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H 7940Health Insurance

Insurance - Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies

This bill bans health insurers from discriminating based on race, gender identity, or pregnancy and mandates coverage for gender-affirming and reproductive care.

Held for study
Population
Affected
75
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This legislation prohibits health insurance companies and healthcare entities in Rhode Island from discriminating against patients based on a wide range of characteristics, including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy status. It explicitly mandates that insurers cannot categorically exclude coverage for gender-affirming care or reproductive healthcare, such as abortion and contraception. The bill defines "medical necessity" as the standard for coverage but prevents insurers from using it as a pretext for discrimination. It also establishes a requirement for insurers to notify customers of these rights and provides a grievance process for violations.

For younger readers

This new rule is for health insurance companies. It says they cannot treat people unfairly because of who they are. They cannot say "no" to paying for a doctor just because of a person's skin color, religion, or if they are a boy or a girl. It also says insurance must help pay for special medicine or doctors that help people change their bodies to match who they feel they are inside. The rule makes sure everyone gets a fair chance to see a doctor and stay healthy, and companies have to tell people how to complain if they are treated badly.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Health Insurance CompaniesTransgender IndividualsPregnant IndividualsPeople with DisabilitiesHealthcare Professionals
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

There is a potential conflict with the First Amendment regarding religious freedom. By mandating coverage for abortion and gender-affirming care without an explicit religious exemption, the bill could face challenges from religious organizations or closely held corporations that object to funding these procedures based on sincerely held religious beliefs (similar to *Hobby Lobby* or *Little Sisters of the Poor* cases).

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Codifies strong protections for transgender individuals by explicitly prohibiting categorical exclusions for gender-affirming healthcare and gender transition services.
  • Strengthens reproductive justice by defining pregnancy-related conditions to include abortion and contraception, ensuring insurers cannot deny coverage for these essential services.
  • Prevents discrimination against people with disabilities by prohibiting benefit designs that result in a serious risk of institutionalization or segregation.
  • Maintains the "medical necessity" clause, which insurance companies often use as a loophole to deny care even when discrimination is technically prohibited.
  • Relies on a complaint-driven enforcement model where the burden is on the victim to file a grievance rather than mandating proactive state auditing of denial rates.
  • Does not establish a public option or universal coverage, leaving marginalized communities still subject to the profit motives and premiums of private insurance corporations.
For Conservatives
  • Preserves the right of insurance companies to deny coverage based on "legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons" and "medical necessity," protecting business operations from funding unproven treatments.
  • Standardizes regulations across various types of insurance entities (HMOs, nonprofits, commercial), creating a consistent regulatory environment for businesses to navigate.
  • Establishes a formal grievance process, which may help resolve disputes internally before they escalate to costly litigation against insurance providers.
  • Mandates that private businesses fund abortion services and gender transition procedures, which violates the moral, religious, and traditional values of many business owners and policyholders.
  • Imposes heavy government regulations on the free market by stripping insurance companies of the freedom to design their own benefit packages and manage risk.
  • Will likely result in increased insurance premiums for all citizens as costs for expensive, mandated high-risk procedures are passed down to the general consumer base.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 300 additions · 32 deletions

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 27-18-25 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-18 entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies" is hereby amended to read as follows: 27-18-25. Unfair discrimination prohibited. Notwithstanding any provision of any policy of insurance, certificate, or service contract issued in this state, whenever the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract provides for reimbursement for any services that may be legally performed by any person licensed under the provisions of chapters 29, 30, 35.1, and 37 of title 5, reimbursement under the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract shall be based upon a determination of medical necessity and shall not be denied because of race, color, or creed, nor shall any insurer make or permit any unfair discrimination against particular individuals or persons licensed under chapters 29, 30, 35.1, and 37 of title 5.

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Health-benefit plan” or “health plan” means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement entered into, offered, or issued by a healthcare entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, and includes individual and group plans.

