H 7624Arts & Culture

Health and Safety - Assisted Living Residence Licensing Act

This bill creates a special license plate for the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame to raise money for local charities.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This legislation authorizes the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to create and issue special license plates designed to honor the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. These plates are available to vehicle owners for an additional surcharge of $40 upon initial issuance, with $20 going to the state's general fund and $20 going to the Hall of Fame. A $10 surcharge applies to renewals, which fully benefits the Hall of Fame. The organization must use the funds for Rhode Island-based charities and must submit an annual financial report. Production of the plates requires a minimum number of prepaid orders.

For younger readers

This new law allows people in Rhode Island to buy a special license plate for their car that features the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. People who want this special plate have to pay extra money to get it. Some of that extra money goes to the state government, and the rest goes to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is required to use the money they receive to help charities in Rhode Island and to support the game of hockey. They also have to prove they are spending the money correctly.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Vehicle OwnersRhode Island Hockey Hall of FameRhode Island-based Charitable OrganizationsDivision of Motor VehiclesHockey Fans

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

$20 per new plate issued

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Generates a new stream of revenue for Rhode Island-based charitable organizations, which can support community welfare and social safety nets without raising mandatory taxes.
Directs a portion of the initial plate fees ($20 per plate) to the state's general fund, which supports public services and government operations.
Encourages community building and cultural pride by recognizing a local sports institution and requiring funds to be spent within the state.
Diverts administrative time and resources at the Division of Motor Vehicles away from essential services to manage a niche, private interest program.
Relies on voluntary consumerism to fund community charities rather than establishing robust, guaranteed state funding for social programs.
Privileges a specific recreational organization with state-sanctioned fundraising tools, rather than focusing on systemic reforms or broader educational initiatives.

For Conservatives

Utilizes a voluntary user-fee model to support a private organization and charities, avoiding any increase in mandatory taxes for the general public.
Celebrate local tradition and history through the recognition of the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame, reinforcing community values.
Includes fiscal safeguards such as minimum prepaid orders and annual accounting reports to ensuring the program is market-driven and accountable.
Expands the state bureaucracy by adding more administrative tasks and regulations to the Division of Motor Vehicles for a non-essential purpose.
Entangles the government with a private non-profit entity by acting as a revenue collector for a specific organization.
Imposes government oversight on a private organization by mandating specific spending on "Rhode Island-based charitable organizations" and requiring annual reporting.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 9 additions · 1 deletion

SECTION 1. Section 23-17.4-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.4 entitled "Assisted Living Residence Licensing Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 23-17.4-10. Regulations, inspections, and investigations.

(a) The licensing agency shall after public hearing pursuant to reasonable notice, adopt, amend, promulgate, and enforce any rules, regulations, and standards with respect to assisted-living residences for adults licensed under this chapter as may be designed to further the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter in promoting safe and adequate living environments for individuals in assisted-living residences in the interest of public safety and welfare. These regulations may provide for the establishment of levels of service provided by the residence.

(b) The licensing agency shall make or cause to be made any inspections and investigations that it deems necessary by duly authorized agents of the director at any time and frequency determined by the licensing agency. The licensing agency shall establish regulations to determine the frequency of inspections that shall include, but not be limited to, the residence’s past compliance with regulations, complaint investigations, quality of care issues and license type. However, the licensing agency shall:

(1) On, on a biennial basis, conduct an unannounced, on-site inspection of all licensed assisted-living residences; and

(2) On an annual basis, conduct an unannounced, on-site inspection of those assisted living residences that provide services to residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias by means of an Alzheimer's special care unit, in accordance with § 23-17.4-16.2 which inspection shall include the entire assisted living residence and not be limited to the Alzheimer's special care unit. The licensing agency shall, on an annual basis, cause no less than ten percent (10%) of all assisted-living inspections to be conducted, in whole or in part, on nights and/or weekends.

(c) Upon request of the licensing agency, health agencies and professionals may share resident health status information with the department of health for the purpose of determining each resident’s capability of self preservation.

(d) Each assisted-living residence licensed under this chapter shall have a plan for preventing the hazards of residents wandering from the facility. This plan shall be submitted to the licensing agency in a format determined by the director.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.