2026 -- H 8501

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LC006193

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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 STATUTES AND STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

     Introduced By: Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2026

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     ARTICLE I -- STATUTORY REENACTMENT

     SECTION 1. It is the express intention of the General Assembly to reenact chapters 1-16,

18-26, 27-52 and 53-70 of title 45 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, including every section

therein, and any chapters and sections thereof not included in this act may be, and are hereby,

reenacted as if fully set forth herein.

     SECTION 2. Section 45-9-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-9 entitled "Budget

Commissions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-9-7. Appointment of receiver.

     (a) If the budget commission established by § 45-9-5 concludes that its powers are

insufficient to restore fiscal stability to the city, town, or fire district, it shall so notify the director

of revenue and shall forward to the director of revenue a statement of the reasons why it has been

unable to restore fiscal stability to the city, town, or fire district. Upon receipt of such statement,

the director of revenue shall terminate the existence of the budget commission, notwithstanding §

45-9-5, and the director of revenue shall appoint a receiver for the city, town, or fire district for a

period as the director of revenue may determine. The director of revenue may, at any time, and

without cause, remove the receiver and appoint a successor, or terminate the receivership.

     (b) The receiver shall have the following powers:

     (1) All powers of the fiscal overseer and budget commission under §§ 45-9-2 and 45-9-6.

Such powers shall remain through the period of any receivership;

     (2) The power to exercise any function or power of any municipal or fire district officer or

employee, board, authority or commission, whether elected or otherwise relating to or impacting

the fiscal stability of the city, town, or fire district including, without limitation, school and zoning

matters; and

     (3) The power to file a petition in the name of the city, town, or fire district under Chapter

9 of Title 11 of the United States Code, and to act on the city’s, town’s, or fire district’s behalf in

any such proceeding.

     (c) Upon the appointment of a receiver, the receiver shall have the right to exercise the

powers of the elected officials under the general laws, special laws and the city, town, or fire district

charter and ordinances and rules and regulations relating to or impacting the fiscal stability of the

city, town, or fire district including, without limitation, school and zoning matters; provided,

further, that the powers of the receiver shall be superior to and supersede the powers of the elected

officials of the city, town, or fire district who shall continue to be elected in accordance with the

city or town or fire district charter, and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the receiver. The

receiver shall allow the city’s, town’s, or fire district’s elected officials to serve their constituents

by providing advice to the receiver on the matters relating to the operation of the city, town, or fire

district. In the event a conflict arises between the chief elected official or city or town council or

fire district governing body and the receiver, the receiver’s decision shall prevail. The director of

revenue shall determine the salary of the receiver, which salary shall be payable by the city, town,

or fire district.

     SECTION 3. Sections 45-19-1 and 45-19-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-19 entitled

"Relief of Injured and Deceased Fire Fighters and Police Officers" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

     45-19-1. Salary payment during line of duty illness or injury.

     (a)(1) Whenever any police officer of the Rhode Island airport corporation or whenever

any police officer, firefighter, crash rescue crewperson, fire marshal, chief deputy fire marshal, or

deputy fire marshal of any city, town, fire district, or the state of Rhode Island is wholly or partially

incapacitated by reason of injuries received or sickness contracted in the performance of their duties

or due to their rendering of emergency assistance within the physical boundaries of the state of

Rhode Island at any occurrence involving the protection or rescue of human life which necessitates

that they respond in a professional capacity when they would normally be considered by their

employer to be officially off-duty, the respective city, town, fire district, state of Rhode Island, or

Rhode Island airport corporation by which the police officer, firefighter, crash rescue crewperson,

fire marshal, chief deputy fire marshal, or deputy fire marshal, is employed, shall, during the period

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of the incapacity, pay the police officer, firefighter, crash rescue crewperson, fire marshal, chief

deputy fire marshal, or deputy fire marshal, the salary or wage and benefits to which the police

officer, firefighter, crash rescue crewperson, fire marshal, chief deputy fire marshal, or deputy fire

marshal, would be entitled had he or she not been incapacitated, and shall pay the medical, surgical,

dental, optical, or other attendance, or treatment, nurses, and hospital services, medicines, crutches,

and apparatus for the necessary period, except that if any city, town, fire district, the state of Rhode

Island, or Rhode Island airport corporation provides the police officer, firefighter, crash rescue

crewperson, fire marshal, chief deputy fire marshal, or deputy fire marshal, with insurance coverage

for the related treatment, services, or equipment, then the city, town, fire district, the state of Rhode

Island, or Rhode Island airport corporation is only obligated to pay the difference between the

maximum amount allowable under the insurance coverage and the actual cost of the treatment,

service, or equipment. In addition, the cities, towns, fire districts, the state of Rhode Island, or

Rhode Island airport corporation shall pay all similar expenses incurred by a member who has been

placed on a disability pension and suffers a recurrence of the injury or illness that dictated his or

her disability retirement, subject to the provisions of subsection (j) herein.

     (2) A police officer or firefighter diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (as

described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, current edition, published

by the American Psychiatric Association) by an individual who holds the title of an independent

licensed mental health professional with a master’s degree, related to the exposure of potentially

traumatic events, resulting from their acting within the course of their employment or from the

rendering of emergency assistance in the state of Rhode Island, at any occurrence involving the

protection or the rescue of human life while off-duty, as set forth in subsection (h) of this section,

shall be presumed to have sustained an injury in the line of duty, as that term is used in subsection

(a)(1) of this section, unless the contrary is proven by a fair preponderance of the evidence that the

post-traumatic stress injury/PTSD is not related to their job as a police officer or firefighter. The

benefits provided for under this section shall not be extended to a police officer or firefighter, if

their post-traumatic stress injury/PTSD diagnosis arises out of any disciplinary action, work

evaluation, job transfer, layoff, demotion, termination, or similar adverse job actions.

     (b) As used in this section, “police officer” means and includes any chief or other member

of the police department of any city or town regularly employed at a fixed salary or wage and any

deputy sheriff, member of the fugitive task force, or capitol police officer, permanent

environmental police officer or criminal investigator of the department of environmental

management, or airport police officer.

     (c) As used in this section, “firefighter” means and includes any chief or other member of

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the fire department or rescue personnel of any city, town, or fire district, and any person employed

as a member of the fire department of the town of North Smithfield, or fire department or district

in any city or town.

     (d) As used in this section, “crash rescue crewperson” means and includes any chief or

other member of the emergency crash rescue section, division of airports, or department of

transportation of the state of Rhode Island regularly employed at a fixed salary or wage.

     (e) As used in this section, “fire marshal,” “chief deputy fire marshal,” and “deputy fire

marshal” mean and include the fire marshal, chief deputy fire marshal, and deputy fire marshals

regularly employed by the state of Rhode Island pursuant to the provisions of chapter 28.2 of title

23.

     (f) Any person employed by the state of Rhode Island, except for sworn employees of the

Rhode Island state police, who is otherwise entitled to the benefits of chapter 19 of this title, shall

be subject to the provisions of chapters 29 — 38 of title 28 for case management procedures and

dispute resolution by the workers’ compensation court, for all petitions filed on or after July 1,

2025, for the following benefit and disability determinations:

     (1) The nature and status of disability of the injured employee;

     (2) The nature and location of injury relative to the work incident;

     (3) Maximum medical improvement (MMI), as it is defined under § 28-33-2(9) 28-29-2;

     (4) All issues of legal and/or medical causation; and

     (5) The assignment of fees and costs pursuant to the provisions of § 28-35-32.

     The court may, in its discretion, appoint an impartial medical examiner in accordance with

§ 28-33-35. The court shall hereby be empowered to enforce all of its orders, decrees, and consent

agreements of the parties.

     (g) In order to receive the benefits provided for under this section, a police officer or

firefighter must prove to their employer that they had reasonable grounds to believe that there was

an emergency that required an immediate need for their assistance for the protection or rescue of

human life.

     (h) Any claims to the benefits provided for under this section resulting from the rendering

of emergency assistance in the state of Rhode Island at any occurrence involving the protection or

rescue of human life while off-duty, shall first require those covered by this section to submit a

sworn declaration to their employer attesting to the date, time, place, and nature of the event

involving the protection or rescue of human life causing the professional assistance to be rendered

and the cause and nature of any injuries sustained in the protection or rescue of human life. Sworn

declarations shall also be required from any available witness to the alleged emergency involving

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the protection or rescue of human life.

     (i) All declarations required under this section shall contain the following language:

     “Under penalty of perjury, I declare and affirm that I have examined this declaration,

including any accompanying schedules and statements, and that all statements contained herein are

true and correct.”

     (j) Any person, not employed by the state of Rhode Island, receiving injured-on-duty

benefits pursuant to this section, and subject to the jurisdiction of the state retirement board for

accidental retirement disability, for an injury occurring on or after July 1, 2011, shall apply for an

accidental disability retirement allowance from the state retirement board not later than the later of

eighteen (18) months after the date of the person’s injury that resulted in the person’s injured-on-

duty status or sixty (60) days from the date on which the treating physician certifies that the person

has reached maximum medical improvement. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or alter

any and all rights of the parties with respect to independent medical examination or otherwise, as

set forth in the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, any

person receiving injured-on-duty benefits as the result of a static and incapacitating injury whose

permanent nature is readily obvious and ascertainable shall be required to apply for an accidental

disability retirement allowance within sixty (60) days from the date on which the treating physician

certifies that the person’s injury is permanent, or sixty (60) days from the date on which the

determination of permanency is made in accordance with the independent medical examination

procedures as set forth in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

     (1) If a person with injured-on-duty status fails to apply for an accidental disability

retirement allowance from the state retirement board within the time frame set forth above, that

person’s injured-on-duty payment shall terminate. Further, any person suffering a static and

incapacitating injury as set forth in subsection (j) above and who fails to apply for an accidental

disability benefit allowance as set forth in subsection (j) shall have their injured-on-duty payment

terminated.

     (2) A person who so applies shall continue to receive injured-on-duty payments, and the

right to continue to receive IOD payments of a person who so applies shall terminate in the event

of a final ruling of the workers’ compensation court allowing accidental disability benefits. Nothing

herein shall be construed to limit or alter any and all rights of the parties with respect to independent

medical examination or otherwise, as set forth in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

     (k) Any person employed by the state of Rhode Island who is currently receiving injured-

on-duty benefits or any person employed by the state of Rhode Island who in the future is entitled

to injured-on-duty benefits pursuant to this chapter, and subject to the jurisdiction of the state

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retirement board for accidental retirement disability, shall apply for an accidental disability

retirement allowance from the state retirement board the later of eighteen (18) months after the date

of the person’s injury that resulted in the person’s injured-on-duty status or sixty (60) days from

the date on which the treating physician certifies that the person has reached maximum medical

improvement. Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or alter any and all rights of the parties

with respect to independent medical examination or otherwise, as set forth in the applicable

collective bargaining agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, any person receiving injured-on-

duty benefits as the result of a static and incapacitating injury whose permanent nature is readily

obvious and ascertainable shall be required to apply for an accidental disability retirement

allowance within sixty (60) days from the date on which a treating physician or an independent

medical examiner certifies that the person’s injury is permanent, or sixty (60) days from the date

on which such determination of permanency is made in accordance with the independent medical

examination procedures as set forth in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

     (1) If a person employed by the state of Rhode Island with injured-on-duty status fails to

apply for an accidental disability retirement allowance from the state retirement board within the

time frame set forth in subsection (k) above, that person’s injured-on-duty payment shall terminate.

