=======

art.018/3/018/2/018/1

1-1

ARTICLE 18 SUBSTITUTE A

1-2

RELATING TO OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

1-3

     SECTION 1. Sections 42-7.2.1, 42-7.2-2, 42-7.2-4, 42-7.2-5, 42-7.2-6, 42-7.2-6.1, 42-

1-4

7.2-12 and 42-7.2-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-7.2 entitled ”Office of Health and

1-5

Human Services” are hereby amended to read as follows:

1-6

     42-7.2-1. Statement of intent.-- The purpose of this Chapter is to develop a consumer-

1-7

centered system of publicly-financed state administered health and human services that supports

1-8

access to high quality services, protects the safety of the state's most vulnerable citizens, and

1-9

ensures the efficient use of all available resources by the five (5) four (4) departments responsible

1-10

for the health and human services programs serving all Rhode Islanders and providing direct

1-11

assistance and support services to more than 250,000 individuals and families: the department of

1-12

children, youth, and families; the department of elderly affairs; the department of health; the

1-13

department of human services; and the department of mental health, retardation behavioral

1-14

healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, collectively referred to within as

1-15

"departments". It is recognized that the executive office of health and human services and the

1-16

departments have undertaken a variety of initiatives to further this goal and that they share a

1-17

commitment to continue to work in concert to preserve and promote each other's unique missions

1-18

while striving to attain better outcomes for all the people and communities they serve. However,

1-19

recent and expected changes in federal and state policies and funding priorities that affect the

1-20

financing, organization, and delivery of health and human services programs pose new challenges

1-21

and opportunities that have created an even greater need for structured and formal

1-22

interdepartmental cooperation and collaboration. To meet this need while continuing to build on

1-23

the achievements that have already been made, the interests of all Rhode Islanders will best be

1-24

served by codifying in the state's general laws the purposes and responsibilities of the executive

1-25

office of health and human services and the position of secretary of health and human services.

1-26

     42-7.2-2. Executive office of health and human services . --There is hereby established

1-27

within the executive branch of state government an executive office of health and human services

1-28

to serve as the principal agency of the executive branch of state government for managing the

1-29

departments of children, youth and families, elderly affairs, health, human services, and mental

1-30

health, retardation behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. In this

1-31

capacity, the office shall:

2-1

     (a) Lead the state's five four (4) health and human services departments in order to:

2-2

     (1) Improve the economy, efficiency, coordination, and quality of health and human

2-3

services policy and planning, budgeting and financing.

2-4

     (2) Design strategies and implement best practices that foster service access, consumer

2-5

safety and positive outcomes.

2-6

     (3) Maximize and leverage funds from all available public and private sources, including

2-7

federal financial participation, grants and awards.

2-8

     (4) Increase public confidence by conducting independent reviews of health and human

2-9

services issues in order to promote accountability and coordination across departments.

2-10

     (5) Ensure that state health and human services policies and programs are responsive to

2-11

changing consumer needs and to the network of community providers that deliver assistive

2-12

services and supports on their behalf.

2-13

     (b) Supervise the administrations of Administer the federal and state medical assistance

2-14

programs by acting as in the capacity of the single state agency authorized under title XIX of the

2-15

U.S. Social Security act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396a et seq., notwithstanding any general or public law or

2-16

regulation to the contrary, and exercising exercise such single state agency authority for such

2-17

other federal and state programs as may be designated by the governor. Except as provided for

2-18

herein, nothing in this chapter shall be construed as transferring to the secretary: (1) The the

2-19

powers, duties or functions conferred upon the departments by Rhode Island general laws for the

2-20

administration of the foregoing federal and state programs; or (2) The administrative

2-21

responsibility for the preparation and submission of any state plans, state plan amendments, or

2-22

federal waiver applications, as may be approved from time to time by the secretary with respect

2-23

to the foregoing federal and state programs management and operations of programs or services

2-24

approved for federal financial participation under the authority of the Medicaid state agency.

2-25

     42-7.2-4. Responsibilities of the secretary.-- (a) The secretary shall be responsible to

2-26

the governor for supervising the executive office of health and human services and for managing

2-27

and providing strategic leadership and direction to the five four (4) departments.

