Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5101 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5101
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7	7	LC000110
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- EMERGENCY SHELTER S
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Ajello, Stewart, and Felix
17	17	Date Introduced: January 22, 2025
18	18	Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled "STATE AFFAIRS AND 1
23	23	GOVERNMENT" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
24	24	CHAPTER 128.4 3
25	25	EMERGENCY SHELTERS 4
26	26	42-128.4-1. Definitions. 5
27	27	As used in this chapter, the term: 6
28	28	(1) "Emergency shelter" means a facility with overnight sleeping accommodations, the 7
29	29	primary purpose of which is to provide temporary shelter for the homeless in general or for specific 8
30	30	populations of the homeless. 9
31	31	(2) "Housing resources commission" or "commission" means the Rhode Island housing 10
32	32	resources commission established pursuant to § 42-128-4. 11
33	33	(3) "Licensing agency" means the secretary of housing established pursuant to § 42-64.19-12
34	34	3(a)(4), or designee. 13
35	35	42-128.4-2. Licensing and exemption. 14
36	36	(a) The housing resources commission shall establish an application for an emergency 15
37	37	shelter license no later than January 1, 2026. Upon receipt of an application for a license, the 16
38	38	licensing agency shall issue a license if the applicant meets the requirements established pursuant 17
39	39	to this chapter. A license issued under the provisions of this section shall be the property of the 18
40	40	state and loaned to the licensee, and it shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed 19
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43	43	LC000110 - Page 2 of 4
44	44	premises. Each license shall be issued only for the premises and persons named in the application, 1
45	45	and shall not be transferable or assignable except with the written approval of the commission. No 2
46	46	fee shall be charged for the license. 3
47	47	(b) Any emergency shelter established due to a natural disaster, impending dangerous 4
48	48	storm, or other event, including, but not limited to, fires, hurricanes or blizzards, shall be exempt 5
49	49	from this chapter. 6
50	50	42-128.4-3. Minimum shelter standards. 7
51	51	(a) All emergency shelters that are required to be licensed shall: 8
52	52	(1) Provide a safe place for a person to temporarily reside. Safety of residents and staff 9
53	53	shall be the shelters’ top priority; 10
54	54	(2) Make drinking water available to residents and proper bathroom facilities as required 11
55	55	by the state building code in chapter 27.3 of title 23; 12
56	56	(3) Develop a written policy regarding the privacy and confidentiality of its residents as 13
57	57	required by state and federal law; and 14
58	58	(4) Establish an approved procedure for the safe transfer of a person seeking shelter or 15
59	59	having been sheltered at the licensed premises, who can no longer reside in the shelter at the 16
60	60	licensed premises in question. The established procedure shall be posted in a conspicuous place on 17
61	61	the licensed premises that is in an area accessed frequently by residents. 18
62	62	(b) The housing resources commission shall promulgate additional minimum shelter 19
63	63	standards that shall apply to emergency shelters that are at least partially funded by the state, no 20
64	64	later than December 1, 2026. 21
65	65	42-128.4-4. Grievance procedure. 22
66	66	The housing resource commission shall promulgate a grievance procedure designed to 23
67	67	address complaints of persons who have resided or attempted to reside in any emergency shelter 24
68	68	within this state. Grievance procedures shall be posted in the licensed premises in a conspicuous 25
69	69	place accessed frequently by residents. 26
70	70	42-128.4-5. Fees prohibited. 27
71	71	Any fees or payments of money for the purposes of providing shelter and personal care 28
72	72	items, including, but not limited to, linens, toiletries and diapers shall be prohibited unless 29
73	73	otherwise allowable by state or federal law. Resident funds provided to a shelter for the purposes 30
74	74	of teaching financial literacy or creating a "savings account" are permitted if the funds are returned 31
75	75	to the resident at the appropriate time or upon request. 32
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79	79	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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86	86	EXPLANATION
87	87	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
88	88	OF
89	89	A N A C T
90	90	RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- EMERGENCY SHELTE RS
91	91	***
92	92	This act would establish rules and procedures for licensing emergency shelters for 1
93	93	homeless persons, including setting minimum standards and prohibiting the charging of fees to the 2
94	94	residents. 3
95	95	This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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97	97	LC000110
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