2026 -- S 2174

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LC003911

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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 LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT--NO

LIMITATION ON HEALTHCARE BENEFIT PROVIDERS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Bell, Murray, Ciccone, Thompson, Gallo, Burke, Gu, Ujifusa,
Quezada, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Labor & Gaming

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-7-49 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-7 entitled "Labor

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Relations Act" is hereby repealed.

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     28-7-49. No limitation on healthcare benefit providers.

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     No collective bargaining agreement covering any group or groups of state employees,

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public school teachers, or employees of any city or town, ratified after August 1, 2008, shall specify

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that an employer must procure a healthcare benefit plan from a specific provider of such plans. The

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technical qualifications of the healthcare benefit plan, to be contracted for, shall not be framed or

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constructed in a manner designed to identify an exclusive provider of said healthcare services.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT--NO

LIMITATION ON HEALTHCARE BENEFIT PROVIDERS

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     This act would repeal the law that prevents a collective bargaining agreement covering

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state employees, public school teachers and municipal employees from specifying a particular

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healthcare provider in it.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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