(2) “Healthcare entity” means an insurance company licensed, or required to be licensed, by the state of Rhode Island or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner or the jurisdiction of the department of business regulation pursuant to chapter 62 of title 42, that contracts or offers to contract, or enters into an agreement to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including, without limitation: a for-profit or nonprofit hospital, medical or dental service corporation or plan, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance company, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, accident and sickness insurance, health benefits, or healthcare services.

(3) “Pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” includes, but is not limited to, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, fertility, contraception, and lactation.

(b) An individual may not be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(c) No healthcare entity may, in offering, providing, or administering a health plan:

(1) Deny, cancel, delay, limit, or refuse to issue or renew a health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(2) Have or implement marketing practices or benefit designs that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(3) Deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, to an individual on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(4) Have or implement a categorical coverage exclusion or limitation for any health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care, or reproductive health care;

(5) Otherwise deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, for specific health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care services and reproductive health care services if such denial, limitation, or restriction results in discrimination against a member of protected class, as described in subsection (b); or

(6) Have or implement benefit designs that do not provide or administer health insurance coverage in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities, including practices that result in the serious risk of institutionalization or segregation.

(d) Nothing in this section requires coverage of any health service where the healthcare entity has a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for denying or limiting coverage of the health service or determining that such health service fails to meet applicable coverage requirements, including reasonable medical management techniques such as medical necessity requirements. Such coverage denial or limitation must not be based on unlawful animus or bias, or constitute a pretext for discrimination.

(e) The enumeration of specific forms of discrimination in subsection (c) of this section does not limit the general applicability of the prohibition in subsection (b) of this section.

(f) No healthcare entity may discriminate with respect to participation under a health- benefit plan or coverage against any healthcare professional who is acting within the scope of that healthcare professional’s license or certification under applicable state law, on the basis of that healthcare professional’s actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(g) A healthcare entity shall provide the following information in a notice to enrollees of a health-benefit plan regarding the nondiscrimination requirements of this section:

(1) A statement that the health-benefit plan does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under applicable state law, including this section;

(2) Instructions on how an enrollee may file a grievance regarding discrimination;

(3) The healthcare entity’s internet website where an enrollee may file a grievance, if available; and

(4) The healthcare entity’s telephone number that an enrollee may use to file a grievance regarding discrimination.

(h) A healthcare entity or health-benefit plan found to have violated any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions of chapters 14 and 14.5 of title 42, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 2. Section 27-19-75 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-19 entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows: 27-19-75. Unfair discrimination prohibited. Notwithstanding any provision of any policy of insurance, certificate, or service contract issued in this state, whenever the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract provides for reimbursement for any services that may be legally performed by any person licensed under the provisions of chapters 29, 30, 35 [repealed], and 37 of title 5, reimbursement under the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract shall be based upon a determination of medical necessity and shall not be denied because of race, color, or creed, nor shall any insurer make or permit any unfair discrimination against particular individuals or persons licensed under chapters 29, 30, 35 [repealed], and 37 of title 5.

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Health-benefit plan” or “health plan” means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement entered into, offered, or issued by a healthcare entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, and includes individual and group plans.

(2) “Healthcare entity” means an insurance company licensed, or required to be licensed, by the state of Rhode Island or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner or the jurisdiction of the department of business regulation pursuant to chapter 62 of title 42, that contracts or offers to contract, or enters into an agreement to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including, without limitation: a for-profit or nonprofit hospital, medical or dental service corporation or plan, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance company, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, accident and sickness insurance, health benefits, or healthcare services.

(3) “Pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” includes, but is not limited to, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, fertility, contraception, and lactation.

(b) An individual may not be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(c) No healthcare entity may, in offering, providing, or administering a health plan:

(1) Deny, cancel, delay, limit, or refuse to issue or renew a health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(2) Have or implement marketing practices or benefit designs that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(3) Deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, to an individual on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(4) Have or implement a categorical coverage exclusion or limitation for any health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care, or reproductive health care;

(5) Otherwise deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, for specific health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care services and reproductive health care services if such denial, limitation, or restriction results in discrimination against a member of protected class, as described in subsection (b); or

(6) Have or implement benefit designs that do not provide or administer health insurance coverage in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities, including practices that result in the serious risk of institutionalization or segregation.

