EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, the official text

H8164 2026 -- H 8164 ======== LC005600 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Tanzi, Spears, and McEntee Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Sections 16-32-2, 16-32-9, 16-32-27 and 16-32-34 of the General Laws in 2 Chapter 16-32 entitled University of Rhode Island [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island 3 Board of Education Act] are hereby amended to read as follows: 4 16-32-2. Board of Trustees established. 5 (a) There is hereby created a board of trustees for the university of Rhode Island, sometimes 6 referred to as the “board” or “board of trustees,” which shall be and is constituted a public 7 corporation, empowered to sue and be sued in its own name; to borrow money; to compromise and 8 settle claims; to have a seal; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or 9 convenient to the exercise of its powers; and to exercise all the powers, in addition to those 10 specifically enumerated in this chapter, usually appertaining to public corporations entrusted with 11 control of postsecondary educational institutions and functions. Upon its organization, the board 12 shall be vested with the legal title to all property, real and personal, now owned by and/or under 13 the control or in the custody of the council on postsecondary education for the use of the university 14 of Rhode Island, including all its departments, divisions, and branches, sometimes referred to as 15 the property , and as such the provisions of chapter 6 of title 37 ( acquisition of land ), including 16 the rules, regulations, and procedures of the committee promulgated thereunder, and the provisions 17 of chapter 7 of title 37 ( management and disposal of property ), shall not apply to the board or the 18 property except for approval of proposed actions to sell the property or to lease the property for a 19 period greater than five (5) years . 1 (b) The board is empowered to hold and operate the property in trust for the state; to 2 acquire, hold, and dispose of the property and other like property as deemed necessary for the 3 execution of its corporate purposes , and the board may, in its discretion, adopt or promulgate its 4 own rules and regulations with respect thereto . The board is made successor to all powers, rights, 5 duties, and privileges for the university of Rhode Island formerly belonging to the council on 6 postsecondary education pertaining to postsecondary education and the board of governors for 7 higher education. 8 (c) The board shall be the employer of record for the university. It shall retain all authority 9 formerly vested in the council on postsecondary education and the board of education regarding 10 the employment of faculty and staff at the university of Rhode Island. The board shall appoint the 11 president of the university and shall review their performance on an annual basis. 12 (1) The board is empowered to enter into contracts and agreements with the council on 13 postsecondary education and/or the department of administration related to employee benefits, 14 including but not limited to retirement benefits, health, dental, vision and life insurance, disability 15 insurance, workers’ compensation, and tuition waivers to maximize the state’s and university’s 16 purchasing and investment portfolio and educational opportunities for the benefit of its employees. 17 (2) The board is empowered to enter into collective bargaining agreements as appropriate 18 with its employees and all existing collective bargaining agreements in effect when the board is 19 established pursuant to § 16-32-2.2 shall be transferred from the council on postsecondary 20 education to the board. 21 (d) The board shall make rules and regulations for the control and use of all public 22 properties and highways under its care, and for violations of those rules and regulations; penalties, 23 up to one hundred dollars ($100) and costs for any one offense, may be imposed by any district 24 court or police court in the city or town where the violation occurs; and, in general, the board shall 25 take all actions necessary for the proper execution of the powers and duties granted to, and imposed 26 upon, the board by the terms of this chapter. 27 (e) The board shall make and maintain rules and regulations pursuant to chapter 2 of title 28 37 to implement its responsibilities as a public agency for procurement purposes as defined in § 29 37-2-7(16) . The university’s vice president of administration and finance is designated the chief 30 purchasing officer for the university. 