2-28

     (b) Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in this chapter, the governor shall appoint the

2-29

directors of the departments within the executive office of health and human services. Directors

2-30

appointed to those departments shall continue to be subject to the advice and consent of the senate

2-31

and shall continue to hold office as set forth in §§ 42-6-1 et seq. and 42-72-1(c).

2-32

     42-7.2-5. Duties of the secretary.--The secretary shall be subject to the direction and

2-33

supervision of the governor for the oversight, coordination and cohesive direction of state

2-34

administered health and human services and in ensuring the laws are faithfully executed, not

3-1

withstanding any law to the contrary. In this capacity, the Secretary of Health and Human

3-2

Services shall be authorized to:

3-3

     (1) Coordinate the administration and financing of health care benefits, human services

3-4

and programs including those authorized by the Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver and,

3-5

as applicable, the Medicaid State Plan under Title XIX of the US Social Security Act. However,

3-6

nothing in this section shall be construed as transferring to the secretary the powers, duties or

3-7

functions conferred upon the departments by Rhode Island public and general laws for the

3-8

administration of federal/state programs financed in whole or in part with Medicaid funds or the

3-9

administrative responsibility for the preparation and submission of any state plans, state plan

3-10

amendments, or authorized federal waiver applications, once approved by the secretary.

3-11

     (2) Serve as the governor's chief advisor and liaison to federal policymakers on Medicaid

3-12

reform issues as well as the principal point of contact in the state on any such related matters.

3-13

     (3) Review and ensure the coordination of any Global Consumer Choice Compact

3-14

Waiver requests and renewals as well as any initiatives and proposals requiring amendments to

3-15

the Medicaid state plan or category one (I) or two (II) or three (III) changes, as described in the

3-16

special terms and conditions of the Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver with the potential

3-17

to affect the scope, amount or duration of publicly-funded health care services, provider payments

3-18

or reimbursements, or access to or the availability of benefits and services as provided by Rhode

3-19

Island general and public laws. The secretary shall consider whether any such changes are legally

3-20

and fiscally sound and consistent with the state's policy and budget priorities. The secretary shall

3-21

also assess whether a proposed change is capable of obtaining the necessary approvals from

3-22

federal officials and achieving the expected positive consumer outcomes. Department directors

3-23

shall, within the timelines specified, provide any information and resources the secretary deems

3-24

necessary in order to perform the reviews authorized in this section;

3-25

     (4) Beginning in 2006, prepare and submit to the governor, the chairpersons of the house

3-26

and senate finance committees, the caseload estimating conference, and to the joint legislative

3-27

committee for health care oversight, by no later than March 15 of each year, a comprehensive

3-28

overview of all Medicaid expenditures outcomes, and utilization rates. The overview shall

3-29

include, but not be limited to, the following information:

3-30

     (i) Expenditures under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, as amended;

3-31

     (ii) Expenditures, outcomes and utilization rates by population and sub-population served

3-32

(e.g. families with children, children with disabilities, children in foster care, children receiving

3-33

adoption assistance, adults with disabilities, and the elderly);

4-34

     (iii) Expenditures, outcomes and utilization rates by each state department or other

4-35

municipal or public entity receiving federal reimbursement under Titles XIX and XXI of the

4-36

Social Security Act, as amended; and

4-37

     (iv) Expenditures, outcomes and utilization rates by type of service and/or service

4-38

provider. The directors of the departments, as well as local governments and school departments,

4-39

shall assist and cooperate with the secretary in fulfilling this responsibility by providing whatever

4-40

resources, information and support shall be necessary.

4-41

     (5) Resolve administrative, jurisdictional, operational, program, or policy conflicts

4-42

among departments and their executive staffs and make necessary recommendations to the

4-43

governor.

4-44

     (6) Assure continued progress toward improving the quality, the economy, the

4-45

accountability and the efficiency of state-administered health and human services. In this

4-46

capacity, the secretary shall:

4-47

     (i) Direct implementation of reforms in the human resources practices of the departments

4-48

that streamline and upgrade services, achieve greater economies of scale and establish the

4-49

coordinated system of the staff education, cross- training, and career development services

4-50

necessary to recruit and retain a highly-skilled, responsive, and engaged health and human

4-51

services workforce;

4-52

     (ii) Encourage the departments to utilize consumer-centered approaches to service design

4-53

and delivery that expand their capacity to respond efficiently and responsibly to the diverse and