(d) Nothing in this section requires coverage of any health service where the healthcare entity has a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for denying or limiting coverage of the health service or determining that such health service fails to meet applicable coverage requirements, including reasonable medical management techniques such as medical necessity requirements. Such coverage denial or limitation must not be based on unlawful animus or bias, or constitute a pretext for discrimination.

(e) The enumeration of specific forms of discrimination in subsection (c) of this section does not limit the general applicability of the prohibition in subsection (b) of this section.

(f) No healthcare entity may discriminate with respect to participation under a health- benefit plan or coverage against any healthcare professional who is acting within the scope of that healthcare professional’s license or certification under applicable state law, on the basis of that healthcare professional’s actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(g) A healthcare entity shall provide the following information in a notice to enrollees of a health-benefit plan regarding the nondiscrimination requirements of this section:

(1) A statement that the health-benefit plan does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under applicable state law, including this section;

(2) Instructions on how an enrollee may file a grievance regarding discrimination;

(3) The healthcare entity’s internet website where an enrollee may file a grievance, if available; and

(4) The healthcare entity’s telephone number that an enrollee may use to file a grievance regarding discrimination.

(h) A healthcare entity or health-benefit plan found to have violated any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions of chapters 14 and 14.5 of title 42, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 3. Section 27-20-71 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-20 entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations" is hereby amended to read as follows: 27-20-71. Unfair discrimination prohibited. Notwithstanding any provision of any policy of insurance, certificate, or service contract issued in this state, whenever the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract provides for reimbursement for any services that may be legally performed by any person licensed under the provisions of chapters 29, 30, 35 [repealed], and 37 of title 5, reimbursement under the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract shall be based upon a determination of medical necessity and shall not be denied because of race, color, or creed, nor shall any insurer make or permit any unfair discrimination against particular individuals or persons licensed under chapters 29, 30, 35 [repealed], and 37 of title 5.

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Health-benefit plan” or “health plan” means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement entered into, offered, or issued by a healthcare entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, and includes individual and group plans.

(2) “Healthcare entity” means an insurance company licensed, or required to be licensed, by the state of Rhode Island or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner or the jurisdiction of the department of business regulation pursuant to chapter 62 of title 42, that contracts or offers to contract, or enters into an agreement to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including, without limitation: a for-profit or nonprofit hospital, medical or dental service corporation or plan, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance company, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, accident and sickness insurance, health benefits, or healthcare services.

(3) “Pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” includes, but is not limited to, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, fertility, contraception, and lactation.

(b) An individual may not be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(c) No healthcare entity may, in offering, providing, or administering a health plan:

(1) Deny, cancel, delay, limit, or refuse to issue or renew a health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(2) Have or implement marketing practices or benefit designs that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(3) Deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, to an individual on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(4) Have or implement a categorical coverage exclusion or limitation for any health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care, or reproductive health care;

(5) Otherwise deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, for specific health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care services and reproductive health care services if such denial, limitation, or restriction results in discrimination against a member of protected class, as described in subsection (b); or

(6) Have or implement benefit designs that do not provide or administer health insurance coverage in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities, including practices that result in the serious risk of institutionalization or segregation.

(d) Nothing in this section requires coverage of any health service where the healthcare entity has a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for denying or limiting coverage of the health service or determining that such health service fails to meet applicable coverage requirements, including reasonable medical management techniques such as medical necessity requirements. Such coverage denial or limitation must not be based on unlawful animus or bias, or constitute a pretext for discrimination.

(e) The enumeration of specific forms of discrimination in subsection (c) of this section does not limit the general applicability of the prohibition in subsection (b) of this section.

(f) No healthcare entity may discriminate with respect to participation under a health- benefit plan or coverage against any healthcare professional who is acting within the scope of that healthcare professional’s license or certification under applicable state law, on the basis of that healthcare professional’s actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(g) A healthcare entity shall provide the following information in a notice to enrollees of a health-benefit plan regarding the nondiscrimination requirements of this section:

(1) A statement that the health-benefit plan does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under applicable state law, including this section;

(2) Instructions on how an enrollee may file a grievance regarding discrimination;

(3) The healthcare entity’s internet website where an enrollee may file a grievance, if available; and

(4) The healthcare entity’s telephone number that an enrollee may use to file a grievance regarding discrimination.

