Rhode Island

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- 988 CALL CENTER FUNDING AND OPERATIONS ACT - Establishes a fund and the operations necessary for a hotline for suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis management. Also instates a monthly surcharge on telephone lines to fund the 988 call center.

HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM - Amends the Rhode Island works program to allow lawful permanent residents to receive benefits without a waiting period and increases the monthly cash benefit to one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty level effective July 1, 2026.

HUMAN SERVICES -- RHODE ISLAND CHILDCARE IS ESSENTIAL ACT - Expand eligibility for the childcare assistance program to meet the federal eligibility benchmark.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- OPTIONAL RETIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS - Affords an option for police and firefighters to receive retirement allowances, without reduction, who seek retirement after twenty (20) years of service, upon reaching age fifty-seven (57).

TOWNS AND CITIES -- OPTIONAL RETIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS - Authorizes an annual two and one-half percent (2.5%) escalation for all active and retired police and firefighter's retirement pension allowance, compounded each year on January 1 following the year of retirement and continuing yearly, on that date.

TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION - Exempts meals served in licensed childcare centers from taxation.

HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM - Provides that a family eligible for cash assistance pursuant to § 40-5.2-11, shall if qualified, be provided SNAP benefits.

EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT - Changes the teacher and state employees' retirement benefit calculations' cutoff date from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2009, for all retirement members eligible to and who retire on or after the new July 1, 2009, cutoff date.

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS - Adds probation and parole officers to the list of state law enforcement professionals, for purpose of retirement on service allowance.

EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT - Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse. Grant a 3.34% COLA for eligible retirees. Provided a modification reducing federal AGI for public pension benefits from the RI employees retirement system.

HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM - Adds a new category to the eligibility of childcare assistance to include a "protective services category" which would include foster or kinship children served through DCYF.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS - Updates the description of the early intervention program and the agency responsible for the program under Part C of the federal Individuals with disabilities education act.

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- ADMINISTRATION - Changes the teacher and state employees' retirement benefit calculations' cutoff date from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2012, for all retirement members eligible to and who retire on or after the new July 1, 2012, cutoff date.