EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, the official text

S3064 2026 -- S 3064 ======== LC005342 ======== 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: Senators Sosnowski, Lauria, Lawson, Ciccone, Murray, DiMario, and Paolino Date Introduced: March 12, 2026 Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: 2 (1) Rhode Island faces an ongoing and worsening projected shortage of physicians and 3 healthcare professionals, particularly in primary care and underserved communities; 4 (2) Establishing a medical school at the University of Rhode Island would strengthen the 5 state s healthcare workforce pipeline, improve access to care, and support long-term economic 6 development; and 7 (3) An initial state investment is necessary to support leadership recruitment, faculty hiring, 8 accreditation planning, and curriculum development for such medical school. 9 SECTION 2. Chapter 16-32 of the General Laws entitled University of Rhode Island [See 10 Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act] is hereby amended by adding 11 thereto the following section: 12 16-32-43. University of Rhode Island medical school -- Establishment and funding. 13 (a) For fiscal year 2027, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) is hereby appropriated 14 from general revenues to the University of Rhode Island for the purpose of initiating the 15 establishment of a medical school. 16 (b) Funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be used for operating 17 expenses and salaries related to, including, but not limited to: 18 (1) Hiring a founding dean and senior leadership; 19 (2) Recruitment of core faculty and administrative staff; 1 (3) Accreditation preparation and compliance activities; and 2 (4) Curriculum planning and institutional development. 3 (c) It is the intent of the general assembly that the fiscal year 2027 appropriation represents 4 the first phase of a multi-year state investment to support the development of a medical school at 5 the University of Rhode Island. 6 (d) Subject to future appropriations, the general assembly anticipates additional funding in 7 the following amounts: 8 (1) Fiscal year 2028: Seven million dollars ($7,000,000); and 9 (2) Fiscal year 2029: Eight million dollars ($8,000,000). 10 (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring any future general assembly to 11 appropriate such funds. 12 (f) The University of Rhode Island shall submit a report to the governor and the general 13 assembly no later than January 1, 2028, detailing: 14 (1) The use of funds appropriated under this section; 15 (2) Progress toward accreditation and institutional readiness; 16 (3) Faculty and leadership hiring progress; and 17 (4) A projected timeline and budget for subsequent phases of development. 18 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC005342 ======== LC005342 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND *** 1 This act would establish the framework to create a medical school at the University of 2 Rhode Island and provide an initial appropriation of five million dollars ($5,000,000) as the first 3 phase of a multi-year investment for the development of a medical school. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC005342 ======== LC005342 - Page 3 of 3