AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (Increases the number of state childcare licensing inspectors to meet the national recommended average of one inspector for every fifty (50) to sixty (60) childcare providers.)

S3024

2026 -- S 3024
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LC006014
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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 -- DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES

Introduced By:
Senators Bissaillon, Murray, DiMario, LaMountain, Ciccone, DiPalma,
and Lawson

Date Introduced:
March 05, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 42-12-25 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12 entitled "Department
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of Human Services" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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42-12-25. Childcare training, accreditation, technical assistance, and monitoring.
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(a) The general assembly shall annually appropriate to the department of human services
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such funds as it deems necessary to enable the department to assist providers in obtaining national
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accreditation, to expand childcare staff development and training, and for technical assistance and
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monitoring, including but not limited to, activities that provide:
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(1) Training opportunities for childcare providers which foster a coordinated link between
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the providers and the schools;
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(2) Specialized training for providers of infant/toddler and/or pre-adolescent care;
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(3) Evaluation of childcare providers and programs through parent surveys and formal
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evaluation techniques;
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(4) Technical assistance and training for current and prospective non-English speaking
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providers.
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(b) The general assembly shall annually appropriate to the department of human services
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funding for the hiring of additional state childcare licensing inspectors in order to meet the National
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Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) recommended average of one inspector for
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every fifty (50) to sixty (60) childcare providers.

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(b)
(c)
The director of the department of human services is further authorized to request
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such appropriation for each state fiscal year as the director deems necessary to carry out the
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programs and purposes 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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES
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This act would increase the number of state childcare licensing inspectors to meet the
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national recommended average of one inspector for every fifty (50) to sixty (60) childcare
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providers.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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