2026 -- H 7030 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC003152/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Craven, Caldwell, Bennett, Casimiro, Corvese,
Morales, Paplauskas, and Hopkins

     Date Introduced: January 09, 2026

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 106

HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT

     23-106-1. Title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthcare Worker Platform Act."

     23-106-2. Definitions.

     For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following

meanings:

     (1) "Healthcare worker platform" means any person, company, corporation, partnership, or

association that operates or offers a platform. A "healthcare worker platform" is not considered a

"nursing service agency", as defined in § 23-17.7.1-2.

     (2) "Platform" means an electronic platform, system, or application through which

healthcare workers can accept one or more shifts to perform healthcare related services at a

healthcare facility. To meet the definition of a platform, a healthcare worker platform shall not:

     (i) Require a healthcare worker to work any specific shifts or specific number of shifts at a

healthcare facility; or

     (ii) Restrict a healthcare worker from engaging in any other occupation or business or from

working at a healthcare facility, with any nursing service agency, or through any other healthcare

worker platform.

     23-106-3. Licensure of healthcare worker platforms.

     (a) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, a healthcare worker platform shall

be excluded from the definition of a "nursing service agency", as defined by §§ 23-17.7.1-3, 23-

17.7.1-10, and 23-17.7.1-19.

     (b) On or before June 1, 2027, the department of health shall promulgate rules and

regulations that shall require the licensure of each healthcare worker platform that operates or offers

a platform within the state.

     (c) The department of health may assess an annual licensure fee of one thousand dollars

($1,000) per licensee.

     (d) After September 1, 2027, or by the date the department of health has set for licensure

of healthcare worker platforms pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, whichever is later, no

healthcare worker platform shall operate a platform in the state, unless it is licensed pursuant to

subsection (b) of this section.

     23-106-4. Minimum worker and patient protections.

     (a) Every healthcare worker platform licensed pursuant to this chapter shall ensure that all

healthcare workers utilizing the platform meet the following standards:

     (1) Criminal background checks. Completion of a national fingerprint-based criminal

background check, including disqualifying offenses, in accordance with department of health

requirements. A healthcare worker who books shifts through a healthcare worker platform shall be

able to receive a background check in accordance with § 23-17-34, and a healthcare worker

platform shall be able to apply to the bureau of criminal identification of the department of attorney

general for a national criminal records check as specified in § 23-17-34, even if the healthcare

worker platform is not the employer of the healthcare worker.

     (2) Credential and competency verification.

     (i) Verification and maintenance of current professional licenses, certifications, and

competencies necessary for the healthcare services to be performed, and healthcare workers can

only select shifts that are within their lawful scope of practice.

     (ii) No healthcare worker shall be allowed to book a shift on a healthcare worker platform

until the requisite training in subsection (a)(3)(ii) of this section has been certified as having been

taken.

     (3) Training and/or competency evaluation program for nursing assistants.

     (i) Every individual who provides nursing assistant services shall be required to be

registered as required by chapter 17.9 of this title.

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     (ii) An educational program for nursing assistants who book shifts through a healthcare

worker platform shall be required, which the healthcare worker platform must certify has been

completed for each nursing assistant who books shifts through the healthcare worker platform. The

educational program shall include orientation and periodic programs at least quarterly for a

minimum of three (3) hours for the continued improvement and development of skills of nursing

assistants, including competency training and required training based on licensure.

     (4) Health and vaccination standards. Compliance with all applicable department of health

requirements for healthcare personnel, including immunizations, tuberculosis screening, and

infection control standards.

     (5) Insurance coverage. Maintenance of occupational accident insurance coverage or

verification that healthcare workers are covered by worker’s compensation insurance applicable to

any work performed during a shift the healthcare worker schedules through the platform and

maintenance of general and professional liability insurance, in amounts determined by the

department of health.

     (b) A healthcare worker platform shall be deemed the responsible entity for ensuring

compliance with this section, regardless of any contractual or employment classification of the

healthcare worker.

     23-106-5. Requirements and prohibitions.

     (a) A healthcare worker platform shall never require the payment of liquidated damages,

employment fees, or other compensation by a healthcare worker or healthcare facility that posts

shift on the healthcare worker platform if a healthcare facility that posts shifts on the healthcare

worker platform hires a healthcare worker who books shifts through the healthcare worker platform

as a permanent employee of a healthcare facility.

     (b) A healthcare worker platform shall not actively recruit potential contractors from a

healthcare facility to which it has an active contract.

     (c) A healthcare worker platform shall maintain compliance with maximum allowable rates

or markups established by the department of health at the rates indicated in § 23-17.7.1-10(b).

     23-106-6. Inspections and investigations.

     (a) The department of health shall make or cause to be made any inspections and

investigations that it deems necessary, including service records. Those service records shall

include, but are not limited to, the following:

     (1) Records of required health examination which shall be kept confidential as well as all

required medical records including COVID-19 testing results and all required vaccinations required

by the department of health; and

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     (2) Documents for each healthcare worker who books shifts on the healthcare worker

platform, including documented evidence of credentials and other appropriate data, including,

records of completion of required training and educational programs, medical records, and criminal

background checks.

     (b) Records of violations of public health code by all healthcare workers who book shifts

on healthcare worker platforms shall be tracked and made a public record. A healthcare worker

platform only must maintain records of violations of the public health code when the violations

occurred during the shifts booked by healthcare workers through the healthcare worker platform.

     (c) The long-term care coordinating council (LTCC) shall develop standards for healthcare

worker platforms and a ranking formula to track all healthcare worker platforms for public

accountability.

     (d) If a healthcare worker who books shifts through a healthcare worker platform is directly

connected to a quality of care or a substandard quality of care deficiency in a facility, a subsequent

investigation by the licensing agency may be conducted of the healthcare worker platform through

which the healthcare worker has booked the relevant shifts to determine if the healthcare worker

platform is operating in accordance with this chapter.

     23-106-7. Annual reporting requirements.

     (a) Each health worker platform shall submit an annual statistical report to the department

of health including, but not limited to:

     (1) Mean, median, and average pay rates by the healthcare worker platform of healthcare

workers, by profession, in the state;

     (2) Number of healthcare workers who booked shifts through the healthcare worker

platform in the state;

     (3) Number of healthcare workers who have booked shifts through the healthcare worker

platform in the state who have been deactivated;

     (4) Number of healthcare workers who have booked shifts through the healthcare worker

platform in the state reported to the office of the attorney general;

     (5) Number of healthcare workers who have booked shifts through the healthcare worker

platform in the state reported to the department of health for abuse, neglect, misappropriation, and

job abandonment;

     (6) The amounts charged to healthcare facilities for shifts worked by a healthcare worker

in the state without facility identifying information; and

     (7) Any other information that the department of health determines relevant to determine

how much healthcare facilities who participate in Medicare and Medicaid are charged by healthcare

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worker platforms.

     (b) Reports under this section shall be submitted by healthcare worker platforms no later

than thirty (30) days after the end of the calendar year.

     23-106-8. Anti-evasion.

     No healthcare worker platform shall structure its operations, contracts, or worker

classifications for the purpose of avoiding the requirements of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT

***

     This act would establish the healthcare worker platform act allowing for the creation of

healthcare worker platforms, that would offer healthcare shifts enabling healthcare workers to

perform healthcare services. The healthcare worker platforms would be required to register with

the department of health and would be considered exempt from classification as a nursing service

agency.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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