Rhode Island House Bill H6384

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/4/25
• Refer: 6/4/25
• Report Pass: 6/16/25
• Engrossed: 6/18/25
• Enrolled: 6/20/25

Caption

Grants the director of the department of health the authority to approve or deny any applications for professional licensure pending before certain boards of licensure that have been unable to establish a quorum for 30 business days.

Impact

The enactment of H6384 would create a necessary mechanism to avoid unnecessary delays in licensure applications due to quorum issues. This could enhance the responsiveness of the healthcare system in Rhode Island by allowing qualified healthcare providers from other jurisdictions to enter the market more quickly, which is especially crucial during public health crises. By allowing a centralized authority to make decisions in this domain, it aims to ensure that patient care is not compromised due to administrative stagnation.

Summary

House Bill H6384 seeks to address the bottleneck in the professional licensing process for healthcare providers in Rhode Island. This bill would empower the director of the Department of Health to approve or deny applications for professional licensure when the relevant boards are unable to establish a quorum for a period of over thirty business days. The intention behind this bill is to streamline and expedite the licensing process during situations where boards are incapacitated, particularly in public health emergencies or other significant delays.

Contention

Notably, while this bill is designed to facilitate healthcare availability, there may be concerns regarding the authority vested in the director of Health. Critics might argue that the bill could undermine the role of professional boards that traditionally ensure that licensing standards are upheld, as the responsibility for these decisions shifts from the boards to a single office. Questions may arise about the adequacy of oversight and checks on the director's powers, particularly in the realm of public health decision-making.