Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0462 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3
4	4
5	5	2025 -- S 0462
6	6	========
7	7	LC001372
8	8	========
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
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADV ISORY
16	16	COMMITTEE AND PILOT PROGRAM
17	17	Introduced By: Senators Murray, Lauria, Lawson, McKenney, Bissaillon, Kallman,
18	18	DiMario, Felag, Mack, and Urso
19	19	Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
20	20	Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
21	21
22	22
23	23	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
24	24	SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 23-12.10 of the General Laws entitled "Harm Reduction 1
25	25	Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program." is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
26	26	CHAPTER 23-12.10 3
27	27	Harm Reduction Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program. [Expires March 1, 2026.] 4
28	28	CHAPTER 23-12.10 5
29	29	HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROGRAM 6
30	30	SECTION 2. Section 23-12.10-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.10 entitled "Harm 7
31	31	Reduction Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program." is hereby amended to read as follows: 8
32	32	23-12.10-1. Purpose and creation — Municipal authorization required. 9
33	33	(a) The purpose of this chapter is to authorize a four-year (4) pilot permanent program to 10
34	34	prevent drug overdoses through the establishment of “harm reduction centers,” which, as used in 11
35	35	this chapter, shall be defined as a community-based resource for health screening, disease 12
36	36	prevention, and recovery assistance where persons may safely consume pre-obtained substances. 13
37	37	Smoking of pre-obtained substances shall also be permitted within the harm reduction center. 14
38	38	(b) Each harm reduction center shall provide the necessary healthcare professionals to 15
39	39	prevent overdose, and shall provide referrals for counseling or other medical treatment that may be 16
40	40	appropriate for persons utilizing the harm reduction center. 17
41	41	(c) The director of the department of health shall promulgate regulations to authorize the 18
42	42
43	43
44	44	LC001372 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	program established by this chapter, and in accordance with § 23-12.10-5. Nothing contained in 1
46	46	this section authorizes a harm reduction center without approval of the municipality in which the 2
47	47	center is proposed. 3
48	48	(d)(1) Any harm reduction center proposed to be operated pursuant to the provisions of this 4
49	49	chapter shall require municipal authorization and approval prior to opening or operating in any 5
50	50	community within this state. 6
51	51	(2) As used in this chapter, the term “municipal authorization and approval” means an 7
52	52	express affirmative vote by the city or town council, or the equivalent governing body, of any 8
53	53	municipality where a harm reduction center is proposed to be located, which affirmative vote 9
54	54	approves: 10
55	55	(i) The opening and operation of the proposed harm reduction center; 11
56	56	(ii) The exact location of the proposed harm reduction center, which shall include street 12
57	57	address and plat and lot number or other applicable number as used by the municipality’s tax 13
58	58	assessor; and 14
59	59	(iii) An express authorization as to the hours of operation of the proposed harm reduction 15
60	60	center. 16
61	61	(e) Each harm reduction center approved for operation pursuant to the provisions of this 17
62	62	chapter shall cease operations on or before March 1, 2026, unless an act of the general assembly 18
63	63	expressly authorizes the continuation of the operation of the harm reduction center. 19
64	64	SECTION 3. Section 23-12.10-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.10 entitled "Harm 20
65	65	Reduction Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program." is hereby repealed. 21
66	66	23-12.10-6. Sunset. 22
67	67	On or before January 31, 2026, the director of the department of health and the attorney 23
68	68	general shall submit to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the senate, 24
69	69	recommendations as to continuation of the provisions of this chapter, and unless extended by the 25
70	70	general assembly, the provisions of this chapter shall sunset and expire on March 1, 2026. 26
71	71	SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage. 27
72	72	========
73	73	LC001372
74	74	========
75	75
76	76
77	77	LC001372 - Page 3 of 3
78	78	EXPLANATION
79	79	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
80	80	OF
81	81	A N A C T
82	82	RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY
83	83	COMMITTEE AND PILOT PROGRAM
84	84	***
85	85	This act removes the sunset provision of the four (4) year pilot program to prevent drug 1
86	86	overdoses through the establishment of harm reduction centers and creates a permanent program 2
87	87	for harm reduction centers. 3
88	88	This act would take effect upon passage. 4
89	89	========
90	90	LC001372
91	91	========
92	92