   

9. Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ELSEC)

10. RIDE - Adult Education Providers. These funds shall be directly distributed through the

    
    

11. office of adult education to nonprofit adult education providers to expand access to educational

    
    

12. programs and literary services.

    
    

13. Department of Public Safety (DPS)

    
    

14. DPS – Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence. These funds shall be allocated to invest

15. in the nonprofit community to provide additional housing, clinical and mental health services to

    
    

16. victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. This includes increased investments for therapy

    
    

17. and counseling, housing assistance, job training, relocation aid and case management.

    
    

18. Federal Funds - Capital Projects Fund

    
    

19. Department of Administration (DOA)

20. DOA - CPF Administration. These funds shall be allocated to the department of

    
    

21. administration to oversee the implementation of the capital projects fund award from the American

    
    

22. Rescue Plan Act.

    
    

23. SECTION 18. Reappropriation of Funding for State Fiscal Recovery Fund and Capital

    
    

24. Projects Fund. Notwithstanding any provision of general law, any unexpended and unencumbered

    
    

25. federal funds from the state fiscal recovery fund and capital projects fund shall be reappropriated

26. in the ensuing fiscal year and made available for the same purposes. However, any such

    
    

27. reappropriations are subject to final approval by the general assembly as part of the supplemental

    
    

28. appropriations act.

    
    

29. SECTION 19. The pandemic recovery office shall monitor the progress and performance

    
    

30. of all programs financed by the state fiscal recovery fund and the capital projects fund. On or before

31 October 31, 2023 through April 30, 2025, the office shall provide a report to the speaker of the

1. house and senate president, with copies to the chairpersons of the house and senate finance

   
   

2. committees, on a quarterly basis and biannually thereafter until and including October 31, 2026,

   
   

3. identifying programs that are at risk of significant underspending or noncompliance with federal or

1. state requirements. The report, at a minimum must include an assessment of how programs that are

   
   

2. at risk can be remedied. In the event that any state fiscal recovery fund program underspends its

   
   

3. appropriation or receives program income as defined by U.S. Treasury and would put the state at

4. risk of forfeiture of federal funds, the governor may propose to reclassify unspent funds or program

   
   

5. income from the at-risk program to other eligible uses as determined by U.S. Treasury. This

   
   

6. proposal shall be referred to the general assembly. For a state fiscal recovery fund program, if the

   
   

7. amount of the underspend or receipt of program income is less than or equal to one million dollars

   
   

8. ($1,000,000) and less than or equal to twenty percent (20%) of its total appropriation, the

   
   

9. governor’s proposed reclassification shall take effect immediately. For a state fiscal recovery fund

10. program, if the amount of the underspend or receipt of program income is greater than one million

    
    

11. dollars ($1,000,000) or greater than twenty percent (20%) of its total appropriation, the governor’s

    
    

12. proposed reclassification shall go into effect thirty (30) days after its referral to the general

    
    

13. assembly by the governor, unless rejected by formal action of the house and senate acting

    
    

14. concurrently within that time.

15. SECTION 20. Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, the Rhode Island student

    
    

16. loan authority shall transfer to the state controller by June 30, 2026, the sum of two million nine

    
    

17. hundred thousand dollars ($2,900,000).

    
    

18. SECTION 21. Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, the state controller shall

    
    

19. transfer the sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Fund

20. by June 30, 2026.

    
    

21. SECTION 22. Notwithstanding any general laws to the contrary, the state controller shall

    
    

22. transfer the sum of two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) to the housing resources

    
    

23. and homelessness restricted receipt account by June 30, 2026.