4-54

changing needs of the people and communities they serve;

4-55

     (iii) Develop all opportunities to maximize resources by leveraging the state's purchasing

4-56

power, centralizing fiscal service functions related to budget, finance, and procurement,

4-57

centralizing communication, policy analysis and planning, and information systems and data

4-58

management, pursuing alternative funding sources through grants, awards and partnerships and

4-59

securing all available federal financial participation for programs and services provided through

4-60

the departments;

4-61

     (iv) Improve the coordination and efficiency of health and human services legal functions

4-62

by centralizing adjudicative and legal services and overseeing their timely and judicious

4-63

administration;

4-64

     (v) Facilitate the rebalancing of the long term system by creating an assessment and

4-65

coordination organization or unit for the expressed purpose of developing and implementing

4-66

procedures across departments that ensure that the appropriate publicly-funded health services are

4-67

provided at the right time and in the most appropriate and least restrictive setting; and

5-68

     (vi) Strengthen health and human services program integrity, quality control and

5-69

collections, and recovery activities by consolidating functions within the office in a single unit

5-70

that ensures all affected parties pay their fair share of the cost of services and are aware of

5-71

alternative financing.

5-72

     (vii) Broaden access to publicly funded food and nutrition services by consolidating

5-73

agency programs and initiatives to eliminate duplication and overlap and improve the availability

5-74

and quality of services; and

5-75

     (viii) Assure protective services are available to vulnerable elders and adults with

5-76

developmental and other disabilities by reorganizing existing services, establishing new services

5-77

where gaps exist and centralizing administrative responsibility for oversight of all related

5-78

initiatives and programs.

5-79

     (7) Prepare and integrate comprehensive budgets for the health and human services

5-80

departments and any other functions and duties assigned to the office. The budgets shall be

5-81

submitted to the state budget office by the secretary, for consideration by the governor, on behalf

5-82

of the state's health and human services in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 35-3-4 of

5-83

the Rhode Island general laws.

5-84

     (8) Utilize objective data to evaluate health and human services policy goals, resource use

5-85

and outcome evaluation and to perform short and long-term policy planning and development.

5-86

     (9) Establishment of an integrated approach to interdepartmental information and data

5-87

management that complements and furthers the goals of the CHOICES initiative and that will

5-88

facilitate the transition to consumer-centered system of state administered health and human

5-89

services.

5-90

     (10) At the direction of the governor or the general assembly, conduct independent

5-91

reviews of state-administered health and human services programs, policies and related agency

5-92

actions and activities and assist the department directors in identifying strategies to address any

5-93

issues or areas of concern that may emerge thereof. The department directors shall provide any

5-94

information and assistance deemed necessary by the secretary when undertaking such

5-95

independent reviews.

5-96

     (11) Provide regular and timely reports to the governor and make recommendations with

5-97

respect to the state's health and human services agenda.

5-98

     (12) Employ such personnel and contract for such consulting services as may be required

5-99

to perform the powers and duties lawfully conferred upon the secretary.

5-100

     (13) Implement the provisions of any general or public law or regulation related to the

5-101

disclosure, confidentiality and privacy of any information or records, in the possession or under

5-102

the control of the executive office or the departments assigned to the executive office, that may be

6-1

developed or acquired for purposes directly connected with the secretary's duties set forth herein.

6-2

     (14) Hold the director of each health and human services department accountable for

6-3

their administrative, fiscal and program actions in the conduct of the respective powers and duties

6-4

of their agencies.

6-5

     42-7.2-6. Departments assigned to the executive office - Powers and duties. --(a) The

6-6

departments assigned to the secretary shall:

6-7

     (1) Exercise their respective powers and duties in accordance with their statutory

6-8

authority and the general policy established by the governor or by the secretary acting on behalf

6-9

of the governor or in accordance with the powers and authorities conferred upon the secretary by

6-10

this chapter;

6-11

     (2) Provide such assistance or resources as may be requested or required by the governor

6-12

and/or the secretary; and

6-13

     (3) Provide such records and information as may be requested or required by the

6-14

governor and/or the secretary to the extent allowed under the provisions of any applicable general

6-15

or public law, regulation, or agreement relating to the confidentiality, privacy or disclosure of

6-16

such records or information.

6-17

     (4) Forward to the secretary copies of all reports to the governor.

