Rhode Island

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISORDERLY CONDUCT - Criminalizes and sets mandatory minimum sentences for the unlawful interference with traffic upon the federal and state highways of this state.

TAXATION -- CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEM PRODUCTS - Defines an alternative nicotine product as any noncombustible product without tobacco leaf but nicotine from another source and also taxes alternative nicotine products at $2.00 per container up to 20 units.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Requires insurers to pay electronic claims for healthcare coverage within 14 calendar days of receipt. Permits healthcare providers to dispute claim denials within 60 days and empowers the secretary of EOHHS to establish penalties for violations.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- LICENSES GENERALLY - Authorizes the town of Scituate to issue a total of three (3) Class A liquor licenses.

INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS - Provides that for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, payors would rely upon criteria which reflect generally accepted standards of care when developing coverage.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM - Allows the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC) as the state agency that has the authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care to obtain maximal health outcomes.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 2004--HEALTH INSURANCE OVERSIGHT - Requires health insurance commissioner to conduct a review of health insurance benefit mandates, including an analysis of the impact on premium costs, conducted every 5 yrs and report findings and recommendations to governor, senate president and speaker.

INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT - Requires insurance companies to prove that a healthcare service or procedure is not medically necessary.

EDUCATION -- MAINTENANCE OF ORDER ON CAMPUS - Requires that all campus police officers be equipped with ballistic body armor.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Prohibits insurance companies from paying a rate that is less than the approved Medicaid rate set by the executive office of health and human services.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Mandates all health insurance contracts, plans, or policies provide the same reimbursement to independent healthcare facilities as that of hospital affiliated facilities where the same healthcare service is provided.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Mandates health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST - Permits non-sworn public safety officers/security guards at private colleges/universities to detain individuals for no longer than 30 minutes within the campus’s jurisdiction if the officer or guard believes the person committed a criminal offense.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION - Requires a natural gas and electric utility company to read the meters of all ratepayers on a quarterly basis. The utility would be required to provide a formula, used to create estimated bills, to the PUC in order to send estimated bills.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - Repeals the energy efficiency charge.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- TERM LIMITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - Establishes a term limit of twelve years for members serving in the general assembly.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH PROGRAM - Requires that any costs, tariffs or other mandates related to the state’s renewable energy growth program be reviewed and approved by the general assembly.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AUTOLOGOUS OR DIRECT BLOOD DONATIONS - Provides for autologous blood donations.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MORATORIUM ON NET METERING, LONG-TERM CONTRACTS AND SUBSIDIES FOR HEAT PUMPS - Places a moratorium on net metering contracts, subsidies for heat pumps and long-term contracts for the purchasing of solar or wind energy.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY SECURITY ACT - Excludes nuclear power from the office of energy resources and division of public utilities from participation, procuring and entering into long-term contracts.