40.1-1-13. Powers and duties of the office.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Rhode Island general laws to the contrary, the

department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals shall have the

following powers and duties:

(1) To establish and promulgate the overall plans, policies, objectives, and priorities for

state substance abuse education, prevention, and treatment; provided, however, that the director

shall obtain and consider input from all interested state departments and agencies prior to the

promulgation of any such plans or policies;

(2) Evaluate and monitor all state grants and contracts to local substance abuse service

providers;

(3) Develop, provide for, and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive state plan

for substance abuse education, prevention, and treatment;

(4) Ensure the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information for planning and

evaluation of substance abuse services;

(5) Provide support, guidance, and technical assistance to individuals, local governments,

community service providers, public and private organizations in their substance abuse education,

prevention, and treatment activities;

(6) Confer with all interested department directors to coordinate the administration of state

programs and policies that directly affect substance abuse treatment and prevention;

(7) Seek and receive funds from the federal government and private sources in order to

further the purposes of this chapter;

(8) To act in conjunction with the executive office of health and human services as the

state’s co-designated agency (42 U.S.C. § 300x-30(a)) for administering federal aid and for the

purposes of the calculation of the expenditures relative to the substance abuse block grant and

federal funding maintenance of effort. The department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

disabilities and hospitals, as the state’s substance abuse authority, will have the sole responsibility

for the planning, policy and implementation efforts as it relates to the requirements set forth in

pertinent substance abuse laws and regulations including 42 U.S.C. § 300x-21 et seq.;

(9) Propose, review, and/or approve, as appropriate, proposals, policies, or plans involving

insurance and managed care systems for substance abuse services in Rhode Island;

(10) To enter into, in compliance with the provisions of chapter 2 of title 37, contractual

relationships and memoranda of agreement as necessary for the purposes of this chapter;

(11) To license facilities and programs for the care and treatment of substance abusers and

for the prevention of substance abuse, and provide the list of licensed chemical dependency

professionals (LCDP) and licensed chemical dependency clinical supervisors (LCDCS) (licensed

by the department of health pursuant to chapter 69 of title 5) for use by state agencies including,

but not limited to, the adjudication office of the department of transportation, the district court and

superior court and the division of probation and parole for referral of individuals requiring

substance use disorder treatment;

(12) To promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the requirements of this

chapter;

(13) Perform other acts and exercise any other powers necessary or convenient to carry out

the intent and purposes of this chapter;

(14) To exercise the authority and responsibilities relating to education, prevention, and

treatment of substance abuse, as contained in, but not limited to, the following chapters: chapters

1.10, 10.1, and 28.2 of title 23; chapters 21.2 and 21.3 of title 16; chapter 50.1 of title 42 [repealed];

chapter 109 of title 42; chapter 69 of title 5; and § 35-4-18;

(15) To establish a Medicare Part D restricted-receipt account in the hospitals and

community rehabilitation services program and the Rhode Island state psychiatric hospital program

to receive and expend Medicare Part D reimbursements from pharmacy benefit providers consistent

with the purposes of this chapter;

(16) To establish a RICLAS group home operations restricted-receipt account in the

services for the developmentally disabled program to receive and expend rental income from

RICLAS group clients for group home-related expenditures, including food, utilities, community

activities, and the maintenance of group homes;

(17) To establish a non-Medicaid, third-party payor restricted-receipt account in the

hospitals and community rehabilitation services program to receive and expend reimbursement

from non-Medicaid, third-party payors to fund hospital patient services that are not Medicaid

eligible; and

(18) To certify any and all recovery housing facilities directly, or through a contracted

entity, as defined by department guidelines, which includes adherence to using National Alliance

for Recovery Residences (NARR) standards. In accordance with a schedule to be determined by

the department, all referrals from state agencies or state-funded facilities shall be to certified

houses, and only certified recovery housing facilities shall be eligible to receive state funding to

deliver recovery housing services. As of January 1, 2027, all recovery housing facilities shall be

registered with the department and shall adhere to the NARR certification process.

(19) To establish, operate, and/or designate a RI 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline center or

centers to provide telephone, text and chat crisis intervention services and crisis care coordination

to individuals accessing the RI 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

SECTION 9. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled “Behavioral Healthcare, Development

Disabilities and Hospitals” is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 8.6

RHODE ISLAND 9-8-8 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE

25 40.1-8.6-1. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline" or "lifeline" means the national network system

operated by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ("NSPL") or its successor entity, within which

the department-approved or department-operated RI 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Center

participates.

(2) "Department" means the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental

disabilities and hospitals.

(3) "Director" means the director of the department of behavioral healthcare,

developmental disabilities and hospitals.

(4) "National Suicide Prevention Lifeline" ("NSPL") means the national network of local

crisis centers providing free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or

emotional distress twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. Membership as an NSPL

center requires nationally recognized certification which includes evidence-based training for all

staff and volunteers in the management of NSPL calls.

(5) "Rhode Island (RI) 9-8-8 state administrator" means the administrator designated by

the director of the department to manage the locally operated and funded center within the national

network of the 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline within Rhode Island.

(6) "Rhode Island (RI) 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Center" or "lifeline center" means a

department-approved or department-operated center that participates in the National Suicide

Prevention Lifeline Network and responds to statewide or regional 9-8-8 contacts that is operated

by or under contract with the department.