reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-2 - Right of individual providers to choose provider representative - Subject of negotiation.

§ 40-8.15-2. Right of individual providers to choose provider representative — Subject of negotiation.(a) Individual providers may, in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 40-8.15-7, choose a provider organization to be their provider representative and to negotiate with the state, over the terms and conditions of individual providers' participation in providing direct-support services, including, but not limited to:(1) Expanding training and professional development opportunities;(2) Improving the recruitment and retention of qualified individual providers;(3) Reimbursement rates and other economic matters;(4) Benefits;(5) Payment procedures; and(6) A grievance resolution process.(b) Nothing in this chapter or in chapter 8.14 of this title shall interfere with regulatory authority of the Rhode Island department of health (RIDOH) over individual providers licensing. Individual provider licensing shall be excluded from and not subject to the negotiation process recognized and described in this section.(c) Notwithstanding the above, individual providers must operate in conformance with the relevant sections of the general laws applicable thereto and regulations promulgated by the state.(d) The directors of each department with authority to administer their respective programs shall work in consultation with the secretary regarding the terms and conditions of individual providers' participation in their respective programs including, but not limited to, the terms and conditions in subsection (a).History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-3 - Good-faith negotiations.

§ 40-8.15-3. Good-faith negotiations.It shall be the obligation of the director, or a designee, to meet and negotiate in good faith with the provider representative within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice from the provider representative of the request for a meeting for bargaining purposes. This obligation shall include the duty to cause any agreement resulting from the negotiations to be reduced to a written contract.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-4 - Unresolved issues - Impasse procedures.

§ 40-8.15-4. Unresolved issues — Impasse procedures.In the event that the provider representative and the director, or a designee, are unable to reach an agreement on a contract, or reach an impasse in negotiations, the procedures of §§ 36-11-7.1 through 36-11-11 shall be followed.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-5 - Economic aspects of contract subject to legislative appropriation.

§ 40-8.15-5. Economic aspects of contract subject to legislative appropriation.Any aspects of a contract requiring appropriation by the federal government, the general assembly, or revisions to statutes or regulations shall be subject to passage of those appropriations and any necessary statutory and regulatory revisions.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-6 - Duty to represent all individual providers fairly - Deduction of membership dues and other voluntary deductions.

§ 40-8.15-6. Duty to represent all individual providers fairly — Deduction of membership dues and other voluntary deductions.(a) A provider organization certified as the provider representative shall represent all individual providers in the state fairly and without discrimination, without regard to whether or not the individual provider is a member of the provider organization.(b) Each individual provider may choose whether to be a member of the provider organization. The state, or its designee, shall deduct from payments to care providers membership dues for individual providers who elect to become members and authorize the deduction of membership dues, and any other voluntary deductions authorized by individual providers.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-7 - Certification and decertification of provider organization.

§ 40-8.15-7. Certification and decertification of provider organization.(a) Petitions to certify a provider organization to serve as the provider representative of individual providers; petitions to intervene in such an election; and any other petitions for investigation of controversies as to representation may be filed with and acted upon by the labor relations board in accordance with the provisions of chapter 7 of title 28 and the board's rules and regulations; provided, that any valid petition as to whether individual providers wish to certify or decertify a provider representative shall be resolved by a secret ballot election among individual providers for which purpose the board may designate a neutral third party to conduct the secret ballot election.(b) The only appropriate unit shall consist of all individual providers in the state.(c) For purposes of this section, no individual provider shall be deemed excluded from the bargaining unit under § 28-7-3(3)(ii) because he or she provides care to a family member or because they are in domestic service in a person's home.(d) The cost of any certification election held under this section will be split equally among all the provider organizations that appear on the ballot.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-8 - Unfair practices.

§ 40-8.15-8. Unfair practices.It shall be unlawful for the state to do any of the acts made unlawful under § 28-7-13. It shall be unlawful for the provider representative to do any of the acts made unlawful under § 28-7-13.1. Any alleged violation of this provision may be filed with the labor relations board as an unfair labor practice and considered and ruled upon in accordance with chapter 7 of title 28 and the board's rules and regulations.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-9 - Individual providers not state employees.

§ 40-8.15-9. Individual providers not state employees.Notwithstanding the state's obligations to meet and negotiate under chapter 7 of title 28, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to make individual providers employees of the state for any purpose, including for the purposes of eligibility for the state employee pension program or state employee health benefits.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-10 - Right of families to select, direct, and terminate individual providers.

§ 40-8.15-10. Right of families to select, direct, and terminate individual providers.Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to alter the rights of families to select, direct, and terminate the services of individual providers.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-11 - Strikes not authorized.

§ 40-8.15-11. Strikes not authorized.Individual providers shall not engage in any strike or other collective cessation of the delivery of direct-support services.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-12 - State action exemption.

