JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PARENT INFORMATION NETWORK (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to RIPIN.)

H8339

2026 -- H 8339
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LC006168
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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 $500,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PARENT
INFORMATION NETWORK

Introduced By:
Representatives Shanley, Bennett, Edwards, Solomon, McNamara,
Read, Tanzi, and Hopkins

Date Introduced:
March 20, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) is a statewide
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nonprofit of peer professionals on a mission to help Rhode Islanders of all abilities, ages, and
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background get the support they need to thrive; and
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WHEREAS, RIPIN helps Rhode Islanders navigate special education, health care, and
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healthy aging; and
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WHEREAS, RIPIN is a peer-led organization founded 35 years ago by parents of
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children with disabilities, and most of RIPIN’s board and staff are parents or caregivers of a loved
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one with a disability or special healthcare need; and
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WHEREAS, RIPIN delivers large-scale, front-line impact, with more than 115,000 client
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encounters in 2025; and
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WHEREAS, RIPIN is Rhode Island’s federally-designated parent training and
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information center for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
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(IDEA), and in 2025 RIPIN’s special education team provided individualized support to a record
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number of more than 2,000 families; reached 3,000 families with live workshops and 20,000
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families with pre-recorded online content; and attended 650 individualized education program
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meetings with families; and
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WHEREAS, RIPIN’s health insurance consumer assistance call center serves 3,000
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Rhode Islanders annually and has saved Rhode Islanders more than $10,000,000 since 2018 by
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resolving coverage problems and preventing avoidable costs; and

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WHEREAS, RIPIN also provides peer support to families caring for vulnerable older
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adults, helping more older adults get the support they need to live healthy and independent lives
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in the community; and
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WHEREAS, RIPIN is a key systems partner for state agencies, under contract to provide
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peer support and parent engagement for priority initiatives such as Early Intervention and
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Maternal Child Health; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the sum of five hundred thousand
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dollars ($500,000) to the Rhode Island Parent Information Network; and the state controller is
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hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of
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said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly
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authenticated vouchers.
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LC006168
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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 $500,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PARENT
INFORMATION NETWORK
***
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This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to RIPIN.
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LC006168
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LC006168 - Page 3 of 3