2026 -- H 7287

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LC004277

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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY

GENERAL

     Introduced By: Representatives Nardone, Place, Chippendale, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-9-2 and 42-9-19.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-9 entitled

"Department of Attorney General" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-9-2. Powers and duties of department — Division of juvenile prosecution

established.

     (a) The attorney general, the assistant attorneys general, and those special assistant

attorneys general who have been designated by the attorney general, shall exercise the powers and

duties prescribed in and shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and of §§ 12-1-4 — 12-1-12,

and in all other provisions of the general laws and public laws insofar as they relate to the powers

and duties of the attorney general. The attorney general shall file notice with the secretary of state

and the clerk of the superior court. The attorney general, assistant attorneys general, and those

special assistant attorneys general shall only have, and be limited by, the powers and duties

prescribed to them by the general and public laws.

     (b) There shall be established within the department of attorney general a division of

juvenile prosecution which shall prosecute all delinquency petitions based on the commission of

any offense which if committed by an adult would constitute a capital offense, all delinquency

petitions based on the commission of an offense which if committed by an adult would constitute

the offense of assault with intent to commit a capital offense, all delinquency petitions based upon

the commission of an offense which if committed by an adult would constitute the offense of

manslaughter, and all assault offenses which if committed by an adult would constitute a felony.

The division of juvenile prosecution shall also have jurisdiction to file petitions pursuant to §§ 14-

1-7 and 14-1-7.1.

     42-9-19.1. Acceptance of settlements — Non-multi-state initiatives — Attorney

general settlement restricted account.

     (a) There is hereby established a restricted receipt account within the department of

attorney general entitled “attorney general non-multi-state initiative restricted-receipt account.”

Funds consisting of attorneys’ fees previously recovered pursuant to the Distributors — Rhode

Island Settlement Agreement resolving opioid-related claims against McKesson Corporation,

Cardinal Health, Inc., and/or AmerisourceBergen Corporation in the case State of Rhode Island v.

Purdue Pharma L.P. et al., CA No. PC-2018-4455, shall be deposited into this restricted receipt

account.

     (b) The following funds shall also be deposited into this restricted receipt account:

     (1) All future attorneys’ fees recovered from the case referenced in subsection (a) of this

section; and

     (2) Twenty percent (20%) of attorneys’ fees recovered in other non-multi-state initiatives.

     (c) This restricted receipt account shall be used to pay for staff and other operational

expenses of the department.

     (d) Expenditures from this restricted receipt account shall be subject to the annual

appropriation process and approval by the general assembly.

     (e) All settlement proceeds from non-multi-state initiatives, except those deposited in this

restricted receipt account pursuant to this section, shall be deposited into the general fund. No

settlement proceeds shall be directed or appropriated to any party without the express authorization

of the general assembly.

     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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY

GENERAL

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     This act would clarify the process of depositing settlement funds from non-multi-state

initiatives and require that settlements could not be spent without express general assembly

authorization.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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