S 2377Funding & Budget

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

Appropriates $200,000 from the state treasury to the Rhode Island Free Clinic for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Introduced

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 30, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution authorizes an appropriation of $200,000 from the Rhode Island state treasury to the Rhode Island Free Clinic for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds will be drawn by the state controller upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers, ensuring the money is distributed as required by the clinic.

The Rhode Island Free Clinic is a non-profit organization established in 1998 that provides comprehensive medical care and preventive health services to uninsured adults who cannot afford healthcare. Additionally, the clinic serves as an educational training site for aspiring healthcare professionals. This state funding aims to support the clinic's ongoing mission to serve vulnerable populations and train the future medical workforce in the state.

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 individualsAspiring healthcare professionals and studentsRhode Island Free Clinic staff and volunteersRhode Island taxpayers

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. The legislature has the clear constitutional authority to appropriate state funds from the treasury.

Estimated cost

$200,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Expands healthcare access for uninsured and low-income Rhode Islanders.
Funds preventive care, which helps reduce long-term health disparities in vulnerable communities.
Supports the education and training of future healthcare professionals.
Directly addresses systemic healthcare inequalities by funding free services.
The $200,000 amount may be insufficient to meet the full needs of the state's uninsured population.
Relies on a charity and free clinic model rather than establishing universal state healthcare coverage.
A specific fiscal year appropriation does not guarantee long-term, sustainable funding for the clinic.

For Conservatives

Supports a community-based, non-profit solution to healthcare rather than expanding government bureaucracy.
Preventive care keeps uninsured individuals out of expensive emergency rooms, ultimately saving taxpayer money.
Fosters workforce development by providing a practical training site for aspiring healthcare professionals.
Increases state spending and draws $200,000 from the general treasury.
Uses taxpayer dollars to subsidize a private, non-profit organization.
May be viewed as an unnecessary state intervention by those who believe charity care should be funded entirely by private donations.

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.