(h) A healthcare entity or health-benefit plan found to have violated any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions of chapters 14 and 14.5 of title 42, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 4. Section 27-41-88 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-41 entitled "Health Maintenance Organizations" is hereby amended to read as follows: 27-41-88. Unfair discrimination prohibited. Notwithstanding any provision of any policy of insurance, certificate, or service contract issued in this state, whenever the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract provides for reimbursement for any services that may be legally performed by any person licensed under the provisions of chapters 29, 30, 35, and 37 of title 5, reimbursement under the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract shall be based upon a determination of medical necessity and shall not be denied because of race, color, or creed, nor shall any insurer make or permit any unfair discrimination against particular individuals or persons licensed under chapters 29, 30, 35, and 37 of title 5.

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Health-benefit plan” or “health plan” means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement entered into, offered, or issued by a healthcare entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, and includes individual and group plans.

(2) “Healthcare entity” means an insurance company licensed, or required to be licensed, by the state of Rhode Island or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner or the jurisdiction of the department of business regulation pursuant to chapter 62 of title 42, that contracts or offers to contract, or enters into an agreement to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including, without limitation: a for-profit or nonprofit hospital, medical or dental service corporation or plan, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance company, or any other entity providing a plan of health insurance, accident and sickness insurance, health benefits, or healthcare services.

(3) “Pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions” includes, but is not limited to, childbirth, abortion, miscarriage, fertility, contraception, and lactation.

(b) An individual may not be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or otherwise be subject to discrimination under any health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(c) No healthcare entity may, in offering, providing, or administering a health plan:

(1) Deny, cancel, delay, limit, or refuse to issue or renew a health-benefit plan on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(2) Have or implement marketing practices or benefit designs that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(3) Deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, to an individual on the basis of actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof;

(4) Have or implement a categorical coverage exclusion or limitation for any health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care, or reproductive health care;

(5) Otherwise deny or limit coverage, deny or limit coverage of a claim, or impose additional cost sharing or other limitations or restrictions on coverage, for specific health services related to gender transition or other gender-affirming health care services and reproductive health care services if such denial, limitation, or restriction results in discrimination against a member of protected class, as described in subsection (b); or

(6) Have or implement benefit designs that do not provide or administer health insurance coverage in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities, including practices that result in the serious risk of institutionalization or segregation.

(d) Nothing in this section requires coverage of any health service where the healthcare entity has a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for denying or limiting coverage of the health service or determining that such health service fails to meet applicable coverage requirements, including reasonable medical management techniques such as medical necessity requirements. Such coverage denial or limitation must not be based on unlawful animus or bias, or constitute a pretext for discrimination.

(e) The enumeration of specific forms of discrimination in subsection (c) of this section does not limit the general applicability of the prohibition in subsection (b) of this section.

(f) No healthcare entity may discriminate with respect to participation under a health- benefit plan or coverage against any healthcare professional who is acting within the scope of that healthcare professional’s license or certification under applicable state law, on the basis of that healthcare professional’s actual or perceived: race; ethnicity; color; religion; national origin, including language; sex, including sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; age; disability; height; weight; or any combination thereof.

(g) A healthcare entity shall provide the following information in a notice to enrollees of a health-benefit plan regarding the nondiscrimination requirements of this section:

(1) A statement that the health-benefit plan does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under applicable state law, including this section;

(2) Instructions on how an enrollee may file a grievance regarding discrimination;

(3) The healthcare entity’s internet website where an enrollee may file a grievance, if available; and

(4) The healthcare entity’s telephone number that an enrollee may use to file a grievance regarding discrimination.

(h) A healthcare entity or health-benefit plan found to have violated any provision of this section shall be subject to the penalty and enforcement provisions of chapters 14 and 14.5 of title 42, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.