23-15-11. Reports, use of experts, all costs and expenses.

The state agency department may in effectuating the purposes of this chapter engage

experts or consultants including, but not limited to, actuaries, investment bankers, accountants,

attorneys, or industry analysts. Except for privileged or confidential communications between the

state agency department and engaged attorneys, all copies of final reports prepared by experts and

consultants, and all costs and expenses associated with the reports, shall be public. All costs and

expenses incurred under this provision shall be the responsibility of the applicant in an amount to

be determined by the director as he or she shall deem appropriate. No application made pursuant to

the requirements of this chapter shall be considered complete unless an agreement has been

executed with the director for the payment of all costs and expenses in accordance with this section.

The maximum cost and expense to an applicant for experts and/or consultants that may be required

by the state agency department shall be twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) fifty thousand dollars

($50,000) ; provided however, that the maximum amount shall be increased by regulations

promulgated by the state agency on or after January 1, 2008 annually by the most recently available

annual increase in the federal consumer price index as determined by the state agency department .

SECTION 11. Legislative findings. The general assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Birthing centers, including freestanding centers and hospital-operated birthing units,

play a critical role in ensuring safe, timely, and equitable access to maternal, perinatal, and newborn

care across Rhode Island.

(2) The closure or reduction of birthing centers has significant consequences for maternal

morbidity and mortality, newborn outcomes, emergency transport times, and regional healthcare

capacity.

(3) Rhode Island law does not require sufficient advance notice, public transparency, or

rigorous financial review before a birthing center is closed or its operations are significantly

reduced.

(4) Given ongoing consolidation within regional healthcare systems, it is essential that the

state receive complete and accurate financial information, including system-level data, to determine

whether a birthing center's closure is truly unavoidable.

(5) It is in the public interest to establish a strong review process requiring advance notice,

robust financial disclosure, community engagement, and independent analysis to protect Rhode

Island families, particularly in underserved and high-risk communities.

SECTION 12. Chapter 23-17.14 of the General Laws entitled "The Hospital Conversions

Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: