AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL (Clarifies the process of depositing settlement funds from non-multi-state initiatives and require that settlements could not be spent without express general assembly authorization.)

H7287

2026 -- H 7287
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LC004277
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL

Introduced By:
Representatives Nardone, Place, Chippendale, and Newberry

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 42-9-2 and 42-9-19.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-9 entitled
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"Department of Attorney General" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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42-9-2. Powers and duties of department — Division of juvenile prosecution
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established.
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(a) The attorney general, the assistant attorneys general, and those special assistant
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attorneys general who have been designated by the attorney general, shall exercise the powers and
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duties prescribed in and shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and of §§ 12-1-4 — 12-1-12,
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and in all other provisions of the general laws and public laws insofar as they relate to the powers
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and duties of the attorney general. The attorney general shall file notice with the secretary of state
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and the clerk of the superior court.
The attorney general, assistant attorneys general, and those
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special assistant attorneys general shall only have, and be limited by, the powers and duties
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prescribed to them by the general and public laws.
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(b) There shall be established within the department of attorney general a division of
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juvenile prosecution which shall prosecute all delinquency petitions based on the commission of
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any offense which if committed by an adult would constitute a capital offense, all delinquency
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petitions based on the commission of an offense which if committed by an adult would constitute
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the offense of assault with intent to commit a capital offense, all delinquency petitions based upon
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the commission of an offense which if committed by an adult would constitute the offense of

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manslaughter, and all assault offenses which if committed by an adult would constitute a felony.
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The division of juvenile prosecution shall also have jurisdiction to file petitions pursuant to §§ 14-
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1-7 and 14-1-7.1.
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42-9-19.1. Acceptance of settlements — Non-multi-state initiatives — Attorney
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general settlement restricted account.
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(a) There is hereby established a restricted receipt account within the department of
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attorney general entitled “attorney general non-multi-state initiative restricted-receipt account.”
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Funds consisting of attorneys’ fees previously recovered pursuant to the Distributors — Rhode
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Island Settlement Agreement resolving opioid-related claims against McKesson Corporation,
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Cardinal Health, Inc., and/or AmerisourceBergen Corporation in the case State of Rhode Island v.
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Purdue Pharma L.P. et al., CA No. PC-2018-4455, shall be deposited into this restricted receipt
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account.
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(b) The following funds shall also be deposited into this restricted receipt account:
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(1) All future attorneys’ fees recovered from the case referenced in subsection (a) of this
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section; and
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(2) Twenty percent (20%) of attorneys’ fees recovered in other non-multi-state initiatives.
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(c) This restricted receipt account shall be used to pay for staff and other operational
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expenses of the department.
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(d) Expenditures from this restricted receipt account shall be subject to the annual
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appropriation process and approval by the general assembly.
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(e) All settlement proceeds from non-multi-state initiatives, except those deposited in this
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restricted receipt account pursuant to this section, shall be deposited into the general fund.
No
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settlement proceeds shall be directed or appropriated to any party without the express authorization
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of the general assembly.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL
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This act would clarify the process of depositing settlement funds from non-multi-state
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initiatives and require that settlements could not be spent without express general assembly
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authorization.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004277
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LC004277 - Page 3 of 3