2026 -- H 8339

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LC006168

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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 $500,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PARENT

INFORMATION NETWORK

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Bennett, Edwards, Solomon, McNamara,
Read, Tanzi, and Hopkins

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) is a statewide

nonprofit of peer professionals on a mission to help Rhode Islanders of all abilities, ages, and

background get the support they need to thrive; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN helps Rhode Islanders navigate special education, health care, and

healthy aging; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN is a peer-led organization founded 35 years ago by parents of

children with disabilities, and most of RIPIN’s board and staff are parents or caregivers of a loved

one with a disability or special healthcare need; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN delivers large-scale, front-line impact, with more than 115,000 client

encounters in 2025; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN is Rhode Island’s federally-designated parent training and

information center for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA), and in 2025 RIPIN’s special education team provided individualized support to a record

number of more than 2,000 families; reached 3,000 families with live workshops and 20,000

families with pre-recorded online content; and attended 650 individualized education program

meetings with families; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN’s health insurance consumer assistance call center serves 3,000

Rhode Islanders annually and has saved Rhode Islanders more than $10,000,000 since 2018 by

resolving coverage problems and preventing avoidable costs; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN also provides peer support to families caring for vulnerable older

adults, helping more older adults get the support they need to live healthy and independent lives

in the community; and

     WHEREAS, RIPIN is a key systems partner for state agencies, under contract to provide

peer support and parent engagement for priority initiatives such as Early Intervention and

Maternal Child Health; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the sum of five hundred thousand

dollars ($500,000) to the Rhode Island Parent Information Network; and 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 $500,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PARENT

INFORMATION NETWORK

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     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to RIPIN.

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LC006168

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