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S2753A
2026 -- S 2753 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC005346/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
URGING THE GOVERNOR TO CONDUCT A VETERANS HOME WORKFORCE
ANALYSIS TO GUIDE POLICY AND BUDGET DECISIONS
Introduced By:
Senators Ujifusa, DiPalma, Felag, Euer, Kallman, Appollonio, E
Morgan, Murray, Zurier, and Britto
Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026
Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol is operating below licensed bed
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capacity, including not being able to open a thirty-two (32) unit Foxtrot wing for almost six (6)
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years, due to persistent workforce shortages affecting nurses, certified nursing assistants, and
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support staff; and
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WHEREAS, Operating below licensed capacity does not properly address the needs of
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Rhode Island veterans, causes undue stress on families and healthcare workers, and reduces
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federal per diem reimbursement and increases per-resident costs, compounding the fiscal and
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human consequences of each year the crisis goes unresolved; and
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WHEREAS, The staffing crisis has persisted in part because policy and budget proposals
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have not been grounded in comprehensive analysis of what compensation and workforce
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structures are actually required to recruit and retain qualified staff; now, therefore, be it
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RESOLVED, That the Rhode Island Senate hereby urges and requests that:
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(1) The Governor direct the Department of Administration to conduct a comprehensive
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analysis of why the Veterans Home cannot hire and retain enough qualified staff to operate at full
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capacity, examining factors including: wage competitiveness, shift differentials, retention
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incentives, housing and commute barriers, scheduling flexibility and career advancement
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opportunities;
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(2) The Department of Administration, based on that analysis, develop a corrective action
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plan including a timeline that identifies how to reach full occupancy; and
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(3) The Governor's Fiscal Year 2027-2028 budget proposal for the Veterans Home reflect
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and take steps to implement the corrective action plan's recommendations; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of state be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of Rhode Island, the Director of
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Administration, the Director of the Office of Veterans Services, the Veterans Home
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Administrator, and the Chairs of the Senate and House Finance Committees.
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