2025 -- H 5719

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LC000777

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OLDER ADULTS AND

ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

     Introduced By: Representative Lauren H. Carson

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND

GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapters:

CHAPTER 66.14

OLDER ADULTS AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.

     42-66.14-1. Replacing references to elders, elderly persons, senior citizens,

handicapped, and adults with disabilities.

     (a) In an effort to increase individuals’ awareness of services that are available for older

adults residing in Rhode Island:

     (1) The term “older adult” shall replace the terms “elder,” “elderly person(s),” and “senior

citizen(s)” as they appear throughout the general laws; and

     (2) The phrase “adult(s) with disabilities” shall replace the terms “handicapped” or

“disabled” as they appear throughout the general laws when such words are used to refer to adult

persons with disabilities.

     (b) In accordance with § 22-11-3.6, the law revision director shall implement the changes

mandated in this chapter to all general laws containing the terms “elder,” “elderly person(s),”

“senior citizen(s),” “handicapped,” or “disabled” by January 1, 2027.

CHAPTER 66.15

PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON AGING RHODE ISLANDERS.

     42-66.15-1. Permanent legislative oversight commission on aging Rhode Islanders.

     (a) There is established a permanent legislative oversight commission entitled “permanent

legislative oversight commission on aging Rhode Islanders” to study current services and

coordination of state programs relating to older adult Rhode Islanders and recommend potential

initiatives that would help residents, agencies, providers, and the government better assist the

growing population of older adults in the state achieve well-being and maximum independence.

     (b) The commission shall consist of seventeen (17) members: one of whom shall be a state

health care provider appointed by the speaker of the house; three (3) of whom shall be members of

the Rhode Island house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to

be appointed by the speaker of the house; two (2) of whom shall be Rhode Island residents over the

age of sixty-five (65) years, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be the

director of the Rhode Island department of health, or designee; one of whom shall be the director

of the Rhode Island office of healthy aging, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be directors from

RI Senior Center Director's Association, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom

shall be a community action program director from the Rhode Island Association of Community

Action Agencies, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be the director of

the AARP Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of the RI Long-Term Care

Coordinating Council, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be the

executive director of Age-Friendly RI, or designee; one of whom shall be the director of the Senior

Agenda Coalition of RI; or designee; and one of whom shall be a member of a Rhode Island

organization representing adults with disabilities, to be appointed by the speaker of the house.

Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. The

membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     (c) The commission is created to serve the following purposes:

     (1) Create a comprehensive study of key statistics and information about services for older

adults in Rhode Island including, but not limited to, examining their strengths, vulnerabilities,

demographics, and economic circumstances;

     (2) Assess state, federal and local services currently available to older adult Rhode

Islanders;

     (3) Examine any duplication of elderly services within the state;

     (4) Provide recommendations to institute, integrate, collaborate, and implement initiatives

that eliminate red tape, coordinate services within agencies, and focus on better delivery of services

and programs related to older adult Rhode Islanders, including older adult housing options and

various living arrangements, health status and healthcare resources;

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     (5) Provide recommendations for the creation of a portal to provide and coordinate aging

programs and services in the areas of employment, education, independent living, accessibility and

advocacy, as well as local older adult centers and services;

     (6) Provide recommendations on issues and services surrounding mental health,

transportation, food access, and healthcare for aging Rhode Islanders;

     (7) Review and provide recommendations for the funding of services through state, federal,

and private grants and provide recommendations for more efficient distribution and use of these

dollars for programs and services for aging Rhode Islanders;

     (8) Explore and provide recommendations for increased regionalization of services;

     (9) Create a state master plan on aging and a vision for aging in Rhode Island;

     (10) Create a plan to restructure and return the office on aging to a department at the cabinet

level with a mission to ensure implementation of the recommendations on aging by previous and

existing boards and commissions with relevance to aging and the development and implementation

of policies and programs in response to emerging trends in aging relating to housing, access to

technology, long-term care, and long-term care funding formula for municipal senior centers;

     (11) Evaluate and update the aging community statutes;

     (12) Evaluate and update the purposes of the RI Long-Term Care Coordinating Council

pursuant to chapter 17.3 of title 23;

     (13) Engage state agencies that deliver programs for aging Rhode Islanders;

     (14) Propose recommendations to provide and coordinate aging programs and services in

the areas of employment, education, independent living, accessibility and advocacy, as well as local

older adult centers and services; and

     (15) Advise the house of representatives on matters pertaining to Rhode Island older adults.

