Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations to Address Concerns in the Delivery of Healthcare to Inmates and Individuals Awaiting Trial in the Custody of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC)

WHEREAS, RIDOC's mission “is to maintain a safe and secure correctional system that prioritizes the well-being of staff, incarcerated individuals, and the community”; and

WHEREAS, The Health Care Services Unit is constitutionally mandated to provide medical, dental, and behavioral health care to the incarcerated inmate population who are either sentenced or awaiting trial within all facilities of RIDOC; and

WHEREAS, RIDOC has an on-site comprehensive medical program in each facility provided by internists and generalists under the clinical supervision of the Medical Programs Director; and

WHEREAS, In late 2023/early 2024, RIDOC included six Adult Correctional Institutions with an average population of 2,300 to 2,500 inmates and around 7,900 persons awaiting trial, with a significant number requiring medical services, including mental health and psychiatric care, and treatment for substance use disorders; and

WHEREAS, By mid 2023 it was estimated that, between 15; and percent of Rhode Island's prison population were considered severely and persistently mentally ill; and

WHEREAS, As of January 2023, 40 percent of Rhode Island's prison population were receiving psychiatric services, 31 percent were receiving mental health counseling,; and to percent have histories of substance use; and

WHEREAS, RIDOC has faced issues with the delivery of health care, including limited access to mental health care and necessary substance use disorder treatments; and

WHEREAS, A lack of consistent and adequate medical treatment can have disastrous and fatal consequences; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, or designee; one of whom shall be the Medical Director of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of an inmates’ rights group, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and analysis of the delivery of healthcare services at Rhode Island’s correctional institutions and provide recommendations to address concerns and deficiencies in the delivery of these healthcare services. Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives no later than January 5, 2027, and said commission shall expire on March 5, 2027. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HOUSERESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC) *** This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations for improvements in the delivery of health care services at RIDOC, and who would report back to the House no later than January 5, 2027, and whose life would expire on March 5, 2027.