6-18

     (b) Except as provided herein, no provision of this chapter or application thereof shall be

6-19

construed to limit or otherwise restrict the department of children, youth and families, the

6-20

department of elderly affairs, the department of health, the department of human services, and the

6-21

department of mental health, retardation behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and

6-22

hospitals from fulfilling any statutory requirement or complying with any valid rule or regulation.

6-23

     42-7.2-6.1. Transfer of powers and functions.-- (a) There are hereby transferred to the

6-24

executive office of health and human services the powers and functions of the departments with

6-25

respect to the following:

6-26

     (1) By July 1, 2007, fiscal services including budget preparation and review, financial

6-27

management, purchasing and accounting and any related functions and duties deemed necessary

6-28

by the secretary;

6-29

     (2) By July 1, 2007, legal services including applying and interpreting the law, oversight

6-30

to the rule-making process, and administrative adjudication duties and any related functions and

6-31

duties deemed necessary by the secretary;

6-32

     (3) By September 1, 2007, communications including those functions and services related

6-33

to government relations, public education and outreach and media relations and any related

6-34

functions and duties deemed necessary by the secretary;

7-1

     (4) By March 1, 2008, policy analysis and planning including those functions and

7-2

services related to the policy development, planning and evaluation and any related functions and

7-3

duties deemed necessary by the secretary;

7-4

     (5) By June 30, 2008, information systems and data management including the financing,

7-5

development and maintenance of all data-bases and information systems and platforms as well as

7-6

any related operations deemed necessary by the secretary;

7-7

     (6) By October 1, 2009, assessment and coordination for long-term care including those

7-8

functions related to determining level of care or need for services, development of individual

7-9

service/care plans and planning, identification of service options, the pricing of service options

7-10

and choice counseling; and

7-11

     (7) By October 1, 2009, program integrity, quality control and collection and recovery

7-12

functions including any that detect fraud and abuse or assure that beneficiaries, providers, and

7-13

third-parties pay their fair share of the cost of services, as well as any that promote alternatives to

7-14

publicly financed services, such as the long-term care health insurance partnership.

7-15

     (8) By January 1, 2011, client protective services including any such services provided to

7-16

children, elders and adults with developmental and other disabilities;

7-17

     (9) [Deleted by P.L. 2010, ch. 23, art. 7, § 1].

7-18

     (10) By July 1, 2012, the HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs.

7-19

     (b) The secretary shall determine in collaboration with the department directors whether

7-20

the officers, employees, agencies, advisory councils, committees, commissions, and task forces of

7-21

the departments who were performing such functions shall be transferred to the office.

7-22

     (c) In the transference of such functions, the secretary shall be responsible for ensuring:

7-23

     (1) Minimal disruption of services to consumers;

7-24

     (2) Elimination of duplication of functions and operations;

7-25

     (3) Services are coordinated and functions are consolidated where appropriate;

7-26

     (4) Clear lines of authority are delineated and followed;

7-27

     (5) Cost-savings are achieved whenever feasible;

7-28

     (6) Program application and eligibility determination processes are coordinated and,

7-29

where feasible, integrated; and

7-30

     (7) State and federal funds available to the office and the entities therein are allocated and

7-31

utilized for service delivery to the fullest extent possible.

7-32

     (d) Except as provided herein, no provision of this chapter or application thereof shall be

7-33

construed to limit or otherwise restrict the departments of children, youth and families, human

7-34

services, elderly affairs, health, and mental health, retardation behavioral healthcare,

8-1

developmental disabilities, and hospitals from fulfilling any statutory requirement or complying

8-2

with any regulation deemed otherwise valid.

8-3

     (e) The secretary shall prepare and submit to the leadership of the house and senate

8-4

finance committees, by no later than January 1, 2010, a plan for restructuring functional

8-5

responsibilities across the departments to establish a consumer centered integrated system of

8-6

health and human services that provides high quality and cost-effective services at the right time

8-7

and in the right setting across the life-cycle.

8-8

     42-7.2-12. Medicaid program study.-- (a) The secretary of the executive office of health

8-9

and human services shall conduct a study of the Medicaid programs administered by the state to

8-10

review and analyze the options available for reducing or stabilizing the level of uninsured Rhode

8-11

Islanders and containing Medicaid spending.

