AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES (Requires hospital emergency rooms and free-standing emergency care facilities to offer and provide pregnancy prevention medication to victims of sexual assault.)

S2853

2026 -- S 2853
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LC004975
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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Introduced By:
Senators Murray, Valverde, Gu, Urso, DiMario, Mack, Euer, Lauria,
Ujifusa, and Vargas

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 23-17-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17 entitled "Licensing
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of Healthcare Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-17-26. Emergency health care.
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(a) Every healthcare facility that has an emergency medical-care unit, including
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freestanding emergency-care facilities, shall provide to every person prompt, life-saving, medical-
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care treatment in an emergency, and a sexual-assault examination for victims of sexual assault,
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without discrimination on account of economic status or source of payment, and without delaying
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treatment for the purpose of a prior discussion of the source of payment unless the delay can be
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imposed without material risk to the health of the person.
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(b) Every healthcare facility as provided in subsection (a) of this section that provides
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emergency treatment to a victim of sexual assault shall promptly provide:
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(1) Medically and factually accurate and objective written information prepared by the
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director of the department of health about emergency contraception;
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(2) Information about the availability of emergency contraception; and
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(3) Upon request by the victim, emergency contraception.
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(b)
(c)
Violations of this section shall be reported to the director of the state department of
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health who shall investigate the violations as the director deems appropriate.
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(d) The director of the department of health may promulgate rules, regulations, and/or
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guidance to carry out the provisions of this section.

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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LICENSING OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
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This act would require hospital emergency rooms and free-standing emergency care
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facilities to offer and provide pregnancy prevention medication to victims of sexual assault.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004975
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LC004975 - Page 3 of 3