    
    

24. SECTION 23. The general assembly makes the following findings:

    
    

25. (1) Federal disbursements play a significant role in the financial management of Rhode

26. Island’s overall budget and revenues;

    
    

27. (2) With pending federal legislative proposals, uncertainty exists regarding projected future

    
    

28. federal disbursements to Rhode Island;

    
    

29. (3) Potential federal tax actions, actions related to Medicare/Medicaid programs, and

    
    

30. actions related to grants could all pose significant state budget challenges in fiscal year 2026 and

31. thereafter;

    
    

32. (4) In order to be prepared to address these potential challenges, it is in the best interest of

    
    

33. the State to convene advisory working groups to inform any budget changes that may be

    
    

34. necessitated by federal actions; and

    1. (5) It is further in the best interest of the State for the Office of Management and Budget,

       
       

    2. in coordination with other state agencies, to develop options for consideration by the general

       
       

    3. assembly;

    4. Therefore, the general assembly respectfully requests the administration to convene an

       
       

    5. advisory group, as set forth in Article 5, § 3, to assist in the review and analysis of federal tax

       
       

    6. actions; to appoint an advisory group, as set forth in Article 8, § 8, to assist in the review and

       
       

    7. analysis of federal actions related to Medicare/Medicaid; and to monitor the status of federal grants

       
       

    8. and develop options for the general assembly to address federal funding changes, as set forth in

       
       

    9. Article 3, § 7.

    10. SECTION 24. This article shall take effect as of July 1, 2025, except as otherwise provided

        
        

    11. herein.

        
        

        1. ‌ARTICLE 2

           =======

           art.002/5/002/4/002/3/002/2/002/1

           =======

           
           

        2. RELATING TO STATE FUNDS

           
           

        3. SECTION 1. Chapter 16-57 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Higher Education

           
           

        4. Assistance Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

           
           

        5. amended by adding thereto the following sections:

           
           

        6. 16-57-4.1.  Dissolution  of  division  of  higher  education  assistance  --  Transfer  of

           
           

        7. functions.

        8. (a) Effective July 1, 2025, the division of higher education assistance shall be dissolved.

           
           

        9. Upon said dissolution and date, all functions, powers, duties and authority of the division of higher

           
           

        10. education assistance shall transfer to the office of postsecondary commissioner.

            
            

        11. (b) On July 1, 2025, the office of postsecondary commissioner shall assume all rights,

            
            

        12. responsibilities, duties, assets, liabilities and obligations of the dissolved division of higher

        13. education assistance, and the office of postsecondary commissioner shall be considered for all

            
            

        14. purposes the successor in interest to the division of higher education assistance.

            
            

        15. (c) All contracts and agreements of whatsoever kind of the division of higher education

            
            

        16. assistance  are  hereby  assigned,  transferred  to,  and  assumed  by  the  office  of  postsecondary

            
            

        17. commissioner.

            
            

        18. (d) Whenever in any general law, public law or rule or regulation reference is made to "the

        19. division of higher education assistance", the reference shall be deemed to refer to and mean "the

            
            

        20. office of postsecondary commissioner", which also may be referred to as the "office".

            
            

        21. 16-57-4.2. Tuition savings program fund.

            
            

        22. There is hereby established a restricted receipt account in the general fund and housed in

            
            

        23. the office of postsecondary commissioner to be known as the "tuition savings program fund". The

        24. purpose of the fund is to receive and disburse scholarship funds pursuant to the provisions of this

            
            

        25. chapter.

26 SECTION 2. Sections 16-57-2, 16-57-3, 16-57-4, 16-57-6.1, 16-57-7, 16-57-8, 16-57-9,

1. 16-57-10 and 16-57-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-57 entitled "Rhode Island Higher

   
   

2. Education Assistance Act [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]"

3. are hereby amended to read as follows:

   
   

   30 16-57-2. Findings.

   1. The purpose of this chapter is to authorize a system of financial assistance, consisting of

      
      

   2. loan guaranties, savings programs, and other aids, for qualified students, parents, and others

      
      

   3. responsible for paying the costs of education to enable them to obtain an education beyond the high

   4. school level by attending public or private educational institutions. The general assembly has found

      
      

   5. and declares that it is in the public interest and essential to the welfare and well being of the

      
      

   6. inhabitants of the state and to the proper growth and development of the state to foster and provide

      
      

   7. financial assistance to qualified students, parents, and others responsible for paying the costs of

      
      

   8. education in order to help prospective students to obtain an education beyond the high school level.