§ 40-8.15-12. State action exemption.The state action exemption to the application of state and federal antitrust laws is applicable to the activities of individual providers and their provider representative authorized under this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-8.15-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-8.15 - Individual Providers of Direct-Support Services|Section 40-8.15-13 - Severability.

§ 40-8.15-13. Severability.Should any part of this chapter be declared invalid or unenforceable, or the enforcement or compliance with it is suspended, restrained, or barred, either by the state or by the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this chapter shall remain in full force and effect.History of Section.P.L. 2018, ch. 106, § 2; P.L. 2018, ch. 110, § 2.
RI Gen L § 40-9-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-1 - Administrator - Other personnel and expenses - Appropriations - References to "bureau for the blind."

§ 40-9-1. Administrator — Other personnel and expenses — Appropriations — References to "bureau for the blind."(a) The director of human services may appoint a man or a woman qualified by training and experience as administrator of services for people who are blind or visually impaired, to hold office during his or her pleasure, subject to the provisions of chapter 4 of title 36; employ assistants, teachers, and agents as may be necessary; fix their compensation within the amounts appropriated therefor; and incur other expenses as may be authorized by the general assembly. The general assembly shall annually appropriate a sum as it may deem necessary to pay the salary of the administrator, assistants, teachers, and agents.(b) Whenever in any existing law the term "bureau for the blind" occurs, the term shall hereafter be construed to mean the department of human services.History of Section.G.L. 1923, ch. 413, art. 1, § 27; P.L. 1930, ch. 1590, § 1; P.L. 1935, ch. 2250, § 149; G.L. 1938, ch. 184, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1940, ch. 802, § 2; impl. am. P.L. 1952, ch. 2975, § 17; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-1; P.L. 1962, ch. 6, §§ 1, 5; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 6, art. 10, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-2 - General duties of administrator.

§ 40-9-2. General duties of administrator.(a) The administrator of services for people who are blind or visually impaired shall devote all of his or her time to the duties of his or her office and keep at his or her office in the state house a register of individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the state, describing their condition, cause of blindness, and capacity for education and industrial training.(b) The administrator shall, under the direction of the director, generally be charged with:(1) Maintaining a placement service with the object of determining the fitness of applicants who are blind or visually impaired for work, vocational guidance, and securing occupation when applicants are trained;(2) Assisting, when called upon by the school-to-careers committee of the governor's workforce board, that board in its work for students who are blind or visually impaired and in the application of federal aid;(3) Assisting the department of elementary and secondary education, when called upon by it, in performing its duties under chapter 25 of title 16 [repealed];(4) Having general charge of the home teaching of persons who are blind or visually impaired in the state;(5) Having charge of workshops for the training of persons who are blind or visually impaired and salesrooms for the sale of the products of the blind and visually impaired as the director may, from time to time, establish; and(6) Performing other duties with respect to his or her office as the director may prescribe.History of Section.G.L. 1923, ch. 413, art. 1, § 27; P.L. 1930, ch. 1590, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 184, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, § 21; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-2; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 21.
RI Gen L § 40-9-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-3 - Advisory council - Appointment of members.

§ 40-9-3. Advisory council — Appointment of members.Within the department of human services there shall be an advisory council to assist in promoting the interests of people who are blind or visually impaired consisting of nine (9) members, eight (8) of whom shall be qualified electors of the state, who shall be selected with particular regard to their interest in and their knowledge of the conditions regarding the blind and visually impaired and who shall be appointed by the governor as herein provided, and one of whom shall be the chairperson of the state council on independent living services, ex officio. In the month of February in each year, the governor shall appoint one member, except in the month of February 1970 and every fifth year thereafter when he or she shall appoint four (4) members, each member to hold office until the first day of March in the fifth year after his or her appointment and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, to succeed the member whose term will next expire. Any vacancy that may occur in the council shall be filled by appointment by the governor for the remainder of the unexpired term.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 90; P.L. 1940, ch. 801, § 1; redesignated § 91 by P.L. 1951, ch. 2724, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-3; P.L. 1970, ch. 56, § 1; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 262, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-4 - Chairperson of advisory council - Secretarial service.

§ 40-9-4. Chairperson of advisory council — Secretarial service.The members of the council shall elect one of their number as chairperson upon the appointment of any new member for a full term and whenever the office may become vacant. The members of the council shall serve without compensation and secretarial service for the council shall be provided by the director of the department.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 90; P.L. 1940, ch. 801, § 1; redesignated § 91 by P.L. 1951, ch. 2724, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-4; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970.
RI Gen L § 40-9-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-5 - Functions of advisory council.

