2026 -- S 3011 | |
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LC005980 | |
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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 EDUCATION -- POST-SECONDARY STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE | |
PLAN ACT | |
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Introduced By: Senators Vargas, Thompson, Appollonio, Murray, DiPalma, McKenney, | |
Date Introduced: March 05, 2026 | |
Referred To: Senate Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by |
2 | adding thereto the following chapter: |
3 | CHAPTER 117 |
4 | POST-SECONDARY STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN ACT |
5 | 16-117-1. Short Title. |
6 | This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Post-Secondary Student Health |
7 | Insurance Plan Act”. |
8 | 16-117-2. Definitions. |
9 | For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as follows: |
10 | (1) “Institution(s) of higher education” means a public or private college or university |
11 | located in the State of Rhode Island. |
12 | (2) “Student” means any student of an institution of higher education regardless of the |
13 | number of credits for which the student is or intends to be enrolled. |
14 | 16-117-3. Applicability. |
15 | This chapter shall apply to all public and private institutions of higher education recognized |
16 | by the office of the post-secondary commissioner. |
17 | 16-117-4. Affirmative plan enrollment required. |
18 | (a) No institution of higher education shall automatically enroll any student in a student |
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1 | health insurance plan. Institutions of higher education shall provide on a tuition bill a prompt for |
2 | the student to expressly accept or reject the student health insurance plan. No application for |
3 | admission or registration shall be accepted as complete by an institution of higher education unless |
4 | and until a student has affirmatively expressly accepted or rejected the student health insurance |
5 | plan coverage in writing or by affirmation through an electronic platform. |
6 | (b) An institution of higher education shall not assess any fees or premiums for student |
7 | health insurance coverage upon any student who has rejected coverage. |
8 | (c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent any institution of higher education |
9 | from requiring all students to maintain health insurance coverage as a condition of attending the |
10 | institution of higher education. |
11 | 16-117-5. Recordkeeping. |
12 | All institutions of higher education shall maintain records of all student elections to accept |
13 | or reject coverage by a student health insurance plan for a minimum of three (3) years. |
14 | 16-117-6. Enforcement. |
15 | The office of the post-secondary commissioner shall promulgate regulations to enforce |
16 | compliance with this chapter. |
17 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- POST-SECONDARY STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE | |
PLAN ACT | |
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1 | This act would prohibit public and private colleges and universities from charging students |
2 | for institution provided health insurance in the absence of affirmative action by the student opting |
3 | in to coverage. |
4 | This act would take effect on January 1, 2027. |
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