     (d) The commission shall report to the speaker of the house and senate president annually.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 22-11 of the General Laws entitled "Joint Committee on Legislative

Services" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     22-11-3.6. Revision of statutes - Older adults and adults with disabilities.

     The law revision director is authorized and empowered to amend the general laws for the

purpose of making statutory language conform to the requirements of § 42-66.14-1.

     SECTION 3. Sections 23-17.3-1 and 23-17.3-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.3

entitled "Long-Term Care Coordinating Council" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-17.3-1. Establishment — Purposes — Reports to Council.

     (a) There is established the long-term care coordinating council. The purpose of the council

shall be to develop and coordinate state policy concerning all forms of long-term health care for

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the elderly and adults with chronic disabilities and illnesses, ranging from at-home and community

based care and respite care through intensive nursing care to long-term hospital care. The council

shall examine and make recommendations concerning any and all issues relating to long-term

health care for the elderly and adults with chronic disabilities and illnesses, including, but not

limited to:

     (1) Standards and quality performance;

     (2) Personnel issues including training standards, recruitment, and staffing needs;

     (3) Enforcement of regulations;

     (4) Patient and client rights;

     (5) Eligibility and access issues; and

     (6) The adequacy of funding and delivery of long-term care services.

     (b) The council is empowered to appoint subcommittees to study specialized areas of

concern and to report their findings to the council.

     (c) The council is empowered to seek the advice and assistance of the American

Association of Retired Persons, Rhode Island chapter, members of state and local senior citizens’

councils and advocacy/interest groups, and long term care organizations and associations.

     (d) The council is empowered to apply for and receive grants, appropriations, or gifts from

any federal, state, or local agency, from any public or private foundation, or from any individual in

order to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

     (e) All departments, boards, and agencies of the state shall cooperate with the council and

furnish any advice and information, documentary and otherwise, that may be necessary or desirable

to facilitate the purposes of this chapter.

     (f) The department of health shall provide a written report to the long-term care

coordinating council by March 30 of each year regarding its regulatory activities for the preceding

calendar year in the area of long-term care. The annual regulatory report shall include information

on long-term care survey activities, including complaints of abuse and/or neglect, as requested by

the chairperson of the council. In addition, the department of health shall also notify the chairperson

of the council whenever a licensed long term care facility or provider is cited for providing

substandard care.

     (g) By March 31, 2026, the council shall conduct and complete a review of chapter 17.3 of

title 23 and make recommendations to the house of representatives for its amendment and reform.

     23-17.3-2. Membership.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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successors are appointed and qualified, whichever is later. A quorum shall consist of twelve (12)

members of the council.

     SECTION 4. Section 42-11-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-11 entitled "Department

of Administration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-11-10. Statewide planning program.

     (a) Findings. The general assembly finds that the people of this state have a fundamental

interest in the orderly development of the state; the state has a positive interest and demonstrated

need for establishment of a comprehensive, strategic state planning process and the preparation,

maintenance, and implementation of plans for the physical, economic, and social development of

the state; the continued growth and development of the state presents problems that cannot be met

by the cities and towns individually and that require effective planning by the state; and state and

local plans and programs must be properly coordinated with the planning requirements and

programs of the federal government.

     (b) Establishment of statewide planning program.

     (1) A statewide planning program is hereby established to prepare, adopt, and amend

strategic plans for the physical, economic, and social development of the state and to recommend

these to the governor, the general assembly, and all others concerned.

     (2) All strategic planning, as defined in subsection (c) of this section, undertaken by all

departments and agencies of the executive branch unless specifically exempted, shall be conducted

by or under the supervision of the statewide planning program. The statewide planning program

shall consist of a state planning council, and the division of planning, which shall be a division

within the department of administration.

