Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7216: HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIV
Status: Failed, April 2, 2026
HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC) (Creates a 9 member commission to study and make recommendations on the delivery of healthcare services at RIDOC, and who reports back to the House no later than January 5, 2027, and whose life would expire on March 5, 2027.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 21, 2026:
2026 -- H 7216 ======== LC003944 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ HOUSERESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC) Introduced By: Representatives Perez, Messier, Santucci, Quattrocchi, Shallcross Smith, Fellela, Azzinaro, Fascia, Hull, and J. Lombardi Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary WHEREAS, RIDOC's mission "is to maintain a safe and secure correctional system that prioritizes the well-being of staff, incarcerated individuals, and the community"; and WHEREAS, The Health Care Services Unit is constitutionally mandated to provide medical, dental, and behavioral health care to the incarcerated inmate population who are either sentenced or awaiting trial within all facilities of RIDOC; and WHEREAS, RIDOC has an on-site comprehensive medical program in each facility provided by internists and generalists under the clinical supervision of the Medical Programs Director; and WHEREAS, In late 2023/early 2024, RIDOC included six Adult Correctional Institutions with an average population of 2,300 to 2,500 inmates and around 7,900 persons awaiting trial, with a significant number requiring medical services, including mental health and psychiatric care, and treatment for substance use disorders; and WHEREAS, By mid 2023 it was estimated that, between 15 and 20 …