      
      

   9. The general assembly has found that many inhabitants of the state who are fully qualified to enroll

   10. in appropriate educational institutions for furthering their education beyond the high school level

       
       

   11. lack the financial means and are unable, without financial assistance as authorized under this

       
       

   12. chapter, to pay the cost of their education, with a consequent irreparable loss to the state of valuable

       
       

   13. talents vital to its welfare. The general assembly also recognizes that educational institutions for

       
       

   14. higher education are in need of appropriate additional means to provide financial assistance to

   15. qualified students, parents, and others responsible for paying the costs of education. The general

       
       

   16. assembly has determined that the establishment of a proper system of financial assistance,

       
       

   17. containing eligibility opportunities for students and residents of this state and other states serves a

       
       

   18. public purpose and is fully consistent with the long established policy of the state to encourage,

       
       

   19. promote, and assist the education of the people of the state. The general assembly further finds that

   20. higher education financial assistance needs of Rhode Islanders will be better served by transferring

       
       

   21. all of the functions and programs of the former Rhode Island higher education assistance authority

       
       

   22. to and of the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance to the office of postsecondary

       
       

   23. commissioner and the office of the general treasurer.

       
       

   24. 16-57-3. Definitions.

       
       

   25. As used in this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings unless

   26. the context indicates another or different meaning or intent:

       
       

   27. (1) “Authority” means the governmental agency and public instrumentality previously

       
       

   28. authorized, created, and established pursuant to § 16-57-4 commissioner  of  postsecondary

       
       

   29. education.

       
       

   30. (2) “Commissioner of postsecondary education” means the commissioner appointed by the

   31. council on postsecondary education pursuant to § 16-59-6 or his or her the commissioner's

       
       

   32. designee.

       
       

   33. (3) “Eligible borrower” means a student, or the parent of a student, who is either a resident

       
       

   34. of the state or who, under rules promulgated by the office, is qualified to make an eligible loan.

       1. (4) “Eligible institution,” subject to further particular or more restrictive definition by

          
          

       2. regulation of the office, means:

          
          

       3. (i) An institution of higher learning;

       4. (ii) A vocational school; or

          
          

       5. (iii) With respect to students who are nationals of the United States, an institution outside

          
          

       6. the United States that is comparable to an institution of higher education or to a vocational school

          
          

       7. and that has been approved by the commissioner of postsecondary education for purposes of the

          
          

       8. guaranteed student loan program.

          
          

       9. (5) “Eligible loan” means a loan to a student or to the parent of a student insured or

       10. guaranteed by the commissioner of postsecondary education, or by any other governmental or

           
           

       11. private agency, corporation, or organization having a reinsurance or guaranty agreement with the

           
           

       12. commissioner applicable to the student loan.

           
           

       13. (6) “Guaranteed student loan program” means the program of federal student loan

           
           

       14. insurance and reinsurance administered by the commissioner of postsecondary education.

       15. (7) “Lender,” subject to further particular or more restrictive definition by regulation of the

           
           

       16. office, means any governmental or private agency, corporation, organization, or institution

           
           

       17. designated as an “eligible lender” by federal statute, regulation, or administrative ruling for the

           
           

       18. purposes of the guaranteed student loan program.

           
           

       19. (8) “Participant” means an individual, corporation, trust, or other “person” within the

       20. meaning of § 529 of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 529], who makes contributions to the

           
           

       21. tuition savings program established pursuant to § 16-57-6.1 for purposes of paying qualified higher

           
           

       22. education expenses on behalf of a beneficiary.

           
           

       23. (9) “Participating institution” means an institution for higher education that agrees to

           
           

       24. participate in a savings program or pre-paid tuition program established pursuant to this chapter.

           
           

       25. (10) “Pre-paid tuition program” means a program administered by the division, in

       26. conjunction with the executive director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority and the

           
           

       27. commissioner of postsecondary education, that provides a means for qualified students, parents,

           
           

       28. and others responsible for paying the costs of education to fix all or a portion of the direct cost of

           
           

       29. attendance at participating institutions in one or more future years.

