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Rhode IslandS10602025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION -- GENERAL PROVISIONS .

Sponsored By: Frank A. Ciccone, III (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Death benefit protection for surviving spouses

Beginning July 1, 2025, qualifying surviving spouses are conclusively treated as fully dependent for workers’ compensation death benefits. A spouse qualifies by having lived with the worker, lived apart for justifiable cause, been deserted, or depended on the worker at death. The rule uses the same terms for all spouses. This provision does not state benefit amounts.

Workers’ compensation covers airport safety workers

Beginning July 1, 2025, Rhode Island Airport Corporation police and aircraft rescue and firefighting unit members count as covered employees. They qualify for workers’ compensation despite the exclusion for regularly organized municipal police and fire departments.

Older state injury claims face payment cutoffs

The law, effective July 1, 2025, includes older retirement-filing deadlines for covered state employees injured before July 1, 2019. Those with at least 18 months of injured-on-duty benefits by July 1, 2019, had 90 days from that date to apply. Those with fewer months had 18 months after injury, with at least 90 days to apply. Applications deemed late under § 36-10-14(b) also received a 90-day filing window from July 1, 2019. Missing the applicable deadline ends injured-on-duty payments. A final State Retirement Board decision approving or denying ordinary or accidental disability retirement also ends those payments. That termination is not put on hold.

State disability retirement deadlines and benefits

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered state employees under State Retirement Board authority generally get the later of two filing deadlines. They have 18 months after the injury causing injured-on-duty status or 60 days after their treating doctor certifies maximum medical improvement. That means further treatment is not reasonably expected to materially improve the condition. But a static, disabling injury whose permanent nature is readily obvious has a 60-day deadline from the permanency determination. Covered state employees awarded accidental disability pensions receive benefits under § 36-10-15; this provision does not state payment amounts.

State worker benefit disputes reach court

Beginning July 1, 2025, covered state employees entitled to chapter 19 benefits use Workers’ Compensation Court procedures for listed disputes. These cover disability status, injury type and location, medical improvement, injury cause, suitable alternative work, and fees and costs. The court can appoint an impartial medical examiner and enforce its orders, decrees, and consent agreements. Sworn Rhode Island State Police employees are excluded. The law also removes the Rhode Island Airport Corporation from this employee category.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Frank A. Ciccone, III

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • John P. Burke

    Democratic • Senate

  • Todd M. Patalano

    Democratic • Senate

  • Leonidas P. Raptakis

    Democratic • Senate

  • David P. Tikoian

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 106 • No: 0

House vote • 6/17/2025

WORKERS' COMP.-GEN. PROVISIONS PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 71 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/10/2025

COMPENSATION--GENERAL PROVISIONS Passage

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 118

    6/23/2025Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/17/2025Governor

  3. House passed Sub A in concurrence

    6/17/2025House

  4. Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/17/2025)

    6/13/2025House

  5. Senate passed Sub A

    6/10/2025Senate

  6. Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2025)

    6/5/2025Senate

  7. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

    6/2/2025

  8. Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2025)

    5/30/2025

  9. Committee recommended Substitute A be held for further study

    5/21/2025

  10. Committee recommended indefinite postponement

    5/21/2025

  11. Proposed Substitute

    5/20/2025

  12. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/21/2025)

    5/16/2025

  13. Introduced, referred to Senate Labor and Gaming

    5/9/2025Senate

Bill Text

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