     (c) Strategic planning. Strategic planning includes the following activities:

     (1) Establishing or identifying general goals;

     (2) Refining or detailing these goals and identifying relationships between them;

     (3) Formulating, testing, and selecting policies and standards that will achieve desired

objectives;

     (4) Preparing long-range or system plans or comprehensive programs that carry out the

policies and set time schedules, performance measures, and targets;

     (5) Preparing functional, short-range plans or programs that are consistent with established

or desired goals, objectives, and policies, and with long-range or system plans or comprehensive

programs where applicable, and that establish measurable, intermediate steps toward their

accomplishment of the goals, objectives, policies, and/or long-range system plans;

     (6) Monitoring the planning of specific projects and designing of specific programs of short

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duration by the operating departments, other agencies of the executive branch, and political

subdivisions of the state to ensure that these are consistent with, and carry out the intent of,

applicable strategic plans; and

     (7) Reviewing the execution of strategic plans, and the results obtained, and making

revisions necessary to achieve established goals.

     (d) State guide plan. Components of strategic plans prepared and adopted in accordance

with this section may be designated as elements of the state guide plan. The state guide plan shall

be comprised of functional elements or plans dealing with land use; physical development and

environmental concerns; economic development; housing production; energy supply, including the

development of renewable energy resources in Rhode Island, and energy access, use, and

conservation; human services; climate change and resiliency; and other factors necessary to

accomplish the objective of this section. The state guide plan shall be a means for centralizing,

integrating, and monitoring long-range goals, policies, plans, and implementation activities related

thereto. State agencies concerned with specific subject areas, local governments, and the public

shall participate in the state guide planning process, which shall be closely coordinated with the

budgeting process.

     (e) Membership of state planning council. The state planning council shall consist of the

following members:

     (1) The director of the department of administration as chairperson;

     (2) The director, policy office, in the office of the governor, as vice-chairperson;

     (3) The governor, or his or her designee;

     (4) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 4, § 13.]

     (5) The secretary of housing or designee;

     (6) The highest-ranking administrative officer of the division of planning, as secretary;

     (7) The president of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns or his or her designee;

     (8) The executive director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns;

     (9) Three (3) chief elected officials of cities and towns appointed by the governor after

consultation with the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, one of whom shall be from a

community with a population greater than 40,000 persons; one of whom shall be from a community

with a population of between 20,000 and 40,000 persons; and one of whom shall be from a

community with a population less than 20,000 persons;

     (10) One representative of a nonprofit community development or housing organization

appointed by the governor;

     (11) Four (4) public members, appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be an

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employer with fewer than fifty (50) employees; one of whom shall be an employer with greater

than fifty (50) employees; one of whom shall represent a professional planning or engineering

organization in Rhode Island; and one of whom shall represent a chamber of commerce or

economic development organization;

     (12) Two (2) representatives of private, nonprofit, environmental or environmental justice

advocacy organizations, both to be appointed by the governor;

     (13) The director of planning and development for the city of Providence;

     (14) The director of the department of transportation;

     (15) The director of the department of environmental management;

     (16) The director of the department of health;

     (17) The chief executive officer of the commerce corporation;

     (18) The commissioner of the Rhode Island office of energy resources;

     (19) The chief executive officer of the Rhode Island public transit authority;

     (20) The executive director of Rhode Island housing;

     (21) The executive director of the coastal resources management council; and

     (22) The director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency.; and

     (23) One representative of a statewide aging advocacy organization who is sixty (60) years

of age or older.

     (f) Powers and duties of state planning council. The state planning council shall have the

following powers and duties:

     (1) To adopt strategic plans as defined in this section and the long-range state guide plan,

and to modify and amend any of these, following the procedures for notification and public hearing

set forth in § 42-35-3, and to recommend and encourage implementation of these goals to the

general assembly, state and federal agencies, and other public and private bodies; approval of

strategic plans by the governor; and to ensure that strategic plans and the long-range state guide

plan are consistent with the findings, intent, and goals set forth in § 45-22.2-3, the “Rhode Island

comprehensive planning and land use regulation act”;

     (2) To coordinate the planning and development activities of all state agencies, in

accordance with strategic plans prepared and adopted as provided for by this section;

     (3) To review and comment on the proposed annual work program of the statewide

planning program;

     (4) To adopt rules and standards and issue orders concerning any matters within its

jurisdiction as established by this section and amendments to it;

     (5) To establish advisory committees and appoint members thereto representing diverse