           
           

       30. (11) “Program” means the tuition savings program established pursuant to § 16-57-6.1.

       31. (12) “Qualified higher education expenses” means the costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies

           
           

       32. and equipment required for enrollment or attendance at an institution of higher education, and other

           
           

       33. education costs defined by federal law.

           
           

       34. (13) “Secretary” means the United States secretary of education.

1. (14) “State” means the state of Rhode Island.

   
   

2. (15) “Student,” as used with reference to the guaranteed student loan program and the

   
   

3. parent loan program, means an individual who, under rules promulgated by the division

4. commissioner of postsecondary education, is enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an eligible

   
   

5. institution and who is making suitable progress in his or her the student's education toward

   
   

6. obtaining a degree or other appropriate certification in accordance with standards acceptable to the

   
   

7. authority.

   
   

8. (16) “Tuition savings program” or “savings program” means a program approved and

   
   

9. administered by the general treasurer, in conjunction with the executive director of the Rhode Island

10. Student Loan Authority, and the commissioner of postsecondary education, designed to facilitate

    
    

11. and encourage savings by, or on behalf of, students, future students, and parents for the purpose of

    
    

12. paying the costs of attending institutions of higher education.

    
    

13. (17) “Council” means the council on postsecondary education established pursuant to § 16-

14 59-1.

1. (18) “Division” means the Rhode Island division of higher education assistance, the

   
   

2. division authorized, created, and established pursuant to § 16-57-4, and dissolved pursuant to the

   
   

3. provisions of § 16-57-4.1.

   
   

4. 16-57-4. Creation Authorization and powers.

   
   

5. (a) There is authorized, created, and established within the The office of the commissioner

6. of postsecondary education, a division of higher education assistance is hereby granted and

   
   

7. authorized to use all of the powers set forth in this chapter for the purposes of guaranteeing eligible

   
   

8. loans to students in eligible institutions and to parents of those students and administering other

   
   

9. programs of postsecondary student financial assistance assigned by law to the division

   
   

10. commissioner of postsecondary education.

    
    

11. (b) The exercise by the division commissioner of postsecondary education of the powers

12. conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held to be the performance of an essential

    
    

13. governmental function of the state for public purposes. It is the intent of the general assembly by

    
    

14. the passage of this chapter to vest in the office commissioner all powers, authority, rights,

    
    

15. privileges, and titles that may be necessary to enable it to accomplish the purposes set forth in this

    
    

16. section and this chapter, and the powers granted by it shall be liberally construed in conformity

17. with these purposes.

    
    

18. (c) The authority and its corporate existence shall be terminated on July 1, 2015, or upon

    
    

19. approval by the U.S. Department of Education, whichever is later, and all its rights and properties

    
    

20. shall pass to and be vested in the division of higher education assistance, except as otherwise

1. provided in § 16-57-6.1, and except for any real property held by the authority, the legal title to

   
   

2. which is hereby passed to and vested in (in trust for the state) the council on postsecondary

   
   

3. education. The division shall continue until terminated by law or until the division shall cease

4. entirely and continuously to conduct or be involved in any business in furtherance of its purposes;

   
   

5. provided, that no termination shall take effect so long as the division shall have guaranties or other

   
   

6. obligations outstanding, unless adequate provision shall have been made for the payment of the

   
   

7. obligations pursuant to the documents securing them or to this law. Upon termination of the

   
   

8. existence of the division, all its rights and properties shall pass to and be vested in the state. At no

   
   

9. time shall the assets or other property of the division enure to the benefit of any person or other

10. corporation or entity.

