H 8255Funding & Budget

Making an Appropriation of $200,000 to the Rhode Island Free Clinic

This bill appropriates $200,000 to the Rhode Island Free Clinic to provide free medical care to uninsured adults for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

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Introduced Mar 6, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution authorizes a direct legislative appropriation of $200,000 from the Rhode Island state treasury to the Rhode Island Free Clinic for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are designated to support the clinic's ongoing operations and its core mission of delivering healthcare to vulnerable populations within the state. As a funding mechanism, the bill directs the state controller to draw orders upon the general treasurer to pay the specified sum, or portions of it as required, upon the receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

The Rhode Island Free Clinic, which was established in 1998, serves a critical role in the state's healthcare safety net. It provides comprehensive medical care and preventive health services at no cost to uninsured adults who cannot otherwise afford healthcare. By offering these services, the clinic helps to reduce the burden on emergency rooms and ensures that low-income residents have access to necessary medical attention.

Furthermore, the clinic functions as an educational training site for aspiring healthcare professionals, contributing to the development of the state's future medical workforce. This appropriation would provide essential financial support to maintain and potentially expand these dual functions of patient care and medical training during the upcoming fiscal year. The resolution has been introduced and referred to the House Finance Committee for further review and consideration.

For younger readers

This bill gives $200,000 of state money to the Rhode Island Free Clinic. This clinic helps adults who don't have health insurance get the medical care they need for free. It also helps train students who want to become doctors or nurses.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Uninsured adults in Rhode IslandLow-income individualsHealthcare students and traineesRhode Island Free Clinic staff and volunteers

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low - This is a standard legislative appropriation of state funds to a non-profit organization for a public purpose.

Estimated cost

$200,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Expands access to essential healthcare for low-income and uninsured individuals.
Supports preventive medicine, which can help reduce long-term healthcare disparities.
Provides valuable training opportunities for future healthcare workers in the state.
The funding amount ($200,000) may be insufficient to meet the high demand for free healthcare.
Relies on a one-time or annual appropriation rather than establishing permanent, systemic healthcare funding.
Progressives generally prefer universal healthcare coverage over relying on charity clinics to fill gaps in the system.

For Conservatives

Supports a private, non-profit solution to healthcare access rather than expanding government-run healthcare programs.
Helps reduce the financial burden on hospital emergency rooms by providing preventive care to the uninsured.
Provides workforce training for future healthcare professionals, supporting the local economy.
Increases state spending by $200,000.
Uses taxpayer dollars to directly fund a private non-profit organization.
May be viewed as an unnecessary government expenditure if the clinic is capable of raising private philanthropic funds.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Free Clinic was founded in 1998, with the mission “to provide free, comprehensive medical care and preventive health services to adults who have no health insurance and cannot afford those services; and to serve as an educational training site for aspiring healthcare professionals”; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) to the Rhode Island Free Clinic; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $200,0 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FREE CLINIC *** This resolution would appropriate the sum of $200,000 to the Rhode Island Free Clinic.