Further, any person employed by the state of Rhode Island suffering a static and incapacitating

injury as set forth in subsection (k) above and who fails to apply for an accidental disability benefit

allowance as set forth in subsection (k) shall have his or her injured-on-duty payment terminated.

     (2) A person employed by the state of Rhode Island who so applies shall continue to receive

injured-on-duty payments, and the right to continue to receive injured-on-duty payments of a

person who so applies shall terminate upon final adjudication by the state retirement board

approving or denying either ordinary or accidental disability payments and, notwithstanding § 45-

31.2-9, this termination of injured-on-duty benefits shall not be stayed.

     (3)(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all persons employed by the state of

Rhode Island entitled to benefits under this section who were injured prior to July 1, 2019, and who

have been receiving injured-on-duty benefits pursuant to this section for a period of eighteen (18)

months or longer as of July 1, 2019, shall have up to ninety (90) days from July 1, 2019, to apply

for an accidental disability retirement benefit allowance. Any person employed by the state of

Rhode Island receiving injured-on-duty benefits for a period less than eighteen (18) months as of

July 1, 2019, shall apply for an accidental disability retirement benefit allowance within eighteen

(18) months of the date of injury that resulted in the person receiving injured-on-duty pay; provided

however, said person shall have a minimum of ninety (90) days to apply.

     Applications for disability retirement received by the state retirement board by any person

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employed by the State of Rhode Island receiving injured-on-duty payments that shall be deemed

untimely pursuant to § 36-10-14(b) shall have ninety (90) days from July 1, 2019, to apply for an

accidental disability retirement benefit allowance. Failure to apply for an accidental disability

retirement benefit allowance within the timeframe set forth herein shall result in the termination of

injured-on-duty benefits.

     (ii) Any person employed by the state of Rhode Island receiving injured-on-duty payments

who has been issued a final adjudication of the state retirement board on an application for an

ordinary or accidental disability benefit, either approving or denying the application, shall have his

or her injured-on-duty payments terminated.

     (4) If awarded an accidental disability pension, any person employed by the state of Rhode

Island covered under this section shall receive benefits consistent with § 36-10-15.

     45-19-2. Board of police officer’s relief.

     Within the department of labor and training there is a board of police officer’s relief

consisting of seven (7) members which administers the fund for the relief of police officers as

provided by law. Five (5) members of the board appointed by the director of labor and training;

provided, that four (4) of the five (5) members must be actually occupied and working as full-time

police officers in the police force of some municipality in this state. These four (4) full-time police

are selected, two (2) each, from a list of six (6) candidates submitted by the Rhode Island State

Lodge Fraternal Order of Police and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. The sixth

member is appointed by the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association as a representative of the

conference association on the board. The seventh member is appointed by the Providence Retired

Police and Fire Association, and must be a retired Providence police officer; provided, further, that

all financial powers and duties concerning the board of police officer’s relief are administered by

the general treasurer.

     SECTION 4. Section 45-21-52 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21 entitled "Retirement

of Municipal Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-21-52. Automatic increase in service retirement allowance.

     (a) The local legislative bodies of the cities and towns may extend to their respective

employees automatic adjustment increases in their service retirement allowances, by a resolution

accepting any of the plans described in this section:

     (1) Plan A. All employees and beneficiaries of those employees receiving a service

retirement or disability retirement allowance under the provisions of this chapter on December 31

of the year their city or town accepts this section, receive a cost of living adjustment equal to one

and one-half percent (1.5%) per year of the original retirement allowance, not compounded, for

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each calendar year the retirement allowance has been in effect. This cost of living adjustment is

added to the amount of the retirement allowance as of January 1 following acceptance of this

provision, and an additional one and one-half percent (1.5%) is added to the original retirement

allowance in each succeeding year during the month of January, and provided, further, that this

additional cost of living increase is three percent (3%) for the year beginning January 1 of the year

the plan is accepted and each succeeding year.

     (2) Plan B. All employees and beneficiaries of those employees receiving a retirement

allowance under the provisions of this chapter on December 31 of the year their municipality

accepts this section, receive a cost of living adjustment equal to three percent (3%) of their original

retirement allowance. This adjustment is added to the amount of the retirement allowance as of

January 1 following acceptance of this provision, and an additional three percent (3%) of the

original retirement allowance, not compounded, is payable in each succeeding year in the month

of January.

     (3) Plan C. All employees and beneficiaries of those employees who retire on or after

January 1 of the year following acceptance of this section, on the first day of January next following

the date of the retirement, receive a cost of living adjustment in an amount equal to three percent

(3%) of the original retirement allowance.

     (b) In each succeeding year in the month of January, the retirement allowance is increased

an additional three percent (3%) of the original retirement allowance, not compounded.

     (c) This subsection (c) shall be effective for the period July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015.

     (1) Notwithstanding any other subsections of this section, and subject to subsection (c)(2)

below, for all present and former employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries

receiving any retirement, disability or death allowance or benefit of any kind by reason of adoption

of this section by their employer, the annual benefit adjustment provided in any calendar year under

this section shall be equal to (A) multiplied by (B) where (A) is equal to the percentage determined

by subtracting five and one-half percent (5.5%) (the “subtrahend”) from the Five-Year Average

Investment Return of the retirement system determined as of the last day of the plan year preceding

the calendar year in which the adjustment is granted, said percentage not to exceed four percent

(4%) and not to be less than zero percent (0%), and (B) is equal to the lesser of the member’s

retirement allowance or the first twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of retirement allowance,

such twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) amount to be indexed annually in the same percentage

as determined under (c)(1)(A) above. The “Five-Year Average Investment Return” shall mean the

average of the investment returns of the most recent five (5) plan years as determined by the

retirement board. Subject to subsection (c)(2) below, the benefit adjustment provided by this

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subsection (c)(1) shall commence upon the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of retirement or the

date on which the retiree reaches their Social Security retirement age, whichever is later; or for

municipal police and fire retiring under the provisions of chapter 21.2 of this title, the benefit

adjustment provided by this subsection (c)(1) shall commence on the later of the third (3rd)

anniversary of the date of retirement or the date on which the retiree reaches age fifty-five (55). In

the event the retirement board adjusts the actuarially assumed rate of return for the system, either

upward or downward, the subtrahend shall be adjusted either upward or downward in the same

amount.

     (2) Except as provided in subsection (c)(3) the benefit adjustments provided under this

section for any plan year shall be reduced to twenty-five percent (25%) of the benefit adjustment

for each municipal plan within the municipal employees’ retirement system unless the municipal

plan is determined to be funded at a Funded Ratio equal to or greater than eighty percent (80%) as

of the end of the immediately preceding plan year in accordance with the retirement system’s

actuarial valuation report as prepared by the system’s actuary, in which event the benefit adjustment

will be reinstated for all members for such plan year.

     In determining whether a funding level under this subsection (c)(2) has been achieved, the

actuary shall calculate the funding percentage after taking into account the reinstatement of any

current or future benefit adjustment provided under this section.

     (3) Notwithstanding subsection (c)(2), for each municipal plan that has a Funded Ratio of

less than eighty percent (80%) as of June 30, 2012, in each fifth plan year commencing after June

30, 2012, commencing with the plan year ending June 30, 2017, and subsequently at intervals of

five (5) plan years, a benefit adjustment shall be calculated and made in accordance with subsection

(c)(1) above until the municipal plan’s Funded Ratio exceeds eighty percent (80%).

     (d) This subsection (d) shall become effective July 1, 2015.

     (1)(A) As soon as administratively reasonable following the enactment into law of this

subsection (d)(1)(A), a one-time benefit adjustment shall be provided to members and/or

beneficiaries of members who retired on or before June 30, 2012, in the amount of two percent

(2%) of the lesser of either the employee’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-five thousand

dollars ($25,000) of the member’s retirement allowance. This one-time benefit adjustment shall be

provided without regard to the retiree’s age or number of years since retirement.

     (B) Notwithstanding the prior subsections of this section, for all present and former

employees, active and retired employees, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or

death allowance or benefit of any kind by reason of adoption of this section by their employer, the

annual benefit adjustment provided in any calendar year under this section for adjustments on and

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after January 1, 2016, and subject to subsection (d)(2) below, shall be equal to (I) multiplied by

(II):

     (I) shall equal the sum of fifty percent (50%) of (i) plus fifty percent (50%) of (ii) where:

     (i) is equal to the percentage determined by subtracting five and one-half percent (5.5%)

(the “subtrahend”) from the five-year average investment return of the retirement system

determined as of the last day of the plan year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment

is granted, said percentage not to exceed four percent (4%) and not to be less than zero percent

(0%). The “five-year average investment return” shall mean the average of the investment returns

of the most recent five (5) plan years as determined by the retirement board. In the event the

retirement board adjusts the actuarially assumed rate of return for the system, either upward or

downward, the subtrahend shall be adjusted either upward or downward in the same amount.

     (ii) is equal to the lesser of three percent (3%) or the percentage increase in the Consumer

Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor

Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year.

     In no event shall the sum of (i) plus (ii) exceed three and one-half percent (3.5%) or be less

than zero percent (0%).

     (II) is equal to the lesser of either the member’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-

five thousand eight hundred and fifty-five dollars ($25,855) of retirement allowance, such amount

to be indexed annually in the same percentage as determined under (d)(1)(B)(I) above.

     The benefit adjustments provided by this subsection (d)(1)(B) shall be provided to all

retirees entitled to receive a benefit adjustment as of June 30, 2012, under the law then in effect,

and for all other retirees the benefit adjustments shall commence upon the third anniversary of the

date of retirement or the date on which the retiree reaches their Social Security retirement age,

whichever is later; or for municipal police and fire retiring under the provisions of § 45-21.2-

5(b)(1)(A) 45-21.2-5(b)(1), the benefit adjustment provided by this subsection (d)(1)(B) shall

commence on the later of the third anniversary of the date of retirement or the date on which the

retiree reaches age fifty-five (55); or for municipal police and fire retiring under the provisions of

§ 45-21.2-5(b)(1)(B) 45-21.2-5(b)(2), the benefit adjustment provided by this subsection (d)(1)(B)

shall commence on the later of the third anniversary of the date of retirement or the date on which

the retiree reaches age fifty (50).

     (2) Except for municipal employees and/or beneficiaries of municipal employees who

retired on or before June 30, 2012, the benefit adjustments under subsection (d)(1)(B) for any plan

year shall be reduced to twenty-five percent (25%) of the benefit adjustment for each municipal

plan within the municipal employees’ retirement system unless the municipal plan is determined to

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be funded at a funded ratio equal to or greater than eighty percent (80%) as of the end of the

immediately preceding plan year in accordance with the retirement system’s actuarial valuation

report as prepared by the system’s actuary, in which event the benefit adjustment will be reinstated

for all members for such plan year. Effective July 1, 2024, the funded ratio for each municipal plan

within the municipal employees’ retirement system, calculated by the system’s actuary, of equal to

or greater than eighty percent (80%) for the benefit adjustment to be reinstated for all members for

such plan year shall be replaced with seventy-five percent (75%).

     In determining whether a funding level under this subsection (d)(2) has been achieved, the

actuary shall calculate the funding percentage after taking into account the reinstatement of any

current or future benefit adjustment provided under this section.

     (3) Effective for members and/or beneficiaries of members who retired after June 30, 2012,

or on or before June 30, 2015, the dollar amount in (d)(1)(B)(II) of twenty-five thousand eight

hundred and fifty-five dollars ($25,855) shall be replaced with thirty-one thousand and twenty-six

dollars ($31,026) until the municipal plan’s funded ratio exceeds eighty percent (80%). Effective

July 1, 2024, the funded ratio for each municipal plan within the municipal employees’ retirement

system, calculated by the system’s actuary, of exceeding eighty percent (80%) for the benefit

adjustment to be reinstated for all members for such plan year shall be replaced with seventy-five

percent (75%).

     (e) Upon acceptance of any of the plans in this section, each employee shall on January 1

next succeeding the acceptance, contribute by means of salary deductions, pursuant to § 45-21-41,

one percent (1%) of the employee’s compensation concurrently with and in addition to

contributions otherwise being made to the retirement system.

     (f) The city or town shall make any additional contributions to the system, pursuant to the

terms of § 45-21-42, for the payment of any benefits provided by this section.

     (g) The East Greenwich town council shall be allowed to accept Plan C of subsection (a)(3)

of this section for all employees of the town of East Greenwich who either, pursuant to contract

negotiations, bargain for Plan C, or who are non-union employees who are provided with Plan C

and who shall all collectively be referred to as the “Municipal-COLA Group” and shall be separate

from all other employees of the town and school department, union or non-union, who are in the

same pension group but have not been granted Plan C benefits. Upon acceptance by the town

council, benefits in accordance with this section shall be available to all such employees who retire

on or after January 1, 2003.

     (h) Effective for members and/or beneficiaries of members who have retired on or before

July 1, 2015, and without regard to whether the retired member or beneficiary is receiving a benefit

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adjustment under this section, a one-time stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) shall be payable

within sixty (60) days following the enactment of the legislation implementing this provision, and

a second one-time stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) in the same month of the following year.

These stipends shall not be considered cost of living adjustments under the prior provisions of this

section.

     SECTION 5. Section 45-31-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-31 entitled

"Redevelopment Agencies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-31-9. Agencies created.

     (a) There is created in each community a redevelopment agency to be known as the

redevelopment agency of the community.

     (b) Redevelopment agencies may also be created by public law for the purposes of

exercising the powers set forth in chapters 31-33 of this title, provided an ordinance of the

legislative body of the community authorizes the exercise of the provisions of the public law for

the purposes of these chapters. The provisions of §§ 45-31-12, 45-31-13, 45-31-14, 45-31-15, and

45-31-21 that are inconsistent with such a public law shall be deemed to be superseded by the

public law and not applicable to the redevelopment agency thereby created, upon adoption of the

ordinance putting into effect the purposes of the public law. Where authorized by such a special

act, the term “blighted area and substandard area” shall be deemed to include areas where the

presence of hazardous materials, as defined in § 23-19.14-2, impairs the use, reuse, or

redevelopment of impacted sites.

     SECTION 6. Section 45-31.2-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-31.2 entitled "Uniform

Relocation Payments" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-31.2-10. Payments not to be considered as income or resources.

     No payment received by a displaced person under this chapter shall be considered income

or resources for the purpose of determining the eligibility or extent of eligibility of any person for

assistance under any state law, or for the purposes of determining the eligibility or extent of

eligibility of any person for assistance under any state law, or for the purposes of the state’s

personal income tax law, corporation tax law, or other tax laws. These payments shall not be

considered income or resources of any recipient of public assistance and the payments shall not be

deducted from the amount of aid to which the recipient would otherwise be entitled.

     SECTION 7. Section 45-38.2-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-38.2 entitled "School

Building Authority Capital Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-38.2-1. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following terms, unless the context requires a different

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interpretation, shall have the following meanings:

     (1) “Application” means a project proposed by a city, town, or LEA that would make

capital improvements to public school facilities consistent with project evaluation criteria and

chapter 41.1 of title 16-7;

     (2) “Approved project” means any project approved for financial assistance by the Council

on Elementary and Secondary Education;

     (3) “Corporation” means the Rhode Island health and educational building corporation as

set forth in chapter 38.1 of title 42 45;

     (4) “Department” means the department of elementary and secondary education as

established under title 16;

     (5) “Eligible project” means an application, or a portion of an application, that meets the

project evaluation criteria and approved by the council on elementary and secondary education;

     (6) “Financial assistance” means any form of financial assistance provided by the

corporation to a city, town, or LEA in accordance with this chapter for all or any part of the cost of

an approved project, including, without limitation, loans, guarantees, insurance, subsidies for the

payment of debt service on loans, lines of credit, and similar forms of financial assistance;

     (7) “Fund” means the school building authority capital fund;

     (8) “LEA” means a local education agency, a public board of education, school committee

or other public authority legally constituted within the state for administrative control or direction

of one or more Rhode Island public elementary or secondary schools;

     (9) “Market rate” means the rate the city, town, or LEA would receive on the open market

at the time of the original loan agreement as determined by the corporation in accordance with its

rules and regulations;

     (10) “Project evaluation criteria” means the criteria used by the school building authority

to evaluate applications and rank eligible projects;

     (11) “Project priority list” means the list of eligible projects approved by the council on

elementary and secondary education ranked in the order in which financial assistance shall be

awarded by the corporation; and

     (12) “Subsidy assistance” means the credit enhancements and other measures to reduce the

borrowing costs for a city, town, or LEA.

     SECTION 8. Sections 45-39.2-11 and 45-39.2-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-39.2

entitled "Clear River Electric and Water District" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-39.2-11. Bonds.

     (a) The electric and water district shall have the power and is hereby authorized from time

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to time to issue its negotiable bonds for any of its corporate or district purposes and to secure the

payment of the bonds in such manner and by such means as may be provided in the resolution or

resolutions of the electric and water district authorizing the bonds, subject to the regulatory

jurisdiction of the division of public utilities and carriers in the manner prescribed in § 39-3-15,

where applicable.

     (b) The electric and water district is specifically authorized to secure bonds that it may

issue from time to time by a pledge of, or creation of other security interest in, the revenues of the

electric and water district, which pledge or security interest may be enforceable by the grant of a

conditional franchise, in the event of default in the payment of the bonds, entitling the secured party

or trustee to enter upon and take control of the electric and water district’s facilities and service and

to provide utility service and receive the revenues from the electric and water district’s facilities

and service for such period, not exceeding forty (40) years, as may be necessary to recover all

payments due on the bonds.

     (c) The bonds of the electric and water district shall be authorized by resolution of the board

of utility commissioners. The bonds shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times not

exceeding forty (40) years from their issuance, bear interest at such rate or rates payable at such

time or times, be in such denominations and in such form, carry such registration privileges, be

executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places and such

time or times and be subject to redemption at such premium, if required, and on such terms, as the

resolution may provide. The bonds so authorized and issued pursuant to this chapter may be sold

at public or private sale for any price or prices that the electric and water district shall determine.

     (d) Pending the issuance of bonds in definitive form, the electric and water district may

issue bond anticipation notes or interim receipts in such form as the board of utility commissioners

may elect.

     (e) The electric and water district is hereby authorized to provide for the issuance of

refunding bonds of the electric and water district for the purpose of refunding any bonds then

outstanding which shall have been issued under the provisions of this chapter, including the

payment of any redemption premium on the bonds or interest accrued or to accrue to the earliest or

subsequent date of redemption, purchase, or maturity of the bonds and, if deemed advisable by the

electric and water district, for the additional purpose of paying all or a part of the cost of acquiring,

constructing, reconstructing, rehabilitating, or improving any property, facilities, or systems or

parts of property, facilities, or systems of the electric and water district. The proceeds of bond or

notes issued for the purpose of refunding outstanding bonds or notes may be applied, in the

discretion of the electric and water district, to the purchase, retirement at maturity, or redemption

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of outstanding bonds or notes either on their earliest or a subsequent redemption date and may,

pending that application, be placed in escrow in the same manner and through the same means as

are generally available to and incumbent upon political subdivisions of the state.

     (f) It is hereby declared that the electric and water district and the carrying out of its

corporate, district, and political subdivision purposes is in all respects for the benefit of the people

of the state and for the improvement of their health, welfare, and prosperity, and the electric and

water district will be performing an essential governmental function in the exercise of the powers

conferred by this chapter. The state therefore covenants with the holders of the electric and water

district’s bonds that the electric and water district shall not be required to pay taxes or payments in

lieu of taxes to the state or any other political subdivision of the state upon any property of the

electric and water district or under its jurisdiction, control, or supervision, or upon any of the

electric and water district’s activities in the operation or maintenance of the property or upon any

earnings, revenues, monies, or other income derived by the electric and water district, and that the

bonds of the electric and water district and the income from the bonds shall at all times be exempt

from taxation by the state and its political subdivisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in

this section shall be deemed to prohibit the division of public utilities and carriers, the public

utilities commission, and the department of attorney general from assessing the utility in

accordance with the provisions of §§ 39-1-23, 39-1-26, 39-19-9, and 39-19-14.

     (g) The state does hereby pledge to and agree with the holders of the bonds, notes, or other

evidence of an indebtedness of the electric and water district that the state will not limit or alter the

rights vested in the electric and water district until the bonds, notes, or other evidence of

indebtedness, together with the interest on the debt, are fully met and discharged.

     (h) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bond, or any issue of bonds, may contain

provisions which shall be a part of the contract with the bondholders of the bonds thereby

authorized, as to:

     (1) Pledging all or any part of the money, earnings, income, and revenues derived from all

or any part of the property of the electric and water district to secure the payment of any bonds or

of any issue of bonds subject to such agreements with bondholders as may then exist;

     (2) The rates to be fixed and the charges to be collected and the amounts to be raised in

each year and the use and disposition of the earnings and other revenue;

     (3) The setting aside of reserves and the creation of sinking funds and the regulation and

disposition thereof;

     (4) Limitations on the right of the electric and water district to restrict and regulate the use

of the properties in connection with which the bonds are issued;

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     (5) Limitations on the purposes to which the proceeds of sale of any issue of bonds may be

put;

     (6) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds, including refunding bonds and the

terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured;

     (7) The procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be

amended or abrogated, the percentage of bondholders whose consent shall be required for such

amendment or abrogation, and the manner in which consent may be given;

     (8) The creation of special funds into which any earnings or revenues of the electric and

water district may be deposited, and the investment of the funds;

     (9) The appointment of a fiscal agent and the determination of its powers and duties;

     (10) Limitations on the power of the electric and water district to sell or otherwise dispose

of its properties;

     (11) The preparation of annual budgets by the authority electric and water district and

the employment of consultants and auditors;

     (12) The rights and remedies of bondholders in the event of failure on the part of the electric

and water district to perform any covenant or agreement relating to a bond indenture;

     (13) Covenanting that as long as any bonds are outstanding the electric and water district

shall use its best efforts to establish and maintain its rates and charges at levels adequate at all times

to pay and provide for all operating expenses of the electric and water district, all payments of

principal, redemption premium (if any), and interest on bonds, notes, or other evidences of

indebtedness incurred or assumed by the electric and water district, all renewals, repairs, and

replacements to the property and facilities of the electric and water district, and all other amounts

which the electric and water district may be required by law to pay; and

     (14) Any other matters of like or different character which in any way affect the security

or protection of the bonds.

     (i) The bonds of the electric and water district are hereby made securities in which all public

officers and bodies of this state and all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, all insurance

companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers,

trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations (including savings and loan associations),

building and loan associations, investment companies and other persons carrying on a banking

business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees and other fiduciaries and all other

persons whomsoever, who are now or may thereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other

obligation of the state may properly and legally invest funds including capital in their control or

belonging to them. The bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and

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shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state, and all municipalities and municipal

subdivisions, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of this state is

now or may thereafter be required.

     45-39.2-12. Money of the electric and water district.