§ 40-9-5. Functions of advisory council.The council shall confer with and shall advise the director of human services in promoting the interests of people who are blind or visually impaired in the state and concerning the policies, rules, and regulations appertaining thereto; provided, however, that the advisory council shall have no administrative power.History of Section.P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 90; P.L. 1940, ch. 801, § 1; redesignated § 91 by P.L. 1951, ch. 2724, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-5; impl. am. P.L. 1962, ch. 6, § 5; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-6 - Home instruction of people who are blind or visually impaired.

§ 40-9-6. Home instruction of people who are blind or visually impaired.The director of human services is hereby authorized and empowered to provide for the instruction at their homes of the adult residents who are blind or visually impaired residents of this state upon such conditions and in such manner as may to him or her seem proper, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate a sum as it may deem necessary for the purposes of this section; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum or so much thereof as may, from time to time, be necessary, upon receipt by him or her of proper vouchers approved by the director of the department and by the administration of services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Receipts from the toy lending library shall be deposited as general revenue and the activity shall be funded through general revenue appropriations.History of Section.G.L. 1923, ch. 413, art. 1, § 27; P.L. 1930, ch. 1590, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 184, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 65; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-6; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 121; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-7 - Supplies and materials for people who are blind or visually impaired workers - Compensation for services.

§ 40-9-7. Supplies and materials for people who are blind or visually impaired workers — Compensation for services.The director is hereby authorized and empowered to carry on services for people who are blind or visually impaired by providing for the furnishing of supplies and materials for workers who are blind or visually impaired workers, and compensating people who are blind or visually impaired workers for services through funds made available to the department of human services.History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 184, § 1; P.L. 1940, ch. 802, § 5; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-7; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-8 - Proceeds of work of blind and visually impaired workers.

§ 40-9-8. Proceeds of work of blind and visually impaired workers.For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of § 40-9-7, the receipts from the sales of handiwork of people who are blind or visually impaired workers shall be collected by the department of human services and turned over to the general treasurer, and the funds shall be made available for expenditure by the department of human services for the purpose of buying supplies and materials for workers who are blind or visually impaired workers and to compensate people who are workers who are blind or visually impaired for services rendered; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sums as may be required, from time to time, upon the receipt by him or her of proper vouchers approved by the director of human services, or his or her duly authorized agent.History of Section.P.L. 1940, ch. 802, § 6; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-8; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.
RI Gen L § 40-9-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-9 - Cooperation with department of elementary and secondary education.

§ 40-9-9. Cooperation with department of elementary and secondary education.The department of elementary and secondary education and the department of human services shall cooperate in measures for the prevention of blindness, the restoration of eyesight, and vocational adjustment of blind and visually impaired persons.History of Section.P.L. 1938, ch. 2622, § 2; G.L. 1938, ch. 185, § 1; P.L. 1940, ch. 802, § 9; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-9; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1.
RI Gen L § 40-9-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-10 - [Repealed.]

§ 40-9-10. [Repealed.]History of Section.P.L. 1936, ch. 2296, § 1; G.L. 1938, ch. 184, § 2; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 65; impl. am. P.L. 1940, ch. 802, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-10; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; Repealed by P.L. 1990, ch. 492, § 14, effective July 12, 1990.
RI Gen L § 40-9-10.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-10.1 - Telephone access to information programs.

§ 40-9-10.1. Telephone access to information programs.(a) The department of human services shall establish, administer, and promote an adaptive telephone equipment loan program. The department of human services, with the assistance of the state's adaptive telephone equipment loan program committee, established pursuant to § 39-23-1, shall also develop the appropriate rules, regulations, and service standards necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection.(b) The department of human services shall establish, administer, and promote a program to provide telephone access to the text of newspaper programs to residents who are blind, deaf/blind, visually impaired, or reading impaired with a single-party telephone line. The department of human services, with the assistance of the governor's advisory council for the blind, shall also develop the appropriate rules, regulations, and service standards necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection.History of Section.P.L. 2004, ch. 378, § 5; P.L. 2004, ch. 504, § 5.
RI Gen L § 40-9-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 40 - Human Services|Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired|Section 40-9-11 - Cooperation in federal business enterprises program.

§ 40-9-11. Cooperation in federal business enterprises program.The Rhode Island state department of human services is hereby empowered to cooperate with the United States government's Department of Education in its "Business Enterprises Program for the Blind" and, in connection with the program, to accept the payments and/or reimbursement for one-half (½) of the necessary expenditures for the acquisition of state-controlled vending stands or other business enterprises equipment for the use of persons who are blind, for which appropriation is made by Title II — "Office of Vocational Rehabilitation," of Public Law 80-165, passed by the Eightieth Congress of the United States, approved July 8, 1947, and known as the "Labor-Federal Security Appropriation Act of 1948."History of Section.P.L. 1948, ch. 2007, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-11; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99.