Establishes Children's Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund to provide finance assistance to families for medical expenses not covered by state or federal programs or insurance contract.
Summary
S0050 creates a new Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund within Rhode Island law to help families pay medical expenses for children age 21 and under when those costs are not covered by insurance or other state or federal programs. The bill defines catastrophic illness by reference to a family’s income and medical costs, establishes eligibility rules, and authorizes financial assistance for treatment, hospital care, drugs, nursing care, and physician services. It also creates a nine-member commission to administer the fund, set application and reimbursement procedures, determine awards, and adopt rules and regulations.
The bill finances the fund through a $1.50 annual surcharge per employee on employers subject to the state employment security laws, with the Department of Labor and Training collecting the surcharge and the general treasurer depositing the proceeds into the fund. The commission may also seek reimbursement from families that later recover damages in lawsuits for the same medical expenses, and it must report annually to the governor and legislative committees on program participation, expenditures, and family financial information. The act takes effect upon passage.
Impact
The bill adds a new chapter to Title 23 of the Rhode Island General Laws and creates a new state-administered assistance program for pediatric catastrophic illness. It affects employers subject to employment security laws by imposing a new annual per-employee surcharge, and it assigns administrative duties to the Department of Labor and Training, the general treasurer, and a newly created commission. Families of eligible children, especially those facing high uninsured medical costs, would gain a potential source of reimbursement or direct assistance.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition, with the Senate passing the bill 36-0 on June 3, 2025. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate or public testimony in the supplied materials. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed favorably as a child health and family assistance measure.
Contention
No major contention is evident in the provided record. The main policy tradeoff is funding the program through an employer surcharge, which could raise concerns for businesses and employers, while supporters would likely emphasize the need to help families facing extraordinary pediatric medical costs. The bill also includes reimbursement provisions if families later recover damages in court, but no specific objections or amendments are shown in the supplied materials.