31 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 37-2-22, small procurements made by the board 32 and the university shall not exceed an aggregate amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for 33 construction and ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for all other purchases, regardless of the source of 34 funding, and shall be made in accordance with small purchase regulations promulgated by the LC005600 - Page 2 of 11 1 board. These thresholds may be increased annually through an amendment to the small purchase 2 regulations promulgated by the board of trustees, to reflect the annual increase in the federal 3 Consumer Price Index published by the United States Department of Labor from the date of any 4 prior adjustment any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, 5 and except for procurements directly related to projects funded by the State of Rhode Island general 6 obligation bonds, the board and the university shall not be required to comply with chapter 2 of 7 title 37 ( state purchases ); and, in general, the board and the university shall contract on their own 8 behalf and pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the board as described in this 9 subsection (e) of this section for all other purchases . 10 (f) The board shall evaluate data on which to base performance of the university as 11 described in subsection (g) of this section which shall be defined by the president of the university. 12 These measures may include and incorporate outcomes or goals from multiple, previous years. The 13 lack of information from previous years, however, will not affect the use of performance-based 14 measures. 15 (g) The university of Rhode Island shall have unique measures consistent with its purpose, 16 role, scope, and mission. The board shall provide faculty and students an opportunity to provide 17 input on the development of performance measures. 18 (1) The performance-based measures shall include, but not be limited to, the following 19 metrics: 20 (i) The number and percentage, including growth in relation to enrollment and prior years 21 of bachelor’s degrees awarded to first-time, full-time students within four (4) years and six (6) 22 years, including summer graduates; 23 (ii) The number of degrees awarded that are tied to Rhode Island’s high demand, high- 24 wage employment opportunities consistent with the institution’s mission; 25 (iii) One metric that applies only to the university, in consultation with the president, which 26 shall consider faculty, staff, and student input; and 27 (iv) Any other metrics that are deemed appropriate by the board. 28 (2) Weight may be assigned to any of the aforementioned metrics to reinforce the mission 29 of the university, the economic needs of the state, and the socio-economic status of the students. 30 (h) The board shall hold the university accountable for developing and implementing 31 transfer pathways for students from the community college of Rhode Island and Rhode Island 32 college. 33 (i) The board shall adopt a process requiring every academic program at the university to 34 accept for credit the advanced placement subject test scores of students who obtain a three (3) or LC005600 - Page 3 of 11 1 better in any advanced placement course. 2 (j) The board shall supervise, coordinate, and/or authorize audits, civil and administrative 3 investigations, and inspections or oversight reviews, when necessary, relating to expenditure of 4 state or federal funds, or to any and all university programs and operations, as well as the 5 procurement of any supplies, services, or construction, by the university. In the course of an audit 6 or investigation, the board authorized auditor(s) shall review statutes and regulations of the 7 university and shall determine if the university is in compliance and shall make recommendations 8 concerning the efficiency of operations, and the effect of such statutes or regulations on internal 9 controls and the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse. The board authorized 10 auditor(s) may recommend policies or procedures that may strengthen internal controls, or assist in 11 the prevention or detection of fraud, waste, and abuse or mismanagement. Any audits conducted 12 shall be transmitted to the office of internal audit and program integrity established in chapter 7.1 13 of title 35. 14 16-32-9. Annual appropriations. 15 (a) The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum as it may deem sufficient for 16 the purpose of defraying the expenses of the university, the appropriation to be expended under the 17 direction of the trustees and officers of the university. The state controller is authorized and directed 18 to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the appropriations or so 19 much of the sums that are necessary for the purposes appropriated, upon the receipt by him or her 20 of proper vouchers as the board of trustees may by rule provide. The board shall receive, review, 21 and adjust the budget for the university and present the budget under the requirements of § 35-3-4. 22 (b) Any tuition or fee increase schedules in effect for the university shall be received by 23 the board of trustees for allocation for the fiscal year for which state appropriations are made to the 24 board by the general assembly; provided that no further increases may be made by the board for 25 the year for which appropriations are made. 26 (c) All housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities at the university shall be self- 27 supporting and no funds shall be appropriated by the general assembly to pay operating expenses, 28 including principal and interest on debt services, and overhead expenses for the facilities. Any debt 29 service costs on general obligation bonds presented to the voters in November 2000 and November 30 2004 or appropriated funds from the Rhode Island capital plan fund or the housing auxiliaries at 31 the university of Rhode Island shall not be subject to this self-supporting requirement in order to 32 provide funds for the building construction and rehabilitation program. 