    
    

11. (d)(c) Except as provided in § 16-57-6.1, effective July 1, 2015 2025, or upon approval by

    
    

12. the U.S. Department of Education, whichever is later:

    
    

13. (i) All functions formerly administered by the Rhode Island higher education assistance

    
    

14. authority are hereby transferred to the and by Rhode Island division of higher education assistance

15. are hereby transferred to the office of postsecondary commissioner;

    
    

16. (ii) The Rhode Island division of higher education assistance office of postsecondary

    
    

17. commission shall assume all rights, duties, assets, liabilities, and obligations of the former Rhode

    
    

18. Island higher education assistance authority and the Rhode Island division of higher education

    
    

19. assistance. The office of postsecondary commissioner shall be considered to be the successor in

20. interest to both the Rhode Island higher education assistance authority and the Rhode Island

    
    

21. division of higher education assistance; and

    
    

22. (iii) All contracts and agreements of whatsoever kind of the Rhode Island higher education

    
    

23. assistance authority are hereby assigned, transferred to, and assumed by and by the Rhode Island

    
    

24. division of higher education assistance are hereby assigned, transferred to and assumed by office

    
    

25. of postsecondary commissioner.

26. (e)(d) Upon the completion of the transfer, the corporation known as the “Rhode Island

    
    

27. higher education assistance authority” Rhode Island division of higher education assistance shall

    
    

28. cease to exist. Whenever in any general law, or public law or rule or regulation reference is made

    
    

29. to the “Rhode Island higher education assistance authority,” the reference shall be deemed to refer

    
    

30. to and mean or the “Rhode Island division of higher education assistance,” which also may be

31. referred to as the “division.” the reference shall be deemed to refer to and mean the office of

    
    

32. postsecondary commissioner.

    
    

33. 16-57-6.1. Tuition savings program.

    
    

34. (a) The general treasurer, in conjunction with the division, the state investment

    1. commission, executive director of the Rhode Island student loan authority, and the commissioner

       
       

    2. of postsecondary education, shall establish, in any form as he or she deems appropriate, a tuition

       
       

    3. savings program to allow persons to save money for the sole purpose of meeting qualified higher

    4. education expenses.

       
       

    5. (b) All money received in connection with the tuition savings program shall be segregated

       
       

    6. from all other funds into two (2) funds, a program fund and an administrative fund. No more than

       
       

    7. two percent (2%) of money in the program fund may be transferred annually to the administrative

       
       

    8. fund for the purpose of paying operating costs of administering the tuition savings program. Money

       
       

    9. accrued by participants in the program fund may be used for payments to an eligible institution. All

    10. proceeds from the tuition savings program shall be directed to the administrative fund, and to the

        
        

    11. extent they exceed the operating costs of administering the tuition savings program, said excess

        
        

    12. shall be used for financial aid-related activities in Rhode Island pursuant to § 16-56-6.

        
        

    13. (c) The state investment commission shall invest money within the program fund in any

        
        

    14. investments that are authorized by the general laws, including equities and fixed-income securities.

    15. The composition of investments shall be determined by the state investment commission.

        
        

    16. (d) A participant may at any time withdraw funds from the participant’s account in the

        
        

    17. tuition savings program in an amount up to the value of the account at the time the withdrawal is

        
        

    18. implemented, less such administrative fee as may be levied by the treasurer in connection with the

        
        

    19. withdrawal.

    20. (e) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, no administrative fee may be levied

        
        

    21. by the treasurer in the event that a participant requests withdrawal of funds from the participant’s

        
        

    22. account in the tuition savings program on account of, and within the meanings of § 529 of the

        
        

    23. Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 529]:

        
        

    24. (1) The death of the beneficiary of the account;

        
        

    25. (2) The disability of the beneficiary; or

    26. (3) A scholarship, allowance, or payment received by the beneficiary to the extent that the

        
        

    27. amount of the refund does not exceed the amount of the scholarship, allowance, or payment.

        
        

    28. (f) In the event that a participant requests a withdrawal from an account in the tuition

        
        

    29. savings program other than: (1) A withdrawal used for qualified higher education expenses of the

        
        

    30. beneficiary of the account or (2): For a reason referred to in subdivision (e)(1), (e)(2), or (e)(3) of

    31. this section, the treasurer shall impose a more than de minimis penalty on the earnings portion of

        
        

    32. the withdrawal in accordance with § 529 of the Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 529]; provided

        
        

    33. that no penalty shall be imposed with respect to any such withdrawal, or any other withdrawal,

        
        

    34. from any account in the tuition savings plan to which the tax made applicable by § 529 of the