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interests and viewpoints as required in the state planning process and in the preparation or

implementation of strategic plans. At minimum, the state planning council shall appoint permanent

committees:

     (i) A technical committee, comprised of public members from different geographic areas

of the state representing diverse communities. This committee shall advise the state planning

council on issues related to local comprehensive planning and land use. This committee shall also

advise the state planning council on any other matter referred to it by the council; and

     (ii) An executive committee consisting of major participants of a Rhode Island geographic

information system with oversight responsibility for its activities; and

     (iii) A transportation advisory committee, made up of diverse representation, including,

but not limited to, municipal elected and appointed officials; representatives of various

transportation sectors, departments, and agencies; and other groups and agencies with an interest

in transportation operations, maintenance, construction, and policy, who shall review

transportation-related plans and amendments and recommend action to the state planning council;

and

     (iv) An aging adult advisory committee, comprised of the representative identified in

subsection (e)(23) of this section and representatives from the state departments that serve the

interests of older Rhode Islanders including, but not limited to, the office of healthy aging and the

department of health, to study and make recommendations to the house of representatives, by

March 31, 2026, regarding:

     (A) Inter-agency coordination for program delivery and budget consolidation;

     (B) Effective delivery of supports for care for aging Rhode Islanders; and

     (C) Areas for further program delivery for aging Rhode Islanders.

     (6) To adopt, amend, and maintain, as an element of the state guide plan or as an

amendment to an existing element of the state guide plan, standards and guidelines for the location

of eligible, renewable energy resources and renewable energy facilities in Rhode Island with due

consideration for the location of such resources and facilities in commercial and industrial areas,

agricultural areas, areas occupied by public and private institutions, and property of the state and

its agencies and corporations, provided these areas are of sufficient size, and in other areas of the

state as appropriate;

     (7) To act as the single, statewide metropolitan planning organization for transportation

planning, and to promulgate all rules and regulations that are necessary thereto; and

     (8) To assist the Rhode Island infrastructure bank in establishing review criteria, evaluating

applications, approving and issuing grants, and to assist municipalities pursuant to the provisions

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of chapter 11.4 of this title, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

     (g) Division of statewide planning.

     (1) The division of statewide planning shall be the principal staff agency of the state

planning council for preparing and/or coordinating strategic plans for the comprehensive

management of the state’s human, economic, and physical resources. The division of statewide

planning shall recommend to the state planning council specific guidelines, standards, and

programs to be adopted to implement strategic planning and the state guide plan and shall undertake

any other duties established by this section and amendments thereto.

     (2) The division of statewide planning shall maintain records (which shall consist of files

of complete copies) of all plans, recommendations, rules, and modifications or amendments thereto

adopted or issued by the state planning council under this section. The records shall be open to the

public.

     (3) The division of statewide planning shall manage and administer the Rhode Island

geographic information system of land-related resources, and shall coordinate these efforts with

other state departments and agencies, including the university of Rhode Island, which shall provide

technical support and assistance in the development and maintenance of the system and its

associated database.

     (4) The division of statewide planning shall coordinate and oversee the provision of

technical assistance to political subdivisions of the state in preparing and implementing plans to

accomplish the purposes, goals, objectives, policies, and/or standards of applicable elements of the

state guide plan and shall make available to cities and towns data and guidelines that may be used

in preparing comprehensive plans and elements thereof and in evaluating comprehensive plans and

elements thereby.

     (h) [Deleted by P.L. 2011, ch. 215, § 4, and by P.L. 2011, ch. 313, § 4.]

     (i) The division of planning shall be the principal staff agency of the water resources board

established pursuant to chapter 15 of title 46 (“Water Resources Board”) and the water resources

board corporate established pursuant to chapter 15.1 of title 46 (“Water Supply Facilities”).

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OLDER ADULTS AND

ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES

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     This act would advance the interests of older Rhode Islanders by adding a representative

of an aging adult organization to the state planning council and a permanent committee on aging to

the state planning council. This act would also create a permanent legislative commission on aging

adults. Additionally, this act would require the long-term care coordinating council to review and

make recommendations for reforming its governing statute, and would change the council’s

quorum to twelve (12) members. Lastly, the act would dispense with less-favored terms related to

older persons and persons with disabilities, and would empower the law revision director to revise

affected general laws.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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