33 (d) The additional costs to achieve self-supporting status shall be by the implementation of 34 a fee schedule of all housing, dining, and other auxiliary facilities, including but not limited to, LC005600 - Page 4 of 11 1 operating expenses, principal, and interest on debt services, and overhead expenses. 2 (e) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (c) of this section or any provisions of this title, to 3 the extent necessary to comply with the provisions of any outstanding bonds issued by the Rhode 4 Island health and educational building corporation or outstanding lease certificates of participation, 5 in either case, issued for the benefit of the university of Rhode Island, the community college of 6 Rhode Island, and/or Rhode Island college, to the extent necessary to comply with the provisions 7 of any such bonds or certificates of participation, the general assembly shall annually appropriate 8 any such sums it deems necessary from educational and general revenues (including, but not limited 9 to tuition) and auxiliary enterprise revenues derived from the university of Rhode Island, the 10 community college of Rhode Island and Rhode Island college, to be allocated by the council on 11 postsecondary education or by the board of trustees, as appropriate, in accordance with the terms 12 of the contracts with such bondholders or certificate holders. 13 (f) Effective retroactively to July 1, 2025, the University of Rhode Island shall be exempt 14 from any limitations imposed on full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. 15 16-32-27. Establishment of landscaping fund. 16 All money received pursuant to the provisions of § 16-52-2(b) shall be deemed to be trust 17 funds for the benefit of the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community 18 College of Rhode Island to be held by the general treasurer in a separate rotary fund for each 19 institution which shall be made available to the presidents of the University of Rhode Island, Rhode 20 Island College, or the Community College of Rhode Island to be applied solely for the purpose of 21 improving landscaping , safety and security, and/or parking facilities at the respective colleges as 22 determined by the presidents of these colleges. 23 16-32-34. Fiscal accounts — Receipts — Petty cash funds. 24 (a) The treasurer of the university of Rhode Island, as appointed by the board of trustees, 25 shall: 26 (1) Keep an accurate account of his or her receipts and expenditures, which shall be audited 27 by the state controller; and 28 (2) Turn over to the general treasurer at monthly intervals all sums of money received by 29 him or her during the preceding month which shall be credited to the proper accounts and funds by 30 the general treasurer. 31 (b) The state controller shall establish an imprest fund or petty cash fund for the use of the 32 treasurer of the university for expenditures of any nature as may be approved by the state controller. 33 (c) Nothing contained in this section or chapter shall prohibit the university from 34 establishing its own internal audit functions and controls, including to conduct post audits, as LC005600 - Page 5 of 11 1 consistent with the provisions of §16-32-2(j). 2 SECTION 2. Section 37-2-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-2 entitled State 3 Purchases is hereby amended to read as follows: 4 37-2-7. Definitions. 5 The words defined in this section have the meanings set forth below whenever they appear 6 in this chapter, unless the context in which they are used clearly requires a different meaning or a 7 different definition is prescribed for a particular section, group of sections, or provision: 8 (1) “Business” means any corporation, partnership, individual, sole proprietorship, joint 9 stock company, joint venture, or any other legal entity through which business is conducted. 10 (2) “Change order” means a written authorization signed by the purchasing agent directing 11 or allowing the contractor to proceed with changes, alterations, or modifications to the terms, 12 conditions, or scope of work on a previously awarded contract. 13 (3) “Chief purchasing officer” shall mean: (i) For a state agency, the director of the 14 department of administration, and (ii) For a public agency, the executive director or the chief 15 operational officer of the agency. 16 (4) “Construction” means the process of building, altering, repairing, improving, or 17 demolishing any public structures or building, or other public improvements of any kind to any 18 public real property. It does not include the routine maintenance or repair of existing structures, 19 buildings, or real property performed by salaried employees of the state of Rhode Island in the 20 usual course of their jobs. 21 (5) “Contract” means all types of agreements, including grants and orders, for the purchase 22 or disposal of supplies, services, construction, or any other item. It includes awards; contracts of a 23 fixed-price, cost, cost-plus-a-fixed-fee, or incentive type; contracts providing for the issuance of 24 job or task orders; leases; letter contracts; purchase orders; and construction management contracts. 