PRIA Logo™
Rhode IslandS23262026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS .

Sponsored By: Peter A. Appollonio, Jr. (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Apply on time to keep injured-on-duty pay

State employees and local police and fire who get injured‑on‑duty pay must apply for accidental disability retirement by the later of 18 months after the injury or 60 days after the treating doctor says you reached maximum medical improvement. For static, incapacitating injuries, you must apply within 60 days after your doctor or an independent medical examiner certifies the injury is permanent. If you miss the deadline, injured‑on‑duty payments stop. If you apply on time, payments continue while the state retirement board reviews your case and end when the board makes a final decision. For injuries before July 1, 2019, the law set a special 90‑day window starting July 1, 2019 for some workers and required others to file within 18 months of injury but with at least 90 days from July 1, 2019; awarded accidental disability pensions follow the state’s standard rules in §36‑10‑15.

PTSD coverage and proof for off-duty aid

Police officers and firefighters diagnosed with PTSD by an independent licensed mental health professional with a master’s degree are presumed to have a line‑of‑duty injury when the PTSD is tied to work or to giving emergency help in Rhode Island while off duty. This presumption does not apply if the PTSD comes from discipline, job evaluations, transfers, layoffs, demotion, termination, or similar actions, and employers may rebut it. To get injured‑on‑duty pay for an off‑duty event, you must prove you reasonably believed there was an emergency that needed your immediate help to protect or rescue human life. You and any witnesses must give sworn statements with the date, time, place, what happened, and how you were hurt, and include the law’s perjury warning.

State claims go to workers' comp court

Beginning July 1, 2025, state employees (not sworn state police) file benefit petitions in the workers’ compensation court. For petitions filed on or after that date, the court manages the case and can decide disability status, whether the injury was work‑related, maximum medical improvement, medical and legal causation, and fees and costs. The court may appoint an impartial medical examiner and enforce its orders.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Peter A. Appollonio, Jr.

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Robert Britto

    Democratic • Senate

  • John P. Burke

    Democratic • Senate

  • Frank A. Ciccone, III

    Democratic • Senate

  • Matthew L. LaMountain

    Democratic • Senate

  • Todd M. Patalano

    Democratic • Senate

  • Leonidas P. Raptakis

    Democratic • Senate

  • Brian J. Thompson

    Democratic • Senate

  • David P. Tikoian

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Urso

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 101 • No: 0

House vote • 6/4/2026

INJURED FIRE & POLICE OFFICERS PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 63 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/26/2026

RELIEF OF INJURED & DECEASED FIRE FIGHTERS & POLICE OFFICERS Passage

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 057

    6/10/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/4/2026Governor

  3. House passed in concurrence

    6/4/2026House

  4. Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/04/2026)

    6/2/2026House

  5. Senate read and passed

    5/26/2026Senate

  6. Placed on Senate Calendar (05/26/2026)

    5/22/2026Senate

  7. Committee recommends passage

    5/6/2026

  8. Scheduled for consideration (05/06/2026)

    5/1/2026

  9. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

    4/8/2026

  10. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/08/2026)

    4/3/2026

  11. Introduced, referred to Senate Labor and Gaming

    1/23/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • S2326 - As Introduced

    1/23/2026

    HTMLPDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation