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S 2315Benefit Programs

Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals - Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals

This bill allows relatives, not just parents, to receive financial aid for caring for disabled family members at home.

Held for study
Population
Affected
8
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee Senate Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the "Parent Deinstitutionalization Subsidy Aid Program" by renaming it the "Deinstitutionalization Subsidy Aid Program." The primary change expands eligibility for the program. Previously, only parents could receive financial subsidies to care for a family member with developmental disabilities or behavioral health issues at home instead of in a state institution. This bill allows an "appropriate relative," such as a sibling or other interested family member, to qualify for this subsidy and take custody of the patient if the parents are unable to provide the necessary care.

For younger readers

Sometimes, people with disabilities need a lot of special help and might have to live in a hospital or a special building. The government gives money to moms and dads so they can take care of these people at home instead. This new rule says that if a mom or dad can't take care of the person, other family members—like a brother, sister, or aunt—can get that money to help them take care of the person at home, too. This helps families stay together and keeps people out of the hospital.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Individuals with developmental disabilitiesSiblings of disabled adultsExtended family membersDepartment of Behavioral Healthcare Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH)Aging parents of disabled adults
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Promotes social justice and dignity by allowing individuals with disabilities to live in a familiar, community-based home environment rather than being confined to state institutions.
  • Strengthens the social safety net by providing financial resources to extended family members who are willing to care for vulnerable relatives, recognizing that diverse family structures exist beyond the traditional nuclear family.
  • Potentially improves the quality of life for the disabled by ensuring they are cared for by loved ones who are personally invested in their well-being, rather than by rotational staff in a facility.
  • May inadvertently encourage the state to rely on underpaid family labor for complex care needs rather than investing in high-quality, fully staffed public facilities and professional unionized care jobs.
  • The subsidy provided may not be sufficient to cover the true cost of care, potentially locking lower-income relatives into a cycle of poverty while they provide full-time care.
  • Could lead to a reduction in funding or support for state institutions, leaving those without any family options with fewer or lower-quality resources.
For Conservatives
  • Reduces the size and scope of government by moving care from state-run institutions to private homes, which is generally more cost-effective for taxpayers.
  • Reinforces the importance of the family unit taking responsibility for its members, rather than relying solely on the state for long-term care.
  • Provides a mechanism to decrease the population of state employees and reduced overhead costs associated with maintaining large public facilities.
  • Expands the number of people eligible for government handouts, potentially increasing the overall welfare budget if more relatives apply than anticipated.
  • Creates potential risks for fraud where distant relatives might seek custody of vulnerable individuals primarily to collect the monthly government check.
  • Increases bureaucracy by requiring state agencies to vet, monitor, and license a wider range of relative households.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 4 additions · 3 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 40.1-1-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-1 entitled "Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals" is hereby amended to read as follows: 40.1-1-10. Parent deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program Deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program.

(a) There is hereby established within the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals a deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program. The program is founded for the express purpose of providing financial assistance or subsidy aid to the qualified parent applicant, or if the parent is not able to care for the person then an appropriate relative as defined in this chapter, who is found and certified to be qualified by the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to receive and take into his or her care, custody, and control a person under the legal authority and control of the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals who is and has been a resident or patient of the Dr. Joseph H. Ladd Center, the Dr. U.E. Zambarano Memorial Hospital, at the institute of mental health or the general hospital, or a resident in an out-of-state institution, who would have been eligible for placement in the Dr. Joseph H. Ladd Center, Dr. U.E. Zambarano Memorial Hospital or the institute of mental health or the general hospital for a period of time not less than ninety (90) days, or would be a resident or patient of one of the facilities listed in this section for a period of ninety (90) days or more if a specialized community program were not developed to meet the person’s particular and/or unique needs and meets the eligibility criteria contained in § 40.1-21-4.3.