25 It also includes supplemental agreements with respect to any of the foregoing. “Contract” does not 26 include labor contracts with employees of state agencies. 27 (6) “Contract amendment” means any written alteration in the specifications, delivery 28 point, rate of delivery, contract period, price, quantity, or other contract provisions of any existing 29 contract, whether accomplished by unilateral action in accordance with a contract provision, or by 30 mutual action of the parties to the contract. It includes bilateral actions, such as supplemental 31 agreements, and unilateral actions, such as change orders, administrative changes, notices of 32 termination, and notices of the exercise of a contract option. 33 (7) “Contractor” means any person having a contract with a governmental body. 34 (8) “Data” means recorded information, regardless of form or characteristic. LC005600 - Page 6 of 11 1 (9) “Designee” means a duly authorized representative of a person holding a superior 2 position. 3 (10) “Employee” means an individual drawing a salary from a state governmental entity. 4 (11) “State governmental entity” means any entity created as a legislative body or a public 5 or state agency by the general assembly or constitution of this state, except for municipal, regional, 6 or county governmental entities. 7 (12) “May” means permissive. 8 (13) “Negotiation” means contracting by either the method set forth in § 37-2-19, 37-2-20, 9 or 37-2-21. 10 (14) “Person” means any business, individual, organization, or group of individuals. 11 (15) “Procurement” means the purchasing, buying, renting, leasing, or otherwise obtaining 12 of any supplies, services, or construction. It also includes all functions that pertain to the obtaining 13 of any supply, service, or construction item, including a description of requirements, selection and 14 solicitation of sources, preparation, and award of contract, and all phases of contract administration. 15 (16) “Public agency” shall mean the Rhode Island industrial recreational building 16 authority, the Rhode Island commerce corporation, the Rhode Island industrial facilities 17 corporation, the Rhode Island refunding bond authority, the Rhode Island housing and mortgage 18 finance corporation, the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation, the Rhode Island public 19 transit authority, the Rhode Island student loan authority, the Howard development corporation, 20 the water resources board corporate, the Rhode Island health and education building corporation, 21 the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority, the Blackstone Valley district commission, the 22 Narragansett Bay water quality management district commission, the Rhode Island 23 telecommunications authority, the convention center authority, the Channel 36 foundation, the 24 Rhode Island lottery commission their successors and assigns, any other body corporate and politic 25 which has been or will be created or established within this state excepting cities and towns, the 26 university of Rhode Island board of trustees for all purchases that are funded by restricted, 27 sponsored, or auxiliary monies, and the council on postsecondary education for all purchases that 28 are funded by restricted, sponsored, or auxiliary monies. 29 (17) “Purchase request” or “purchase requisition” means that document whereby a using 30 agency requests that a contract be entered into to obtain goods and/or services for a specified need, 31 and may include, but is not limited to, the technical description of the requested item, delivery 32 requirements, transportation mode request, criteria for evaluation of proposals, and/or preparation 33 of suggested sources of supply, and information supplied for the making of any written 34 determination and finding required by § 37-2-6. LC005600 - Page 7 of 11 1 (18) “Purchasing agency” means any state governmental entity which is authorized by this 2 chapter, its implementing regulations, or by way of delegation from the chief purchasing officer to 3 contract on its own behalf rather than through the central contracting authority of the chief 4 purchasing officer. 5 (19) “Purchasing agent” means any person authorized by a governmental entity in 6 accordance with procedures prescribed by regulations, to enter into and administer contracts and 7 make written determinations and findings with respect to contracts. The term also includes an 8 authorized representative acting within the limits of authority. “Purchasing agent” also means the 9 person appointed in accordance with § 37-2-1. 10 (20) “Services” means the rendering, by a contractor, of its time and effort rather than the 11 furnishing of a specific end product, other than reports that are merely incidental to the required 12 performance of services. “Services” does not include labor contracts with employees of state 13 agencies. 14 (21) “Shall” means imperative. 15 (22) “State” means the state of Rhode Island and any of its departments or agencies and 16 public agencies. 