8-12

     (1) As part of this process, the study shall consider the flexibility afforded the state under

8-13

the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 and any other changes in federal Medicaid policy or

8-14

program requirements occurring on or before December 31, 2006, as well as the various

8-15

approaches proposed and/or adopted by other states through federal waivers, state plan

8-16

amendments, public-private partnerships, and other initiatives.

8-17

     (2) In exploring these options, the study shall examine fully the overall administrative

8-18

efficiency of each program for children and families, elders and adults with disabilities and any

8-19

such factors that may affect access and/or cost including, but not limited to, coverage groups,

8-20

benefits, delivery systems, and applicable cost-sharing requirements.

8-21

     (b) The secretary shall ensure that the study focuses broadly on the Medicaid programs

8-22

administered by the executive office of health and human services and all five (5) of the state's

8-23

five (5) four (4) health and human services departments, irrespective of the source or manner in

8-24

which funds are budgeted or allocated. The directors of the departments shall cooperate with the

8-25

secretary in preparing this study and provide any information and/or resources the secretary

8-26

deems necessary to assess fully the short and long-term implications of the options under review

8-27

both for the state and the people and the communities the departments serve. The secretary shall

8-28

submit a report and recommendations based on the findings of the study to the general assembly

8-29

and the governor no later than March 1, 2007.

8-30

     42-7.2-16. Medicaid System Reform 2008. -- (a) The executive office of health and

8-31

human services, in conjunction with the department of human services, the department of elderly

8-32

affairs, the department of children youth and families, the department of health and the

8-33

department of mental health, retardation behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities, and

8-34

hospitals, is authorized to design options that reform the Medicaid program so that it is a person-

9-1

centered, financially sustainable, cost-effective, and opportunity driven program that: utilizes

9-2

competitive and value based purchasing to maximize the available service options, promote

9-3

accountability and transparency, and encourage and reward healthy outcomes, independence, and

9-4

responsible choices; promotes efficiencies and the coordination of services across all health and

9-5

human services agencies; and ensures the state will have a fiscally sound source of publicly-

9-6

financed health care for Rhode Islanders in need.

9-7

     (b) Principles and Goals. In developing and implementing this system of reform, the

9-8

executive office of health and human services and the five (5) four (4) health and human services

9-9

departments shall pursue the following principles and goals:

9-10

     (1) Empower consumers to make reasoned and cost-effective choices about their health

9-11

by providing them with the information and array of service options they need and offering

9-12

rewards for healthy decisions;

9-13

     (2) Encourage personal responsibility by assuring the information available to

9-14

beneficiaries is easy to understand and accurate, provide that a fiscal intermediary is provided

9-15

when necessary, and adequate access to needed services;

9-16

     (3) When appropriate, promote community-based care solutions by transitioning

9-17

beneficiaries from institutional settings back into the community and by providing the needed

9-18

assistance and supports to beneficiaries requiring long-term care or residential services who wish

9-19

to remain, or are better served in the community;

9-20

     (4) Enable consumers to receive individualized health care that is outcome-oriented,

9-21

focused on prevention, disease management, recovery and maintaining independence;

9-22

     (5) Promote competition between health care providers to ensure best value purchasing,

9-23

to leverage resources and to create opportunities for improving service quality and performance;

9-24

     (6) Redesign purchasing and payment methods to assure fiscal accountability and

9-25

encourage and to reward service quality and cost-effectiveness by tying reimbursements to

9-26

evidence-based performance measures and standards, including those related to patient

9-27

satisfaction; and

9-28

     (7) Continually improve technology to take advantage of recent innovations and advances

9-29

that help decision makers, consumers and providers to make informed and cost-effective

9-30

decisions regarding health care.

9-31

     (c) The executive office of health and human services shall annually submit a report to

9-32

the governor and the general assembly commencing on a date no later than July 1, 2009

9-33

describing the status of the administration and implementation of the Global Waiver Compact.

10-34

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-7.2 of the General Laws entitled ”Office of Health and Human

10-35

Service” is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

10-36

     42-7.2-17. Statutory reference to the office of health and human services.--

10-37

Notwithstanding other statutory references to the department of human services, wherever in the

10-38

general or public laws, or any rule or regulation, any reference shall appear to the "department of

10-39

human services" or to "department" as it relates to any responsibilities for and/or to Medicaid,

10-40

unless the context otherwise requires, it shall be deemed to mean "the office of health and human

10-41

services."

