Title 42
State Affairs and Government

Chapter 66.13
Supported Decision-Making Act

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-66.13-6

§ 42-66.13-6. Supporters.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by a supported decision-making agreement, a supporter may do all of the following:

(1) Assist the principal in understanding information, options, responsibilities, and consequences of the principal’s life decisions, including those decisions relating to the principal’s affairs or support services;

(2) Help the principal access, obtain, and understand any information that is relevant to any given life decision, including medical, psychological, or educational decisions, or any treatment records or records necessary to manage the principal’s affairs or support services;

(3) Assist the principal in finding, obtaining, making appointments for, and implementing the principal’s support services or plans for support services;

(4) Help the principal monitor information about the principal’s affairs or support services, including keeping track of future necessary or recommended services; and

(5) Ascertain the wishes and decisions of the principal; assist in communicating those wishes and decisions to other persons; and advocate to ensure that the wishes and decisions of the principal are implemented.

(b) Any of the following are disqualified from acting as a supporter:

(1) A person who is an employer or employee of the principal, unless the person is an immediate family member of the principal;

(2) A person directly providing paid support services to the principal, unless the person is an immediate family member of the principal; and

(3) An individual against whom the principal has obtained an order of protection from abuse or an individual who is the subject of a civil or criminal order prohibiting contact with the principal.

(c) A supporter shall act with the care, competence, and diligence ordinarily exercised by individuals in similar circumstances, with due regard either to the possession of, or lack of, special skills or expertise.

History of Section.
P.L. 2019, ch. 113, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 124, § 1.