HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC) (Creates a 9 member commission to study and make recommendations on the delivery of healthcare services at RIDOC, and who reports back to the House no later than January 5, 2027, and whose life would expire on March 5, 2027.)

H7216

2026 -- H 7216
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LC003944
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF
HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY
OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC)

Introduced By:
Representatives Perez, Messier, Santucci, Quattrocchi, Shallcross Smith,
Fellela, Azzinaro, Fascia, Hull, and J. Lombardi

Date Introduced:
January 21, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
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WHEREAS, RIDOC's mission “is to maintain a safe and secure correctional system that
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prioritizes the well-being of staff, incarcerated individuals, and the community”; and
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WHEREAS, The Health Care Services Unit is constitutionally mandated to provide
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medical, dental, and behavioral health care to the incarcerated inmate population who are either
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sentenced or awaiting trial within all facilities of RIDOC; and
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WHEREAS, RIDOC has an on-site comprehensive medical program in each facility
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provided by internists and generalists under the clinical supervision of the Medical Programs
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Director; and
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WHEREAS, In late 2023/early 2024, RIDOC included six Adult Correctional Institutions
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with an average population of 2,300 to 2,500 inmates and around 7,900 persons awaiting trial,
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with a significant number requiring medical services, including mental health and psychiatric
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care, and treatment for substance use disorders; and
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WHEREAS, By mid 2023 it was estimated that, between 15 and 20 percent of Rhode
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Island's prison population were considered severely and persistently mentally ill; and
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WHEREAS, As of January 2023, 40 percent of Rhode Island's prison population were
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receiving psychiatric services, 31 percent were receiving mental health counseling, and 70 to 80
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percent have histories of substance use; and
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WHEREAS, RIDOC has faced issues with the delivery of health care, including limited

1
access to mental health care and necessary substance use disorder treatments; and
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WHEREAS, A lack of consistent and adequate medical treatment can have disastrous and
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fatal consequences; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
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consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House
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of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the
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Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of
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Corrections, or designee; one of whom shall be the Medical Director of the Rhode Island
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Department of Corrections, or designee; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Attorney
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General, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of
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Health, or designee; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of an inmates’ rights group, to
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be appointed by the Speaker of the House.
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In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study
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commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing
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authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and analysis of
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the delivery of healthcare services at Rhode Island’s correctional institutions and provide
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recommendations to address concerns and deficiencies in the delivery of these healthcare
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services.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
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the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters
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for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the
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House of Representatives no later than January 5, 2027, and said commission shall expire on
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March 5, 2027.
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LC003944 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF
HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY
OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC)
***
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This resolution would create a nine (9) member special legislative study commission
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whose purpose it would be to study and provide recommendations for improvements in the
3
delivery of health care services at RIDOC, and who would report back to the House no later than
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January 5, 2027, and whose life would expire on March 5, 2027.
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LC003944
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