     (a) All money of the electric and water district, from whatever source derived, shall be paid

to the treasurer of the electric and water district. The money on receipt shall be deposited forthwith

in a separate bank account or accounts. The money in the accounts shall be paid out with a check

of the treasurer, on requisition by the electric and water district, or of any other person or persons

that the electric and water district may authorize to make the requisitions. All deposits of money

shall be secured by obligations of the United States or of the state, of a market value at all times

not less than the amount of deposits, and all banks and trust companies are authorized to give

security for the deposits. The electric and water district shall have the power, notwithstanding the

provisions of this section, to contract with the holders of any of its bonds as to the custody,

collection, security, investment, and payment of any money of the authority electric and water

district, or any money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure

the bonds, and to carry out any contract notwithstanding that the contract may be inconsistent with

the previous provisions of this section. Money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds

or in any way to secure bonds and deposits of money may be secured in the same manner as the

money of the authority electric and water district, and all banks and trust companies are

authorized to give security for the deposits.

     (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, or any other provision of this chapter,

the board of utility commissioners shall have the power to authorize by resolution a loan or advance

from one utility fund of the electric and water district to another. Any such interfund advance or

loan shall be for a term specified in the authorizing resolution of the board of utility commissioners

and shall bear interest at a rate reasonably determined by the board of utility commissioners to be

consistent with the public interest implicated in all funds involved in the interfund loan or advance;

provided, however, that an interest rate set at the rate applicable to the electric and water district’s

most recent borrowing from a bank or other financial institution shall be presumptively reasonable

as the rate of interest for an interfund loan or advance.

     SECTION 9. Section 45-48.1-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-48.1 entitled "West

Greenwich Water District" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-48.1-8. Condemnation power.

     (a) If for any of the purposes of this act chapter, the district shall find it necessary to

acquire any real property, whether for immediate or future use, the district may find and determine

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that the property, whether a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, is required for the acquisition,

construction or operation of a water supply facility, and upon that determination, the property shall

be deemed to be required for public use until otherwise determined by the district; and with the

exceptions hereinafter specifically noted, the determination shall not be affected by the fact that the

property has theretofore been taken for, or is then devoted to, a public use; but the public use in the

hands or under the control of the district shall be deemed superior to the public use in the hands of

any other person, association or corporation; provided further, however, that no real property or

interest, estate or right belonging to the state shall be acquired without consent of the state; and no

real property or interest, estate or right belonging to any municipality shall be acquired without the

consent of the municipality.

     (b) The district may proceed to acquire and is hereby authorized to and may proceed to

acquire property, whether a fee simple absolute or a lesser interest, by the exercise of the right of

eminent domain in the manner prescribed in this act chapter.

     (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the district from bringing any

proceedings to remove a cloud on title or other proceedings as it may, in its discretion, deem proper

and necessary, or from acquiring any property by negotiation or purchase.

     (d) The necessity for the acquisition of property under this act chapter shall be

conclusively presumed upon the adoption by the district of a vote determining that the acquisition

of property or any interest in property described in its vote is necessary for the acquisition,

construction or operation of a water supply facility. Within six (6) months after its passage, the

district shall cause to be filed in the appropriate land evidence records a copy of its vote together

with a statement signed by the chairperson or treasurer of the district that the property is taken

pursuant to this act chapter, and also a description of real property indicating the nature and extent

of the estate or interest therein taken as aforesaid and a plat thereof, a copy of the vote and statement

of the chairperson or treasurer shall be certified by the secretary of the district and the description

and plat shall be certified by the city or town clerk for the city or town where the real property lies.

     (e) Forthwith thereafter the district shall cause to be filed in the superior court in and for

the county within which the real property lies a statement of the sum of money estimated to be just

compensation for the property taken, and shall deposit in the superior court to the use of the persons

entitled thereto the sum set forth in the statement. The district shall satisfy the court that the amount

so deposited with the court is sufficient to satisfy the just claims of all persons having an estate or

interest in the real property. Whenever the district satisfies the court that the claims of all persons

interested in the real property taken have been satisfied, the unexpended balance shall be ordered

repaid forthwith to the district.

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     (f) Upon the filing of the copy of the vote, statement, description and plat in the land

evidence records and upon the making of the deposit in accordance with the order of the superior

court, title to the real property in fee simple absolute or such lesser estate or interest specified in

the resolution shall vest in the district, and the real property shall be deemed to be condemned and

taken for the use of the district and the right to just compensation for the same shall vest in the

persons entitled thereto, and the district thereupon may take possession of the real property. No

sum so paid into the court shall be charged with clerks’ fees of any nature.

     (g) After the filing of the copy of the vote, statement, description and plat, notice of the

taking of land or other real property shall be served upon the owners or persons having any estate

or interest in the real property by the sheriff or his or her deputies of the county in which the real

estate is situated by leaving a true and attested copy of the vote, statement, description and plat with

each of the persons personally, or at the last and usual place of abode in this state with some person

living there, and in case of any such persons absent from this state and have no last and usual place

of abode therein occupied by any person, the copy shall be left with the person or persons, if any,

in charge of, or having possession of the real property taken of such absent persons, and another

copy thereof shall be mailed to the address of such person, if the address is known to the officer

serving the notice.

     (h) After the filing of the vote, description and plat, the district shall cause a copy of the

vote and description to be published in some newspaper having general circulation in the city or

town in which the real property lies at least once a week for three (3) successive weeks.

     (i) If any party shall agree with the district upon the price to be paid for the value of the

real property so taken and of appurtenant damage to any remainder or for the value of his or her

estate, right or interest therein, the court, upon application of the parties in interest, may order that

the sum agreed upon be paid forthwith from the money deposited, as the just compensation to be

awarded in the proceedings; provided, however, that no payment shall be made to any official or

employee of the district for any property or interest therein acquired from such official or employee

unless the amount of the payment is determined by the court to constitute just compensation to be

awarded in the proceedings.

     (j) Any owner of, or person entitled to any estate or right in, or interested in any part of the

real property so taken, who cannot agree with the district upon the price to be paid for his or her

estate, right or interest in the real property so taken and the appurtenant damage to the remainder,

may, within three (3) months after personal notice of the taking, or if he or she has no personal

notice, may within one year from the time the sum of money estimated to be just compensation is

deposited in the superior court to the use of the persons entitled thereto, apply by petition to the

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superior court for the county in which the real property is situated, setting forth the taking of his or

her land, his or her estate or interest therein, and paying for an assessment or damages by the court

or by a jury. Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall cause twenty (20) days’ notice of the

pendency thereof to be given to the district by serving the chairperson or treasurer of the district

with a certified copy thereof.

     (k) After the service of notice, the court may proceed to trial. The trial shall be conducted

as other civil actions at law are tried. The trial shall determine all questions of fact relating to the

value of the real property, and any estate or interest therein, and the amount thereof and the

appurtenant damage to any remainder and the amount thereof, and the trial and decision or verdict

of the court or jury shall be subject to all rights to except to rulings, to move for new trial, and to

appeal, as are provided by law. Upon the entry of judgment in the proceedings, execution shall be

issued against the money so deposited in court and in default thereof against any other property of

the district.

     (l) In case two (2) or more petitioners make claim to the same real property, or to any estate

or interest therein, or to different estates or interests in the same real property, the court shall, upon

motion, consolidate their several petitions for trial at the same time and may frame all necessary

issues for the trial thereof.

     (m) If any real property or any estate or interest in property or an estate, in which any infant

or other person not capable in law to act in his or her own behalf is interested, is taken under the

provisions of this act chapter, the superior court, upon the filing of a petition by or in behalf of an

infant or person or by the district may appoint a guardian ad litem for the infant or other person.

Guardians may, with the advice and consent of the superior court, and upon terms the superior court

may prescribe, release to the district all claims for damages for the land of the infant or other person

or for any estate or interest therein. Any lawfully appointed, qualified and acting guardian or other

fiduciary of the estate of any infant or other person, with the approval of the court of probate within

this state having jurisdiction to authorize the sale of lands and properties within this state of the

infant or other person, may before the filing of any petition, agree with the infant or other person

for any taking of his or her real property or of his or her interest or estate, and may upon receiving

the amount, release to the district all claims for damages for the infant or other person for the taking.

     (n) In case any owner of or any person having an estate or interest in real property shall fail

to file his or her petition as above provided, the superior court for the county in which the real

property is situated, in its discretion, may permit the filing of a petition within one year subsequent

to the year following the time of the deposit in the superior court of the sum of money estimated to

be just compensation for the property taken; provided, the person shall have had no actual

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knowledge of the taking of land in season to file the petition; and provided, no other person or

persons claiming to own the real property or estate or interest therein shall have been paid the value

thereof; and provided, no judgment had been rendered against the district for the payment of the

value to any other person or persons claiming to own the real estate.

     (o) In any real property or any estate or interest therein is unclaimed or held by a person or

persons whose whereabouts are unknown, after making inquiry satisfactory to the superior court

for the county in which the real property lies, the district, after the expiration of two (2) years from

the first publication of the copy of the vote, statement and description, may petition the court that

the value of the estate or interest or the unknown person or persons be determined. After notice by

publication to the person or persons as the court in its discretion may order, and after hearing on

the petition, the court shall fix the value of the estate or interest and shall order the sum to be

deposited in the registry of the court in a special account to accumulate for the benefit of the person

or persons, if any, entitled thereto. The receipt of the clerk of the superior court shall constitute a

discharge of the district from all liability in connection with the taking. When the person entitled

to the money deposited shall have satisfied the superior court of his or her right to receive the same,

the court shall cause it to be paid over to him or her, with all accumulations thereon.

     (p) The superior court shall have power to make orders with respect to encumbrances, liens,

taxes and other charges on the land, if any, as shall be just and equitable.

     (q) Whenever in the opinion of the district a substantial saving in the cost of acquiring title

can be effected by conveying other real property, title to which is in the district, to the person or

persons from whom the estate or interest in real property is being purchased or taken, or by the

construction or improvement by the district of any work or facility upon the remaining real property

of the person or persons from whom the estate or interest in real property is being purchased or

taken, the district shall be and hereby is authorized to convey other real property to the person or

persons from whom the estate or interest in real property is being purchased or taken and to

construct or improve any work or facility upon the remaining land of the person or persons.

     (r) At any time during the pendency of any proceedings for the assessment of damages for

property or interests taken or to be taken by eminent domain by the district, the district or any owner

may apply to the court for an order directing an owner or the district, as the case may be, to show

cause why further proceedings should not be expedited, and the court may upon the application

make an order requiring that the hearings proceed and that any other steps be taken with all possible

expedition.

     SECTION 10. Section 45-50-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-50 entitled "Municipal

Public Buildings Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     45-50-13. Eminent domain proceedings.

     (a) The authority has the right to acquire any land, or any interest in it, including

development rights, by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, whenever it is determined by

the authority that the acquisition of the land, or interest, is necessary for the construction or the

operation of any project.