10-42

     SECTION 3. Section 42-18-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-18 entitled "Department

10-43

of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

10-44

     42-18-5. Transfer of powers and functions from department of health. -- (a) There

10-45

are hereby transferred to the department of administration:

10-46

      (1) Those functions of the department of health which were administered through or with

10-47

respect to departmental programs in the performance of strategic planning as defined in section

10-48

42-11-10(c);

10-49

      (2) All officers, employees, agencies, advisory councils, committees, commissions, and

10-50

task forces of the department of health who were performing strategic planning functions as

10-51

defined in section 42-11-10(c); and

10-52

      (3) So much of other functions or parts of functions and employees and resources,

10-53

physical and funded, related thereto of the director of health as are incidental to and necessary for

10-54

the performance of the functions transferred by subdivisions (1) and (2).

10-55

      (b) There is hereby transferred to the department of human services the administration

10-56

and management of the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children

10-57

(WIC) and all functions and resources associated therewith.

10-58

      (c) There is hereby transferred to the department of human services executive office of

10-59

health and human services the HIV/AIDS direct services programs care and treatment programs

10-60

and all functions and resources associated therewith. The department of health shall retain the

10-61

HIV surveillance and prevention programs and all functions and resources associated therewith.

10-62

     SECTION 4. Section 35-17-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 35-17 entitled "Medical

10-63

Assistance and Public Assistance Caseload Estimating Conferences" is hereby amended to read

10-64

as follows:

10-65

     35-17-1. Purpose and membership. -- (a) In order to provide for a more stable and

10-66

accurate method of financial planning and budgeting, it is hereby declared the intention of the

10-67

legislature that there be a procedure for the determination of official estimates of anticipated

10-68

medical assistance expenditures and public assistance caseloads, upon which the executive budget

11-1

shall be based and for which appropriations by the general assembly shall be made.

11-2

      (b) The state budget officer, the house fiscal advisor, and the senate fiscal advisor shall

11-3

meet in regularly scheduled caseload estimating conferences (C.E.C.). These conferences shall be

11-4

open public meetings.

11-5

      (c) The chairpersonship of each regularly scheduled C.E.C. will rotate among the state

11-6

budget officer, the house fiscal advisor, and the senate fiscal advisor, hereinafter referred to as

11-7

principals. The schedule shall be arranged so that no chairperson shall preside over two (2)

11-8

successive regularly scheduled conferences on the same subject.

11-9

      (d) Representatives of all state agencies are to participate in all conferences for which

11-10

their input is germane.

11-11

      (e) The department of human services shall provide monthly data to the members of the

11-12

caseload estimating conference by the fifteenth day of the following month. Monthly data shall

11-13

include, but is not limited to, actual caseloads and expenditures for the following case assistance

11-14

programs: temporary assistance to needy families, SSI federal program Rhode Island Works, and

11-15

SSI state program, general public assistance, and child care, state food stamp program, and

11-16

weatherization. The executive office of health and human services report shall include report

11-17

relevant caseload information and expenditures for the following medical assistance categories:

11-18

hospitals, long-term care, nursing homes, managed care, pharmacy, special education, and all

11-19

other medical services. In the category of managed care, caseload information and expenditures

11-20

for the following populations shall be separately identified and reported: children with

11-21

disabilities, children in foster care, and children receiving adoption assistance. The information

11-22

shall include the number of Medicaid recipients whose estate may be subject to a recovery, the

11-23

anticipated recoveries from the estate and the total recoveries collected each month.

11-24

     SECTION 5. Chapter 40-6 of the General Laws entitled "Public Assistance Act" is

11-25

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

11-26

     40-6-27.2. Supplementary cash assistance payment for certain supplemental security

11-27

income recipients. -- There is hereby established a two hundred six dollars ($206) monthly

11-28

payment for disabled and elderly individuals who, on or after July 1, 2012, receive the state

11-29

supplementary assistance payment for an individual in state licensed assisted living residence

11-30

under section 40-6-27 and further reside in an assisted living facility that is not eligible to receive

11-31

funding under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. section 1381 et seq.

11-32

     SECTION 6. This article shall take effect on July 1, 2012.