17 (23) “Supplemental agreement” means any contract modification which is accomplished 18 by the mutual action of the parties. 19 (24) “Supplies” means all property, including, but not limited to, leases of real property, 20 printing, and insurance, except land or permanent interest in land. 21 (25) “Using agency” means any state governmental entity which utilizes any supplies, 22 services, or construction purchased under this chapter. 23 (26) As used in § 37-2-59, “architect” or “engineer” services means those professional 24 services within the scope of practice of architecture, professional engineering, or registered land 25 surveying pertaining to construction, as defined by the laws of this state. “Consultant” means any 26 person with whom the state and/or a public agency has a contract which contract provides for the 27 person to give direction or information as regards a particular area of knowledge in which the 28 person is a specialist and/or has expertise. 29 (27) For purposes of §§ 37-2-62 — 37-2-70, “directors” means those members of a public 30 agency appointed pursuant to a statute who comprise the governing authority of the board, 31 commission, authority, and/or corporation. 32 (28) “State agency” means any department, commission, council, board, bureau, 33 committee, institution, or other governmental entity of the executive or judicial branch of this state 34 not otherwise established as a body corporate and politic, and includes, without limitation, the LC005600 - Page 8 of 11 1 council on postsecondary education except for purchases which are funded by restricted, sponsored, 2 or auxiliary moneys, the university of Rhode Island board of trustees except for all purchases which 3 are funded by restricted, sponsored, or auxiliary monies proceeds of general obligation bonds , and 4 the council on elementary and secondary education. 5 (29) “Governmental entity” means any department, commission, council, board, bureau, 6 committee, institution, legislative body, agency, or government corporation of the executive, 7 legislative, or judicial branches of state, federal, and/or local governments. 8 (30) “Construction management at-risk” or “construction management at-risk services” or 9 “construction management at-risk delivery method” is a construction method wherein a 10 construction manager at-risk provides a range of preconstruction services and construction 11 management services which may include cost estimation and consultation regarding the design of 12 the building project, the preparation and coordination of bid packages, scheduling, cost control, and 13 value engineering, acting as the general contractor during the construction, detailing the trade 14 contractor scope of work, holding the trade contracts and other contracts, evaluating trade 15 contractors and subcontractors, and providing management and construction services, all at a 16 guaranteed maximum price, which shall represent the maximum amount to be paid by the using 17 agency for the building project, including the cost of work, the general conditions, and the fee 18 payable to the construction management at-risk firm. 19 (31) “Construction manager at-risk” or “construction management at-risk firm” is a person 20 or business experienced in construction that has the ability to evaluate and to implement drawings 21 and specifications as they affect time, cost and quality of construction and the ability to coordinate 22 and deliver the construction of the project within a guaranteed maximum price, which shall 23 represent the maximum amount to be paid by the using agency for the building project, including 24 the cost of the work, the general conditions, and the fee payable to the construction management 25 at-risk firm. The construction manager at-risk provides consultation services during the 26 preconstruction and construction phases of the project. The project engineer, architect, or owner’s 27 program manager may not serve as the construction manager at-risk. 28 (32) “Owner’s program manager” shall be an entity engaged to provide project 29 management services on behalf of a state agency for the construction and supervision of the 30 construction of a building project. The owner’s program manager acts as the owner’s agent in all 31 aspects of the construction project, including, but not limited to, architectural programming, 32 planning, design, construction, and the selection and procurement of an appropriate construction 33 delivery method. The owner’s program manager shall have at least seven (7) years’ experience in 34 the construction and supervision of construction of buildings of similar size and complexity. The LC005600 - Page 9 of 11 1 owner’s program manager shall not have been employed during the preceding year by the design 2 firm, the construction firm, and/or the subcontractors associated with the project. 3 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005600 ======== LC005600 - Page 10 of 11 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND *** 1 This act would enhance and further define the role of the board of trustees of the University 2 of Rhode Island. This act would also provide a more efficient procurement process for the 3 university. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005600 ======== LC005600 - Page 11 of 11