     (1)(i) The power of eminent domain shall be exercised only within the boundaries of the

city or town whose council established the authority, except that any authority in existence on the

effective date of this chapter shall have the power to acquire, by exercise of eminent domain, only

the development rights, except as stated in subsection (a) (5), in the land described in the tax

assessor’s plats for the towns of Foster, Scituate, Johnston, and Glocester, as of February 14, 1989,

for the purpose of protecting the water supply as follows:

     (ii) That certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot

47, plat 15 consisting of 32 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate

delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 147, plat 17 consisting of 5.6 acres, more or less; that certain

land situated in the town of Scituate described as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 60, plat 20 consisting

of 5.8 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate

tax assessor’s lot 5, plat 42 consisting of 12 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the

town of Johnston delineated as Johnston tax assessor’s lot 5, plat 57 consisting of 3.9 acres, more

or less; that certain land situated in the town of Johnston delineated as Johnston tax assessor’s lot

58, plat 57 consisting of .7 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Johnston

delineated as Johnston tax assessor’s lot 6, plat 57 consisting of .4 acres, more or less; that certain

land situated in the town of Johnston delineated as Johnston tax assessor’s lot 7, plat 57 consisting

of .4 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax

assessor’s lot 52, plat 15 consisting of 80 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town

of Foster delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot 41A, plat 12 consisting of 9.8 acres, more or less;

that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 1, plat 38

consisting of 67 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as

Scituate tax assessor’s lot 4, plat 42 consisting of 10.7 acres, more or less; that certain land situated

in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 251, plat 49 consisting of 129 acres,

more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s

lot 3, plat 47 consisting of 29.6 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate

delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 41, plat 41 consisting of 140 acres, more or less; that certain

land situated in the town of Johnston delineated as Johnston tax assessor’s lot 17, plat 57 consisting

of 45 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Johnston delineated as Johnston

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tax assessor’s lot 20, plat 59 consisting of 55 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the

town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 15, plat 47 consisting of 9 acres, more or

less; that certain land situated in the town of Glocester delineated as Glocester tax assessor’s lot

164, plat 18 consisting of 211.7 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Foster

delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot 31, plat 21 consisting of 22 acres, more or less; that certain

land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 14, plat 37 consisting

of 15 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax

assessor’s lot 49, plat 15 consisting of 4.5 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town

of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 35, plat 14 consisting of 57 acres, more or less;

that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 1, plat 37

consisting of 16 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as

Scituate tax assessor’s lot 5, plat 11 consisting of 33.8 acres, more or less; that certain land situated

in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot 34A, plat 9 consisting of 20 acres, more

or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 47,

plat 51 consisting of 10 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated

as Foster tax assessor’s lot 42, plat 12 consisting of .3 acres, more or less; that certain land situated

in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 82, plat 49 consisting of 10 acres,

more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot

41, plat 12 consisting of 8 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate

delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 16, plat 37 consisting of 10 acres more or less; that certain

land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 83, plat 49 consisting

of 20 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate

tax assessor’s lot 46, plat 9 consisting of 40 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the

town of Glocester delineated as Glocester tax assessor’s lot 162, plat 18 consisting of 50.6 acres,

more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s

lot 15, plat 37 consisting of 15 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate

delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 29, plat 52 consisting of .2 acres, more or less; that certain

land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 37, plat 17 consisting

of 29 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate

tax assessor’s lot 11, plat 38 consisting of 17 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the

town of Foster delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot 42A, plat 12 consisting of .4 acres, more or

less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 53,

plat 20 consisting of 9 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Scituate

delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 30, plat 52 consisting of .2 acres, more or less; that certain

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land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lot 81, plat 49 consisting

of 73 acres, more or less; that certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax

assessor’s lot 48A, plat 15 consisting of 15.5 acres, more or less;

     and that certain land situated in the town of Foster delineated as Foster tax assessor’s lot

48, plat 15 consisting of 28.9 acres, more or less, for the purpose of protecting the public water

supply.

     (2) In addition to the powers previously granted, any authority in existence on July 7, 1989

has the power to acquire by exercise of eminent domain the land, or any interest in it, described as

that certain land situated in the town of Scituate delineated as Scituate tax assessor’s lots 45, 48,

49, 60, 61, 62, and 63, plat 51 consisting of 542.11 acres, more or less, and commonly known as

the “Joslin Farm” for the purpose of protecting the water supply.

     (3) Notwithstanding the preceding, in the event that the authority ceases to use any land or

development rights acquired by exercise of eminent domain, pursuant to subsections (a) (1) or (a)

(2), for the purpose of protecting the public water supply, the authority shall notify by certified mail

return receipt requested, the original owner of the parcel or his or her lawful heirs, and the original

owner or his or her lawful heirs shall have a right to recover the land or development rights. The

land or development rights shall revert to the original owner or his or her heirs upon the payment

of an amount equal to the price originally paid to the owner plus simple interest at the rate of six

percent (6%) per annum (or any other purchase price that is mutually agreed upon between the

parties) of the property or the development rights. Any transfer of the land or development rights

to the city whose city council established a need for an authority or any department, commission,

board, or agency of the city shall not constitute a cessation of the use of the land or development

rights for purposes of protecting the water supply.

     (4)(i) For the purposes of this section, the term “development rights” means the rights to:

     (A) Prohibit the ability of the fee owner to act on or with respect to or regarding uses of a

land or water area; or

     (B) Require the performance by the fee owner of acts on or with respect to or regarding

uses of a land or water area, which prohibition or requirement retains or maintains the land or water

area in its natural condition or any other condition that is consistent with the protection of

environmental quality or provides the public with the benefit of the unique features of the land or

water area, provided, that development rights will not be construed to deprive the original owner,

his or her successors or assigns, of the right to continue to use the land for agricultural purposes so

long as that use conforms to acceptable agricultural practices as established by the department of

the environment environmental management and/or the United States soil conservation service.

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     (ii) “Development rights” may also have any meaning as may be mutually agreed upon by

the fee owner and the authority in any contract, agreement, deed to development rights, or

proceeding before the authority. The proceeding shall be initiated by a fee owner’s filing a petition

before the authority and/or any lessee or successor agency seeking permission to use the land or

water area for development. The authority has sixty (60) days to determine if the activity described

in the petition endangers the environmental quality of the land or water area. Upon a finding of no

danger to the environmental quality of the land or water area, the authority shall grant the petition;

provided, if no finding is made within sixty (60) days the petition is deemed approved.

     (5) In the event the authority has initiated condemnation proceedings for development

rights, the original affected owner may notify the authority and the superior court of his or her

request that the authority take a fee simple interest in the land. Upon notification, the authority has

the power to acquire the land in fee simple by the exercise of the power of eminent domain and

shall exercise power to acquire a fee simple interest in the land.

     (6)(i) Prior to the authority’s taking the actions described in subsections (b) through (h),

for the purposes of this section, fair market value of the property or development rights are

determined as follows:

     (ii) Each party (the authority and the landowner) shall appoint one appraiser (who shall be

a qualified member of the American institute of real estate appraisers, the society of real estate

appraisers, the American society of farm managers and rural appraisers, the international

association of assessing officers, the national society of real estate appraisers, the national society

of independent fee appraisers, the American society of appraisers or the international right of way

association, or any successor organization). Each appraiser shall, within twenty (20) business days

of his or her appointment, arrive at an independent determination of the fair market value of the

property. If the difference between the two (2) appraisals as so determined does not exceed ten

percent (10%) of the lesser of the two (2) appraisals, then the fair market value is deemed to be an

amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the two (2) appraisals. If the difference between

the appraisals exceeds ten percent (10%) of the lesser appraisal, then the two (2) appraisers have

ten (10) calendar days within which to appoint a third appraiser, who shall, within twenty (20)

calendar days, make his or her own independent determination of the fair market value of the

property. All three (3) appraisals shall then be compared and the appraisal which differs most in

dollar amount from the other two (2) appraisals shall be excluded from consideration, and the fair

market value of the property shall be deemed to be fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the remaining

two (2) appraisals. The authority shall make an offer to purchase the property or rights in property

based upon the fair market value, which offer shall remain open for thirty (30) days or until the

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time the offer is accepted or rejected. If the offer of the authority is rejected, the authority may

proceed with condemnation proceedings within ten (10) days.

     (b) The necessity for acquisition is conclusively presumed upon the adoption by the

authority of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the land, or interest in it, described in the

resolution is necessary for the construction or operation of any project. Within six (6) months of

the adoption of a resolution, the authority shall cause to be filed, in the land evidence records of the

city or town in which the land is located, a copy of the resolution of the authority, together with a

plat of the land, or interest in it described, and a statement, signed by the chairperson of the

authority, that the land, or interest in it, is taken pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

Thereupon, the authority shall file, in the superior court in and for the county in which the land, or

interest in it, lies, a statement of the sum of money estimated by the authority to be just

compensation for the land taken.

     (c) Upon the filing of the copy of the resolution, plat, and statement in the land evidence

records of the city or town, the filing, in the superior court, of the statement, and the depositing in

the superior court, to the use of the person entitled to it, of a sum that the court determines to be

amply sufficient to satisfy the claims of all persons interested in the land (and the court may, in its

discretion, take evidence on the questions to determine the sum to be deposited), title to the land,

or interest in it, vests in the authority in fee simple absolute, and the authority may take possession

of the land, or interest in it.

     (d) No sum paid into the court shall be charged with clerk’s fees of any nature. After the

filing of the copy, plat, and statement, notice of the taking of the land, or interest in it, shall be

served upon the owners of, and persons having an estate in and interested in the land, by the sheriff

or the sheriff ’s deputies of the county in which the land, or interest in it, lies, leaving a true and

attested copy of the description and statement with each of the persons personally, or at their last

and usual place of abode in this state with some person living there, and in case any of the persons

are absent from this state and have no last and usual place of abode in this state occupied by any

person, the copy shall be left with the persons, if any, in charge of or having possession of the land,

or interest in it, taken of the absent persons if the persons are known to the officer; and after the

filing of the resolution, plat, and statement, the secretary of the authority shall cause a copy of the

resolution and statement to be published in some newspaper published or having general circulation

in the county where the land, or interest in it, may be located, at least once a week for three (3)

successive weeks. If any person agrees with the authority for the price of land, or interest in it taken,

the court, upon the application of the parties in interest, may order that the sum agreed upon be paid

immediately from the money deposited, as the just compensation to be awarded in the proceeding.

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     (e) Any owner of or person entitled to any estate in or interested in any part of the land, or

interest in it, taken, who cannot agree with the authority for the price of the land, or interest in it,

taken, in which he or she is interested, may, within three (3) months after personal notice of the

taking, or, if he or she has no personal notice, within one year from the first publication of the copy

of the resolution and statement, apply, by petition, to the superior court in and for the county in

which the land, or interest in it, lies, setting forth the taking of his or her land or interest in it, and

praying for an assessment of damages by a jury. Upon filing of the petition, the court shall cause

twenty (20) days’ notice of the pendency of the petition to be given to the authority with a certified

copy, and may proceed after the notice to the trial; and the trial shall determine all questions of fact

relating to the value of the land, or interest in it, and the amount, and judgment shall be entered

upon the verdict of the jury, and execution shall be issued against the money so deposited in court

and in default against any other property of the authority. In case two (2) or more conflicting

petitioners make claim to the same land, or to any interests in it, or to different interests in the same

parcel of land, the court, upon motion, shall consolidate their several petitions for trial at the same

time by the same jury, and may frame all necessary issues for the trial; and all proceedings taken

pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall take precedence over all other civil matters then

pending before the court, or if the superior court, in and for the county in which the land, or interest

in it, lies, is not in session in that county, then the proceedings may be heard in the superior court

for the counties of Providence and Bristol.

