AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND FIRE SERVICES TRAINING FUND ACT (Establishes the Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund.)

S2020

2026 -- S 2020
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LC003186
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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 -- RHODE ISLAND FIRE
SERVICES TRAINING FUND ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Burke, DiPalma, Felag, LaMountain, Tikoian, Sosnowski,
Ciccone, Famiglietti, and Appollonio

Date Introduced:
January 09, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND
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GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 28.11
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RHODE ISLAND FIRE SERVICES TRAINING FUND ACT
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42-28.11-1. Title and purpose.

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This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund
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Act.” The purpose of this chapter is to create a stable, dedicated funding source for statewide fire
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service training by establishing a twenty-five hundredths percent (0.25%) assessment on property
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and casualty insurance premiums.
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42-28.11-2. Rhode Island fire services training fund establishment.

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A restricted, non-lapsing Rhode Island fire services training fund within the department of
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public safety is hereby created to support the Rhode Island fire academy and statewide fire service
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training.
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42-28.11-3. Assessment on insurers.

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(a) On January 1, 2028 and every January 1 thereafter every insurance company authorized
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to write property and casualty insurance in Rhode Island, for every property and casualty insurance
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policy issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, shall remit an annual assessment equal to
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twenty-five hundredths percent (0.25%) of all premiums collected the prior calendar year on:

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(1) Homeowners insurance;
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(2) Dwelling fire policies;
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(3) Commercial property insurance;
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(4) Commercial multi-peril insurance policies;
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(5) Inland marine insurance policies; and
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(6) Other property and casualty insurance lines as defined by the department of business
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regulation.
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(b) The assessment shall be in addition to all other fees or taxes and shall not be passed
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onto policyholders as a specific line-item surcharge.
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(c) Payments shall be due on January 1 annually.
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(d) All assessments and interest shall be deposited into the Rhode Island fire services
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training fund. Interest on any late payment shall be calculated pursuant to the provisions of § 9-21-
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10.
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(e) The state fire marshal shall administer the fund and disburse fund proceeds as
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authorized by the general assembly. Unexpended balances shall not revert to the general fund, but
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shall remain in the Rhode Island fire services training fund.
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42-28.11-4. Authorized use of funds.

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As authorized by the general assembly the funds may be used for:
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(1) Rhode Island Fire Academy operations;
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(2) Recruit training;
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(3) Certification programs;
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(4) Hazardous materials, technical rescue, marine, and EMS training;
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(5) Capital improvements and live-burn facilities;
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(6) Mobile training units;
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(7) Curriculum and instructor development; and
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(8) Municipal training grants.
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42-28.11-5. Reporting.

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An annual report shall be submitted by January 31 of each year, beginning in 2028, to the
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governor and general assembly detailing revenues, expenditures, training delivered, and municipal
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participation.
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42-28.11-6. Severability.

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If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstances is held
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invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be
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given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this

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chapter are declared to be severable.
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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 -- RHODE ISLAND FIRE
SERVICES TRAINING FUND ACT
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This act would establish the Rhode Island fire services training fund, a restricted, non-
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lapsing fund within the department of public safety to support the Rhode Island Fire Academy and
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statewide fire service training. An annual assessment equal to twenty-five hundredths percent
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(0.25%) of all written premiums for the prior calendar year would be used to fund the program.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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