2026 -- H 7813

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LC003212

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION

TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Representative Lauren H. Carson

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated to the RHODE ISLAND

FOUNDATION, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, the sum of ten million dollars

($10,00,000), out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2026-

2027, for the Rhode Island Foundation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Foundation”) to

support other education foundations within the state. The funds shall be appropriated over five

(5) years, two million dollars ($2,000,000) annually. The Rhode Island Foundation shall establish

an account wherein the funds from this appropriation shall be deposited as principal in an

interest-bearing account to generate funds in support of public education. Annually thereafter,

four percent (4%) of the principal amount shall be distributed by the Rhode Island Foundation to

education foundations which have been established by local public school districts; provided, as

follows: (1) Local education agency foundations shall register annually by September 1 to be

included in the distribution of funds from the Foundation, pursuant to this resolution, in the

following calendar year; and (2) These funds shall be distributed in accordance with criteria

adopted by the local education agency foundations for receipt of these funds and grant awards.

Provided further, these funds and distributions shall be used by the local public school education

foundations to distribute grants to teachers within the district to support, promote and enhance

innovative teaching and learning. The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be

from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION

TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION

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     This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of ten million dollars

($10,000,000) to the Rhode Island Foundation, to generate funds to support public education

through distributions to local education agency foundations. The funds would be disbursed over

five (5) years.

     The joint resolution would require that local education agencies’ foundations would

register annually by September 1 to be included in the distribution of funds from the Foundation,

pursuant to this resolution, and funds would be distributed in accordance with criteria adopted by

the local education agencies’ foundations for receipt of these funds.

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