     (f) If any lands, or interests in them, in which any minor, or other person not capable in law

to act in his or her own behalf, is interested are taken by the authority under the provisions of this

chapter, the superior court, upon the filing in the court of any petition by or in behalf of the minor

or other person, may appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor or other person, and the guardian

may appear and be heard in behalf of the minor or other person; and the guardian may also, with

the advice and consent of the superior court and upon any terms that the superior court may

prescribe, release to the authority all claims for damages for the lands of the minor or other person

or for any interest in them. Any lawfully appointed, qualified, and acting guardian or other fiduciary

of the estate of any minor or other person, with the approval of the court of probate within this state

having jurisdiction to authorize the sale of lands and properties within this state of any minor or

other person, may, before the filing of any petition, agree with the authority upon the amount of

damages suffered by the minor or other person by any taking of his or her lands or of his or her

interests in any lands, and may, upon receiving that amount, release to the authority all claims of

damages of the minor or other person for the taking.

     (g) Whenever, from time to time, the authority has satisfied the court that the amount

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deposited with the court is greater than is amply sufficient to satisfy the claims of all persons

interested in the land, the court may order that the amount of any excess including any interest or

increment on any sums so deposited be repaid to the authority. Whenever the authority has satisfied

the court that the claims of all persons interested in the land taken have been satisfied, the

unexpended balance, including any interest or increment on any sums deposited, shall be paid

immediately to the authority.

     (h) In any proceedings for the assessment of compensation and damages for land or interest

in it taken, or to be taken by eminent domain by the authority, the following provisions are

applicable:

     (1) At any time during the pendency of any action or proceeding, the authority or an owner

may apply to the court for an order directing an owner or the authority, as the case may be, to show

cause why further proceedings should not be expedited, and the court may, upon that application,

make an order requiring that the hearings proceed and that any other steps be taken with all possible

expedition.

     (2) If any of the land, or interest in it, is devoted to a public use, it may nevertheless be

acquired, and the taking shall be effective, provided, that no land, or interest in it, belonging to a

public utilities administrator or other officer or tribunal having regulatory power over such a

corporation is taken. Any land, or interest in it, already acquired by the authority may, nevertheless,

be included within the taking for the purpose of acquiring any outstanding interests in the land.

     SECTION 11. Section 45-51-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-51 entitled

"Environmental Advocacy Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-51-2. Conservation commission — Appointment.

     The mayor or town administrator of any city or town may designate the municipal

conservation commission as defined in § 45-31-1 45-35-1 to serve as an environmental advocate,

subject to approval by the city or town council, which shall perform the duties as established in this

chapter.

     SECTION 12. Section 45-52-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-52 entitled "The

Quonochontaug East Beach Water District" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-52-10. District council.

     (a) The moderator, the treasurer, the district clerk, the chairperson of the finance committee

and the chairperson of the public works committee, constitute a district council. It is the duty of the

district council to:

     (1) Supervise and coordinate the activities of all of the officers, commissions, and

committees of the district;

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     (2) Fill vacancies in offices as provided in § 45-52-6(b) 45-52-6(c);

     (3) Prepare, or have prepared, ordinances relative to the district and its activities, and

present the ordinances to either the annual or special meeting of the district for action; and

     (4) Develop for, and present to, the annual or a special meeting called for the purpose, plans

for the improvement and development of the district.

     (b) The council also has the care, management, and control of all property and equipment

owned by the district, subject to any ordinances, bylaws, and regulations which the district may

make with respect to them. Three (3) members of the council constitute a quorum. Notice of the

time and place of the meeting shall be given by the member calling the meeting by mailing written

notice of the meeting at least five (5) days prior to the meeting to each of the members of the

council.

     (c) The district council shall, at least twenty (20) days before each and every annual

meeting, sit in open meeting to receive requests for funds to defray the cost of the activities of the

district, and to receive suggestions for expenditures to improve the property of the district, extend

the usefulness of the district to residents, and for all other purposes, and shall report thereon to the

annual meeting with its recommendations.

     SECTION 13. Section 45-59-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-59 entitled "District

Management Authorities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-59-18. Petition for relief from assessment.

     (a) Any person aggrieved on any ground whatsoever by any assessment against him or her

by a district management authority in any municipality may within three (3) months after the last

day appointed for the payment without penalty of the assessment, or the first installment of the

payment, if the assessment is payable in installments, file a notice of appeal with the district

management authority, and within thirty (30) days thereafter, file a petition in the superior court

for the county within which the municipality is located for relief from the assessment, to which

petition the district management authority will be made a party respondent, and the clerk of the

superior court will thereupon issue a citation substantially in the following form:

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     To the sheriff of the several counties, or to the deputies, Greetings:

     We command you to summon the treasurer of (the district management authority): to wit,

....................................... of ....................................... (if to be found in your precinct) to answer the

complaint of ....................................... of ....................................... on the return day hereof (said

return day being the ........... day of ....................., A.D. 20...........) in the superior court to be holden

at the county's courthouse in as by petition filed in court is fully set forth; and to show cause why

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said petition should not be granted.

     Hereof fail not, and make true return of this writ with your doings thereon.

     Witness, the seal of our superior court, at ....................................... this day of .....................

in the year, A.D. 20............

     _______________________________________, Clerk

     (b) The petition will be subject to the provisions of §§ 44-5-26 — 44-5-30, 44-5-31

[Repealed] insofar as those sections may be applicable.

     ARTICLE II -- STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

     SECTION 1. Sections 5-48.2-3 and 5-48.2-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-48.2 entitled

"Professional Licensing and Regulation of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists" are

hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-48.2-3. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings,

except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

     (1) “Accredited/approved” means that an institution/program holds regional accreditation

from one of six (6) regional accrediting bodies: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools,

New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and

Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and

Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

     (2) “Act” means chapter 48 of this title entitled, “speech-language pathology and

audiology,” as well as the provisions of this chapter, where the context so indicates.

     (3) “Audiologist” means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice audiology

either in person or via telepractice.

     (4) “Audiology” means the audiologist applies the principles, methods, and procedures

related to hearing and the disorders of the hearing and balance systems, to related language and

speech disorders, and to aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. A hearing disorder is defined as

altered sensitivity, acuity, function, processing, and/or damage to the integrity of the physiological

auditory/vestibular systems, in individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of

having such disorders.

     (5) “Audiology support personnel” shall operate under the title “audiometric aide” or

“audiology assistant” and means an individual who meets minimum qualifications established by

the board, which are less than those established by the act as necessary for licensing as an

audiologist; does not act independently; is limited to hearing screening with pass/fail criteria; and

works under the direction and supervision of an audiologist licensed under the act who has been

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actively working in the field for twenty-four (24) months after completion of the postgraduate

professional experience and who accepts the responsibility for the acts and performances of the

audiometric aide or audiology assistant while working under the act.

     (6) “Board” means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and

audiology established pursuant to § 5-48-2.

     (7) “Clinical fellow” means the person who is practicing speech-language pathology under

the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist while completing the postgraduate

professional experience as required by the act and who holds a current provisional license in

accordance with the requirements described in this chapter.

     (8) “Clinical fellowship or traineeship” means the direct clinical work, consultation, or

other duties relevant to clinical speech-language pathology work with individuals presenting

disorders in communication, for a cumulative or equivalent total of nine (9) months of full-time

employment following completion of professional speech-language pathology education under

supervision pursuant to § 5-48-7 and the provisions of this chapter.

     (9) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health.

     (10) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

     (11) “Graduate program” means a post-baccalaureate accredited program leading to a

master’s or doctoral degree, including a professional doctoral degree, whether offered through an

accredited graduate or professional school.

     (12) “Newborn hearing screener” means an audiometric aide or audiology assistant

working in a hospital-based newborn hearing screening program under the direction of the

department of health newborn hearing screening program, or its appointee.

     (13) “Person” means an individual, partnership organization, or corporation, except that

only individuals can be licensed under this chapter.

     (14) “The practice of audiology” means an audiologist rendering or offering to render any

service in audiology either in person or via telepractice as defined in § 5-48-1 and in this section.

     (15) “The practice of speech-language pathology” means rendering or offering to render

any service in speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice as defined in this

section.

     (16) “Regionally accredited” means the official guarantee that a college or university or

other educational institution is in conformity with the standards of education prescribed by a

regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

     (17) “School hearing screener” means an audiometric aide or audiology assistant working

in a school-based hearing screening program under the direction of the Rhode Island department

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of elementary and secondary education or its appointee.

     (18) “Speech-language pathologist (SLP)” means an individual who is licensed by the

board to practice speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice.

     (19) “Speech-language pathology” means the activities defined in § 5-48-1 and in this

section.

     (20) “Speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) support personnel” means an

individual who meets minimum qualifications established by the board, which are less than those

established by the act as necessary for licensing as a speech-language pathologist; does not act

independently; and works under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist

licensed under the act who has been actively working in the field for twenty-four (24) months after

completion of the postgraduate professional experience and who accepts the responsibility for the

acts and performances of the speech-language pathology assistant while working under this chapter.

     (21) “Telepractice” means the use of telecommunication technology to deliver speech-

language pathology and audiology services remotely. Other terms such as teleaudiology,

telespeech, and speech teletherapy are also used in addition to telepractice. Use of telepractice

should be of equal quality to services provided in person and consistent with adherence to the

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’s Code of Ethics (ASHA, 2016a),

Scope of Practice in Audiology (ASHA, 2018), Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology

(ASHA, 2016b), and Assistants Code of Conduct (ASHA, 2020).

     5-48.2-9. Supervision and responsibility.

     (a)(1) A supervising professional must be a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who

is licensed under this chapter; and who has been actively working in the field for twenty-four (24)

months after completion of the postgraduate professional experience; and must be responsible for

the acts and performances, patient screening, and specific tasks assigned by the licensee to the

speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA)/audiometric aide or audiology assistant.

     (2) A licensee who supervises support personnel must:

     (i) Utilize the services of only those who meet the minimum requirements enumerated

under this chapter;

     (ii) Ensure that the support personnel are assigned only those duties and responsibilities for

which the person has been specifically trained and which the assistant is qualified to perform;

     (iii) Ensure that persons who will be receiving services from support personnel, or the

person’s legal representative, are informed that services are being rendered by support personnel;

     (iv) Provide supervision of the support personnel (other than newborn hearing screeners

and school hearing screeners); and

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     (v) Complete a minimum of two (2) hours of professional development in clinical

instruction/supervision.

     (b) A speech-language pathologist supervisor may only supervise one full-time equivalent

speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) support personnel and not more than two (2) SLPAs

at any time and an audiologist supervisor may only supervise three (3) full-time equivalent

audiometric aides or audiology assistants unless otherwise approved by the board. At no time

should support personnel perform tasks when a supervising SLPA SLP cannot be reached by

personal contact, phone, pager, or other immediate means. When multiple supervisors are used, the

supervisors are encouraged to coordinate and communicate with each other.

     (c) Observations of support audiometric aides must be completed and documented as to

date, amount of time, and accuracy and efficacy of service according to the following: Direct on-

site observations of the first ten (10) hours of direct client contact; and five percent (5%) of all

clinical sessions after the first ten (10) hours for every forty (40) consecutive hours worked; and

indirect supervision (e.g., home, interactive television, audio/video review, or patient record

review) of five percent (5%) of each forty (40) consecutive hours worked.

     (d) Observations of a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) pathology support

personnel shall be completed and documented as to date, amount of time, and accuracy and efficacy

of service according to the following:

     (1) Direct supervision means in-view observation and guidance while the SLPA is

performing a clinical activity. Direct supervision does not include reviewing an audio or video

recorded session later.

     (2) A minimum of twenty percent (20%) direct supervision and ten percent (10%) indirect

supervision is required of all the time that assistant is providing services during the first ninety (90)

days of employment. After the first ninety (90) days, the supervising SLPA may adjust their amount

of supervision if they determine that the SLPA meets appropriate competencies. A minimum of ten

percent (10%) direct and ten percent (10%) indirect supervision is required every one hundred

eighty (180) days regardless of employment status.

