2026 -- H 7421 | |
======== | |
LC003604 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- STATE AID | |
| |
Introduced By: Representatives Paplauskas, Hopkins, Nardone, Fascia, Place, Newberry, | |
Date Introduced: January 30, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 45-13-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-13 entitled "State Aid" is |
2 | hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 45-13-9. Reimbursement to cities and towns and school districts for the costs of state |
4 | mandates. |
5 | (a)(1) The department of revenue shall submit to the budget office by October 1 of each |
6 | year, a report by each city and town, of the cost of state mandates established after January 1, 1979, |
7 | to be reimbursed for the next preceding July 1 — June 30 period. |
8 | (2) The budget office shall annually include the statewide total of the statement of costs of |
9 | state mandates eligible to be reimbursed in the state budget for the next fiscal year for consideration |
10 | by the governor in preparing a final budget proposal for submission to the general assembly in |
11 | accordance with § 35-3-7 of the General Laws; provided, that any costs resulting from the rules |
12 | and regulations of state departments or agencies shall be allocated to the budgets of those |
13 | departments or agencies. |
14 | (b) The state treasurer shall in July of each year distribute to cities and towns the |
15 | reimbursements for state mandated costs as may shall be appropriated by the general assembly. |
16 | (c) The department of revenue shall publish a report, in collaboration with local education |
17 | agencies (LEAs), identifying costs borne by school districts that are partially funded or unfunded. |
18 | The report shall be provided to the general assembly, offices of the speaker of the house, the senate |
19 | president, and the governor, for consideration when preparing the final budget proposal to be |
| |
1 | submitted to the general assembly. The report shall be accessible to the public and published on the |
2 | state transparency portal. |
3 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC003604 | |
======== | |
| LC003604 - Page 2 of 3 |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- STATE AID | |
*** | |
1 | This act would increase transparency provisions and require reporting of the partially |
2 | funded and unfunded school district costs. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC003604 | |
======== | |
| LC003604 - Page 3 of 3 |