(b) The general assembly hereby finds that such a parent deinstitutionalization program would promote the general welfare of the citizens of the state and further the purpose of providing deinstitutionalization care, treatment, and training for the institutionalized person and subsidy aid to the qualified parent applicant or an appropriate relative of the institutionalized person. It is further found that the program is established for the purpose of providing subsidy aid to assist and make available non-institutional care, support, and training when it is found to be in the best interests of the health and welfare of the institutionalized person and where that placement may be made and certified by the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to the qualified parent applicant.

(c) The director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals is hereby vested with the authority to promulgate rules and regulations as are deemed necessary and in the public interest to establish and place into operation the parent deinstitutionalization program and authorize the payment of subsidy aid to the qualified parent applicant or an appropriate relative who receives into his or her care, custody, and control a person under the legal authority and control of the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals who is or has been a resident or patient of the Dr. Joseph H. Ladd Center, the Dr. U.E. Zambarano Memorial Hospital, at the institute of mental health or the general hospital or a resident or patient in an out-of-state institution who would have been eligible for placement in the Dr. Joseph H. Ladd Center, Dr. U.E. Zambarano Memorial Hospital, or the institute of mental health, or the general hospital.

(d) Rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (c) shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern:

(1) The establishment of eligibility and other requirements for the qualification and certification of the parent applicant applying for subsidy aid under this chapter;

(2) The establishment of eligibility and other requirements for the qualification and certification of a person to be removed and placed from the Dr. Joseph H. Ladd Center or Dr. U.E. Zambarano Memorial Hospital, or the institute of mental health or the general hospital, under this program as set forth in this chapter or a resident or patient in an out-of-state institution under this program as set forth in this chapter;

(3) The establishment of such other eligibility, certification, and qualification standards and guidelines for the person or the parent applicant or an appropriate relative to which the program applies as may be deemed reasonable and in the public interest;

(4) The establishment of such licensing, regulating, inspection, monitoring, investigation, and evaluation standards and requirements for the placement, care, support, custody, and training of the person as are deemed reasonable and in the public interest under this chapter;

(5) The periodic inspection, review, and evaluation of the care, support, and treatment afforded the person placed in the home of the qualified parent applicant or an appropriate relative under this program and the making and implementation of such recommendations as are deemed necessary for the continued health, safety, and welfare of the person in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(6) The establishment and implementation of such other standards, safeguards, and protections as are deemed necessary and in the public interest to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the person placed under the program or in determining and certifying initial and/or continuing eligibility requirements as the director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall in his or her discretion deem to be necessary and appropriate, including, specifically, the authority to recall and return the child or adult to the custody and control of the state and the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals into any care or placement program as the director may in his or her discretion order and direct, including therein summary removal from the custody of the qualified parent applicant or an appropriate relative and return to the state institution or out-of-state institution.

(e) For the purpose of this chapter the words “qualified parent applicant” shall mean any natural parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent or both natural parents jointly, both adoptive parents jointly, or a court-appointed guardian or both foster parents jointly, or as defined by rules or regulations established by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals who may apply for inclusion in the behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program as set forth in this chapter. For the situation where the natural or adoptive parents are divorced or separated, or where one of the parents is deceased, the words “parent” or “parent applicant” shall mean the parent legally having or giving custody to the person who may apply for inclusion in behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program as set forth in this chapter. (f)(1) For the purpose of this chapter, the words “appropriate relative” shall mean an interested and approved relative of the adult, or adoptive parent(s) or sibling(s) of the adult..

(2) For the purpose of this chapter the words “subsidy aid” shall mean payment or continued payment to a parent applicant pursuant to the rules and regulations established by the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals for deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program as set forth in this chapter.

(g) Alternatives to institutional care. The department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals is hereby directed to develop options, fiscal impact analysis, and recommendations for the expansion of shared living services to siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities who are no longer able to be cared for at home by aging parents. The department shall submit these recommendations to the governor, and to the general assembly by December 31, 2013.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.