     (e) Before any SLPA begins to provide support independently, the supervising SLP must

have first contact with all individuals on the caseload. For purposes of this section, first contact

includes establishing rapport, gathering baseline data, and securing other necessary documentation

to begin (or continue) the plan of care for the student, patient, or client.

     (f) Supervisors shall maintain records which document the frequency and type of

supervision of support personnel, such records to be available for audit upon request by the board.

     SECTION 2. Section 5-64-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-64 entitled

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"Dietitian/Nutritionist Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-64-5. Rhode Island state board of dietetics practice.

     (a) Within the division of professional regulation in the Rhode Island department of health

there is a board of dietetics practice.

     (1) The board shall consist of nine (9) members appointed for terms of three (3) years each

with and no member shall be appointed for more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration

of the term of office, a member shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.

One shall be the director of the department of health or designee. Five (5) shall be licensed

dietitians/nutritionists appointed by the director of the department of health, with the approval of

the governor, except that the appointments made initially need not be licensed under this chapter.

(In the director’s initial appointment, the director shall designate the licensed dietitian/nutritionist

members of the board as follows: one member to serve for a term of one year; two (2) members to

serve for a term of two (2) years; and two (2) members to serve for a term of three (3) years). One

member shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state appointed by the governor.

Two (2) shall be consumers appointed by the governor. A majority of seats filled shall constitute a

quorum.

     (2) The director of the department of health may remove any member of the board for

cause.

     (3) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of any term in the same manner as

the original appointment.

     (b) The duties of the board shall be to:

     (1) Recommend to the director rules and regulations necessary to implement this chapter;

     (2) Determine the qualification and fitness of applicants and to issue and/or reinstate

licenses; and

     (3) Recommend to the director revocation, suspension, and/or denial of a license.

     SECTION 3. Section 5-64.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-64.2 entitled "Dietitian

Licensure Compact" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-64.2-3. Definitions.

     For purposes of this section chapter, the following terms shall have the following

meanings:

     (1) “ACEND” means the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics or

its successor organization.

     (2) “Active military member” means any individual with full-time duty status in the active

armed forces of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve.

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     (3) “Adverse action” means any administrative, civil, equitable, or criminal action

permitted by a state’s laws which is imposed by a licensing authority or other authority against a

licensee, including actions against an individual’s license or compact privilege such as revocation,

suspension, probation, monitoring of the licensee, limitation on the licensee’s practice, or any other

encumbrance on licensure affecting a licensee’s authorization to practice, including issuance of a

cease and desist action.

     (4) “Alternative program” means a non-disciplinary monitoring or practice remediation

process approved by a licensing authority.

     (5) “CDR” means the Commission on Dietetic Registration or its successor organization.

     (6) “Charter member state” means any member state which enacted the compact by law

before the effective date pursuant to § 5-64.2-13.

     (7) “Compact commission” means the government agency whose membership consists of

all states that have enacted the compact, which is known as the dietitian licensure compact

commission, pursuant to § 5-64.2-9, and which shall operate as an instrumentality of the member

states.

     (8) “Compact privilege” means a legal authorization, which is equivalent to a license,

permitting the practice of dietetics in a remote state.

     (9) “Continuing education” means a requirement, as a condition of license renewal, to

provide evidence of participation in, and completion of, educational and professional activities

relevant to practice or area of work.

     (10) “Current significant investigative information” means:

     (i) Investigative information that a licensing authority, after a preliminary inquiry that

includes notification and an opportunity for the subject licensee to respond, if required by state law,

has reason to believe is not groundless and, if proved true, would indicate more than a minor

infraction; or

     (ii) Investigative information that indicates that the subject licensee represents an

immediate threat to public health and safety regardless of whether the subject licensee has been

notified and had an opportunity to respond.

     (11) “Data system” means a repository of information about licensees, including, but not

limited to, continuing education, examination, licensure, investigative, compact privilege and

adverse action information.

     (12) “Encumbered license” means a license in which an adverse action restricts a licensee’s

ability to practice dietetics.

     (13) “Encumbrance” means a revocation or suspension of, or any limitation on a licensee’s

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full and unrestricted practice of dietetics by a licensing authority.

     (14) “Executive committee” means a group of delegates elected or appointed to act on

behalf of, and within the powers granted to them by, the compact, and the compact commission.

     (15) “Home state” means the member state that is the licensee’s primary state of residence

or that has been designated pursuant to § 5-64.2-7.

     (16) “Investigative information” means information, records, and documents received or

generated by a licensing authority pursuant to an investigation.

     (17) “Jurisprudence requirement” means an assessment of an individual’s knowledge of

the state laws and regulations governing the practice of dietetics in such state.

     (18) “License” means an authorization from a member state to either:

     (i) Engage in the practice of dietetics (including medical nutrition therapy); or

     (ii) Use the title “dietitian,” “licensed dietitian,” “licensed dietitian nutritionist,” “certified

dietitian,” or other title describing a substantially similar practitioner as the compact commission

may further define by rule.

     (19) “Licensee” or “licensed dietitian” means an individual who currently holds a license

and who meets all of the requirements set forth in § 5-64.2-5.

     (20) “Licensing authority” means the board or agency of a state, or equivalent, that is

responsible for the licensing and regulation of the practice of dietetics.

     (21) “Member state” means a state that has enacted the compact.

     (22) “Practice of dietetics” means the synthesis and application of dietetics, primarily for

the provision of nutrition care services, including medical nutrition therapy, in person or via

telehealth, to prevent, manage, or treat diseases or medical conditions and promote wellness.

     (23) “Registered dietitian” means a person who:

     (i) Has completed applicable education, experience, examination, and recertification

requirements approved by CDR;

     (ii) Is credentialed by CDR as a registered dietitian or a registered dietitian nutritionist; and

     (iii) Is legally authorized to use the title registered dietitian or registered dietitian

nutritionist and the corresponding abbreviations “RD” or “RDN.”

     (24) “Remote state” means a member state other than the home state, where a licensee is

exercising or seeking to exercise a compact privilege.

     (25) “Rule” means a regulation promulgated by the compact commission that has the force

of law.

     (26) “Single state license” means a license issued by a member state within the issuing

state and does not include a compact privilege in any other member state.

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     (27) “State” means any state, commonwealth, district, or territory of the United States of

America.

     (28) “Unencumbered license” means a license that authorizes a licensee to engage in the

full and unrestricted practice of dietetics.

     SECTION 4. Section 5-65.4-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-65.4 entitled "Residential

Contractor Licensing" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     5-65.4-1. Short title and purpose.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island residential contractor

licensing law” to safeguard the public health, the. The purpose of this chapter is to establish

safeguard the public health by establishing a licensing program and minimum standards for

contractors supervising or performing structural work in residences of one to four (4) family

dwelling units.

     SECTION 5. Section 6-13.1-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 6-13.1 entitled "Deceptive

Trade Practices" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     6-13.1-1. Definitions. [Effective March 31, 2026.]

     As used in this chapter:

     (1) “Documentary material” means the original or a copy of any book, record, report,

memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical

transcription, or other tangible document or recording wherever situated.

     (2) “Examination” of documentary material includes the inspection, study, or copying of

any documentary material, and the taking of testimony under oath or acknowledgment in respect

of any documentary material or copy of any documentary material.

     (3) “Person” means natural persons, corporations, trusts, partnerships, incorporated or

unincorporated associations, and any other legal entity.

     (4) “Rebate” means the return of a payment or a partial payment that serves as a discount

or reduction in price.

     (5) “Trade” and “commerce” mean the advertising, offering for sale, sale, or distribution

of any services and any property, tangible or intangible, real, personal, or mixed, and any other

article, commodity, or thing of value wherever situate, and include any trade or commerce directly

or indirectly affecting the people of this state.

     (6) “Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices” means any

one or more of the following:

     (i) Passing off goods or services as those of another;

     (ii) Causing likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to the source, sponsorship,

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approval, or certification of goods or services;

     (iii) Causing likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding as to affiliation, connection,

or association with, or certification by, another;

     (iv) Using deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin in connection

with goods or services;

     (v) Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics,

ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities that they do not have or that a person has a sponsorship,

approval, status, affiliation, or connection that the person does not have;

     (vi) Representing that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered,

reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand; and if household goods have been repaired or

reconditioned, without conspicuously noting the defect that necessitated the repair on the tag that

contains the cost to the consumer of the goods;

     (vii) Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or

that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another;

     (viii) Disparaging the goods, services, or business of another by false or misleading

representation of fact;

     (ix) Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised;

     (x) Advertising goods or services with intent not to supply reasonably expectable public

demand, unless the advertisement discloses a limitation of quantity;

     (xi) Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning the reasons for, existence of,

or amounts of price reductions;

     (xii) Engaging in any other conduct that similarly creates a likelihood of confusion or of

misunderstanding;

     (xiii) Engaging in any act or practice that is unfair or deceptive to the consumer;

     (xiv) Using any other methods, acts, or practices that mislead or deceive members of the

public in a material respect;

     (xv) Advertising any brand name goods for sale and then selling substituted brand names

in their place;

     (xvi) Failure to include the brand name and/or manufacturer of goods in any advertisement

of the goods for sale, and, if the goods are used or secondhand, failure to include the information

in the advertisement;

     (xvii) Advertising claims concerning safety, performance, and comparative price unless

the advertiser, upon request by any person, the consumer council, or the attorney general, makes

available documentation substantiating the validity of the claim;

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     (xviii) Representing that work has been performed on or parts replaced in goods when the

work was not in fact performed or the parts not in fact replaced;

     (xix) Failing to separately state the amount charged for labor and the amount charged for

services when requested by the purchaser as provided for in § 44-18-12(b)(3) 44-18-12(b)(ii);

     (xx) Advertising for sale at a retail establishment the availability of a manufacturer’s rebate

by displaying the net price of the advertised item (the price of the item after the rebate has been

deducted from the item’s price) in the advertisement, unless the amount of the manufacturer’s

rebate is provided to the consumer by the retailer at the time of the purchase of the advertised item.

It shall be the retailer’s burden to redeem the rebate offered to the consumer by the manufacturer;

     (xxi) Advertising, displaying, or offering a price for live-event tickets or short-term lodging

in violation of 16 C.F.R. Part 464; or

     (xxii) Engaging in any act or practice that is unfair or deceptive by a person advising or

assisting any veteran filing a claim for disability benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SECTION 6. Sections 6-61-1 and 6-61-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 6-61 entitled

"Right to Consumer Access to Powered Wheelchair Repairs" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

     6-61-1. Definitions.

     For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

     (1) “Authorized repair supplier” means an individual or business who or that is unaffiliated

with an original equipment manufacturer and who or that has an arrangement with the original

equipment manufacturer, for a definite or indefinite period, under which the original equipment

manufacturer grants to the individual or business a license to use a trade name, service mark, or

other proprietary identifier for the purposes of offering the services of inspection, diagnosis,

maintenance, or repair of powered wheelchairs under the name of the original equipment

manufacturer, or other arrangement with the original equipment manufacturer to offer those

services on behalf of the original equipment manufacturer. An original equipment manufacturer

who or that offers the services of inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of its own powered

wheelchairs, and who or that does not have an arrangement with an unaffiliated individual or

business, shall be considered an authorized repair supplier with respect to that equipment.

     (2) “Commissioner” means the health insurance commissioner.

     (3) “Complex manual wheelchair” means a manually driven complex wheelchair that can

accommodate rehabilitative accessories and features.

