JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER HEALTHCARE PLAN (Creates an 11-member commission to study and make recommendations on a statewide teacher healthcare plan, and would report quarterly as of September 1, 2026, and submit a final report by September 1, 2027, and expires on December 31, 2027.)

H7974

2026 -- H 7974
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LC005673
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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
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER
HEALTHCARE PLAN

Introduced By:
Representatives Shallcross Smith, Cruz, Casimiro, and Fellela

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Labor
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WHEREAS, Public school teachers are essential to the educational, economic, and civil
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wellbeing of the State of Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, Access to affordable, quality healthcare is a critical component of recruiting,
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retaining, and supporting a stable and effective workforce; and
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WHEREAS, Public school teacher health insurance coverage in Rhode Island is currently
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negotiated and administered on a district-by-district basis, resulting in significant disparities in
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coverage, cost-sharing, and access to care across municipalities; and
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WHEREAS, A statewide healthcare plan for public school teachers in Rhode Island may
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offer opportunities to leverage economies of scale, standardize baseline benefits, promote equity
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among educators regardless of district, and provide greater predictability in education and
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municipal budgeting; 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 eleven (11) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island House
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of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; two (2) of whom shall be
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members of the Rhode Island Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of
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whom shall be the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Education, or designee; one
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of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or
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designee; one of whom shall be a municipal official, to be appointed by the President of the
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Senate; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island School Superintendents

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Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, or
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designee; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of labor unions representing public school
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teachers, one of whom to be appointed by the Executive Director of the National Education
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Association of Rhode Island, and one of whom to be appointed by the President of the Rhode
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Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals.
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In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study
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commission, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu
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of a legislator.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide
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recommendations to the General Assembly regarding the creation of a statewide teacher
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healthcare plan including, but not limited to:
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● The current structure of public school teacher health insurance coverage in Rhode
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Island, including costs, benefits, and administrative arrangements across school districts;
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● A review of best practices and models from other states;
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● Potential cost savings and efficiencies associated with a statewide plan, including
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impacts on state and municipal budgets;
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● The effects of a statewide plan on healthcare access, quality, and affordability;
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● Implications for collective bargaining rights and existing collective bargaining
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agreements;
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● The effect of healthcare premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and quality of coverage on
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workforce recruitment and retention;
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● The financial and operational implications for municipalities; and
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● An evaluation of any statutory or constitutional changes that may be required to
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implement a statewide teacher healthcare plan.
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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 the President of the Senate and organize and shall select
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a chairperson and vice-chairperson, one of whom shall be a member of the House and one of
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whom shall be a member of the Senate.
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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 or
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reimbursement for expenses.
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All departments and agencies of the state, municipalities, school districts, and other
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relevant stakeholders shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to
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said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to

LC005673 - Page 2 of 4
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facilitate the purpose of this resolution.
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The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide
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suitable quarters, staff and clerical support for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its progress quarterly to the General
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Assembly beginning on September 1, 2026, and shall submit a final report with findings and
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recommendations to the General Assembly on or before September 1, 2027, and said commission
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shall expire on December 31, 2027.
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LC005673 - Page 3 of 4
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER
HEALTHCARE PLAN
***
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This resolution would create an eleven (11) member special legislative commission to
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study and provide recommendations for the creation of a statewide teacher healthcare plan, and
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who would report its progress quarterly to the General Assembly beginning on September 1,
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2026, and would submit a final report to the General Assembly on or before September 1, 2027,
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and would expire on December 31, 2027.
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LC005673
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