JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $10,000,000 to the Rhode Island Foundation, to generate funds to support public education through distributions to local education agency foundations. The funds would be disbursed over 5 years.)

H7813

2026 -- H 7813
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LC003212
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION
TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION

Introduced By:
Representative Lauren H. Carson

Date Introduced:
February 12, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated to the RHODE ISLAND
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FOUNDATION, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, the sum of ten million dollars
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($10,00,000), out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for fiscal year 2026-
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2027, for the Rhode Island Foundation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Foundation”) to
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support other education foundations within the state. The funds shall be appropriated over five
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(5) years, two million dollars ($2,000,000) annually. The Rhode Island Foundation shall establish
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an account wherein the funds from this appropriation shall be deposited as principal in an
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interest-bearing account to generate funds in support of public education. Annually thereafter,
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four percent (4%) of the principal amount shall be distributed by the Rhode Island Foundation to
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education foundations which have been established by local public school districts; provided, as
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follows: (1) Local education agency foundations shall register annually by September 1 to be
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included in the distribution of funds from the Foundation, pursuant to this resolution, in the
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following calendar year; and (2) These funds shall be distributed in accordance with criteria
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adopted by the local education agency foundations for receipt of these funds and grant awards.
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Provided further, these funds and distributions shall be used by the local public school education
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foundations to distribute grants to teachers within the district to support, promote and enhance
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innovative teaching and learning. The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw
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their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be

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from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $10,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION
TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION
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This joint resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of ten million dollars
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($10,000,000) to the Rhode Island Foundation, to generate funds to support public education
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through distributions to local education agency foundations. The funds would be disbursed over
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five (5) years.
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The joint resolution would require that local education agencies’ foundations would
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register annually by September 1 to be included in the distribution of funds from the Foundation,
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pursuant to this resolution, and funds would be distributed in accordance with criteria adopted by
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the local education agencies’ foundations for receipt of these funds.
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