     (4) “Complex power wheelchair” means a power-driven complex wheelchair, as defined

by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) that is classified as a Group 2 power

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wheelchair with power options that can accommodate rehabilitative features to include, but not

limited to, tilt in space; or a Group 3, Group 4, or Group 5 power wheelchair.

     (5) “Complex rehabilitation technology (CRT)” or “complex wheelchair” means items that

are individually configured for individuals to meet their specific and unique medical, physical, and

functional needs and capacities for basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of

daily living identified as medically necessary, and shall include options and accessories related to

any of such items. Current healthcare common procedure coding system (“HCPCS”) shall fall

under the definition of complex rehabilitation technology, and any amendments to HCPCS

subsequently added or created by the federal government shall be included within the definition of

complex rehabilitation technology and shall be added to the covered HCPC list.

     (6) “Complex rehabilitation wheelchair manufacturer” or “manufacturer” means a person

or company who or that designs, develops, tests, and produces finished systems or components of

those systems and sells all products or components to:

     (i) Authorized providers for distribution; or

     (ii) To other manufacturers for the production of more complex wheelchair systems.

Manufacturers are also responsible for maintaining compliance with relevant production

regulations and standards and reporting as designated by federal and state authorities.

     (7) “Consumer” means a member of a health carrier who or that uses a complex rehab

technology with which the CRT supplier has a contractual relationship.

     (8) “Consumer-owned backup complex power wheelchair” means a retired power

wheelchair that can be safely used by the consumer when a manual backup or suitable loaner

wheelchair cannot be supplied to meet the consumer’s medical needs.

     (9) “Covered person” means a policyholder, subscriber, or other person participating in a

policy, contract, or plan that provides for third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical

expenses.

     (10) “Defect” means an abnormality that impairs the quality, function, or utility of a

wheelchair from its intended design and purpose.

     (11) “Department” means the department of business regulation established pursuant to the

provisions of chapter 14 of title 42.

     (12) “Embedded software” means any programmable instructions provided on firmware

delivered with an electronic component of equipment, or with a part for that equipment, for

purposes of equipment operation, including all relevant patches and fixes made by the manufacturer

of the equipment or part for these purposes.

     (13) “Evaluation/diagnostic time” means time and labor during which a qualified

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technician troubleshoots and diagnoses any wheelchair adjustments or repair needs.

     (14) “Executive office” means the executive office of health and human services, the

agency designated by state law and the Medicaid state plan as the Medicaid single state agency.

     (15) “Fair and reasonable terms and costs,” with respect to obtaining manufacturer

documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools from a manufacturer to provide

services, means terms that are equivalent to the most favorable terms that the manufacturer offers

to an authorized repair supplier and costs to the buyer that are no greater than the manufacturer’s

suggested retail price:

     (i) For documentation, including any relevant updates, “fair and reasonable terms and

costs” also means at no charge, except that, when the documentation is requested in physical printed

form, a charge may be included for the reasonable actual costs of preparing and sending the copy;

     (ii) For software tools, “fair and reasonable terms and costs” also means all of the

following:

     (A) Provided at no charge and without requiring authorization or internet access;

     (B) Without imposing impediments to access or use, in the course of effecting the

diagnosis, maintenance, or repair and without impairing the efficient and cost-effective

performance of the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair;

     (C) Enables full functionality;

     (iii) If an original equipment manufacturer does not utilize an authorized repair supplier,

“fair and reasonable terms and costs” means an equitable price charged to the buyer in consideration

of the actual cost to the original equipment manufacturer to prepare and distribute the part, tool,

service access method, or documentation, exclusive of any research and development costs

incurred.

     (16) “Firmware” means a software program or set of instructions programmed on

equipment, or on a part for that equipment, to allow the equipment or part to communicate within

itself or with other computer hardware.

     (17) “Healthcare professional” means an individual who is licensed, registered, or certified

under federal or state law or regulation to provide healthcare services.

     (18) “Health plan” or “payer” means an entity subject to the insurance laws of this state, or

subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner, that contracts or offers to contract to provide health

insurance coverage including, but not limited to, an insurance company, a health maintenance

organization and a nonprofit hospital and medical service corporation.

     (19) “Independent repair provider” means an individual or business, other than the

manufacturer, that is engaged in the services of inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of

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equipment for the purposes of returning it to the safety and performance specifications established

by the manufacturer and to meet its original intended use.

     (20) “Inoperable” means when a wheelchair becomes unusable due to a mechanical or

electronic breakdown or failure.

     (21) “Loaner” means a properly working wheelchair that performs the essential functions

of the original wheelchair and that is provided to the consumer on a temporary basis while the

consumer’s wheelchair is being repaired/replaced. A “loaner” wheelchair is further defined to be

in good working order, does not create any threat to the consumer’s health or safety, and need not

be new or identical to or have the same functional capabilities as those of the original wheelchair.

     (22) “Manufacturer documentation” means any manual, diagram, reporting output, service

code description, schematic, or other guidance or information used in effecting the services of

inspection, diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of powered wheelchairs.

     (23) “Medical documentation” means any chart notes, letters of medical necessity,

prescriptions, or other clinical documentation demonstrating the initial or continued medical

necessity of qualifying complex rehabilitation technology.

     (24) “Non-conformity” means a condition or defect that significantly impairs the use,

value, function, or safety of an assistive device or any of its components, but does not include a

condition or defect of the device that is the result of:

     (i) Abuse, misuse, or neglect by a consumer;

     (ii) Modifications or alterations not authorized by the manufacturer;

     (iii) Normal wear;

     (iv) Normal use which may be resolved through a fitting adjustment, routine maintenance,

preventative maintenance, or proper care; or

     (v) A consumer’s failure to follow any manufacturer’s written service and maintenance

guidelines furnished to the customer at the time of purchase.

     (25) “Prior authorization” means any requirement held by the payer that the covered person

or the qualified complex rehabilitation technology supplier obtain written or verbal approval from

the payer [or other insurer] before completing needed services or providing equipment to a covered

person.

     (26) “Qualified complex rehabilitation technology professional” means an individual who

is certified as an assistive technology professional (ATP) by a professional organization providing

certification of assistive technology professions.

     (27) “Qualified complex rehabilitation technology supplier” or “supplier” means a

company or entity that meets all of the following criteria:

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     (i) Is accredited by a recognized accrediting organization as a supplier of complex

rehabilitation technology;

     (ii) Is an employer of at least one qualified complex rehabilitation technology professional

to analyze the needs and capacities of the complex needs consumer in consultation with qualified

healthcare professionals, to participate in the selection of appropriate complex rehabilitation

technology for those needs and capacities of the complex needs consumer, and to provide training

in the proper use of the complex rehabilitation technology;

     (iii) Requires a qualified complex rehabilitation technology professional to be physically

present for the evaluation and determination of appropriate complex rehabilitation technology for

a complex needs consumer;

     (iv) Has the capability to provide service and repair by trained technicians for all complex

rehabilitation technology it sells; and

     (v) Provides written information at the time of delivery of the complex rehabilitation

technology to the complex needs consumer stating how the complex needs consumer may receive

service and repair for the complex rehabilitation technology.

     (28) “Recipient” means a person receiving benefits under the state Medicaid program,

including a person whose Medicaid eligibility is being redetermined.

     (29) “Third-party payer” means an entity other than the consumer of or healthcare supplier,

that reimburses and manages healthcare expenses, such as insurance companies and government

payers.

     (30) “Tools” means any software program, hardware, or other apparatus used in inspection,

diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of powered wheelchairs, including software or other mechanisms

that provision, program, or pair a new part, calibrate functionality, or perform any other function

required to bring the product back to fully functional condition.

     (31) “Trade secret” shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 6-41-1.

     (32) “Trip/travel allowance” means compensation for travel to the recipient’s home or

location for the purpose of facilitating a repair to a complex wheelchair.

     (33) “Warranty” means a guarantee made by a manufacturer regarding the integrity or

condition of the product and the terms and conditions under which repairs, refunds, or exchanges

shall be made if the product does not function as originally described or intended within a specified

period.

     6-61-5. Rules and regulations.

     The department of business regulation may promulgate rules and regulations to implement

and enforce the provisions of §§ 6-61-2, 6-61-3 and 6-61-2 6-61-4.

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     SECTION 7. Section 6-62-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 6-62 entitled "Veterans’

Protection [Effective March 31, 2026.]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     6-62-5. Penalty. [Effective March 31, 2026.]

     A violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be an unfair or deceptive act or practice

as defined in § 6-13.1-1, and the violator shall be subject to the civil penalties provided pursuant

to the provisions of § 6-13.1-8.

     SECTION 8. Section 11-49-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-49 entitled "Credit Card

Crime Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-49-4. Fraudulent use of credit or debit cards.

     A person who, with intent to defraud the issuer or a person or organization providing

money, goods, services, or anything else of value or any other person, uses, for the purpose of

obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value, a credit card or debit card obtained or

retained in violation of this law or a credit card or debit card which they know is forged, expired,

or revoked, or who obtains money, goods, services, or anything else of value by representing,

without the consent of the cardholder, that they are the holder of a specified card or by representing

that they are the holder of a card and the card has not in fact been issued, violates this section and

is subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-49-10(a), if the value of all moneys, goods, services, and

other things of value obtained in violation of this subsection section does not exceed one hundred

dollars ($100) in any six-month (6) period. The violator is subject to the penalties set forth in § 11-

49-10(b) if the value does exceed one hundred dollars ($100) in any six-month (6) period.

Knowledge of revocation shall be presumed to have been received by a cardholder four (4) days

after it has been mailed to them at the address set forth on the credit card or debit card or at their

last known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and, if the address is

more than five hundred (500) miles from the place of mailing, by air mail. If the address is located

outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, or Canada, notice shall

be presumed to have been received ten (10) days after mailing by registered or certified mail.

     SECTION 9. Section 16-21-43 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and

Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-21-43. Policy on use of personal electronic devices in schools. [Effective August 1,

2026.]

     (a)(1) Each public school shall have a policy regarding the use of personal electronic

devices on school grounds and during school-sponsored activities to reduce distractions, maintain

environments focused on learning, and protect the privacy and safety of students and staff. Each

public school shall notify the parents or guardians of all students attending the school of the policy.

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The policy shall include, but not be limited to, a prohibition on physical access to a personal

electronic device by students during the school day as defined by the department of education and

the commission commissioner of elementary and secondary education pursuant to §§ 16-2-2 and

16-2-9 and any regulations promulgated thereunder including, but not limited to, 200-RICR-20-05-

1.

     (2) The district shall make exceptions for student personal device use that provide access

to assistive technology necessary to comply with individualized student 504 plans, individualized

education plans (IEP), medical needs such as glucose monitoring, and/or a plan to support emergent

multilingual learners (MLL) students with appropriate language access programs and services to

ensure the provision of appropriate, meaningful public education. The allowable exceptions shall

be written into the student’s identified plan and approved by the appropriate team or coordinator.

     (3) Students provided an exception to this policy shall not be segregated from students

without such exception. Exceptions shall also be made in the event of an emergency.

     (b) For the purposes of this section, a “personal electronic device” means a smartphone,

mobile phone, tablet, computer, smartwatch, or other electronic device not owned or provided to a

student by a public school that is capable of communication through the internet or a wireless

network.

     (c) The policy and any standards and rules enforcing the policy shall be prescribed by the

school committee in conjunction with the superintendent or the board of trustees of a charter school

and in consultation with any collective bargaining agents that represent school staff. The policy

shall be enforced consistently by school administration, be systematic in nature, and should