S 2452

2026 -- S 2452
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
  Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Acosta, Britto, Zurier, Mack, McKenney, Gallo,
  Valverde, Murray, and Bell
  Date Introduced: February 06, 2026
  Referred To: Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Findings of Fact and Purpose.
2The purpose of this chapter is to support the mental health and emotional well-being of
3 children and youth through investments in out-of-school time (“OST”) settings, recognizing OST
4 programs as essential, community-based spaces that provide connection, stability, and resilience
5 during a period of heightened need and reduced public supports.
6Rhode Island continues to experience significant mental health challenges among children
7 and adolescents that affect well-being, school engagement, family stability, and long-term
8 outcomes. In April 2022, leading pediatric and behavioral health organizations in the state declared
9 a Rhode Island State of Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. These challenges have
10 been compounded by reductions in federal funding for schools and student support services,
11 increasing pressure on local and community-based systems to meet growing needs with fewer
12 resources.
13Out-of-school time programs offer trusted, relationship-based environments where youth
14 spend substantial time outside of the school day. These programs are embedded within the
15 communities they serve and frequently employ staff, mentors, and leaders who reflect the lived
16 experiences, cultures, and strengths of local families. Through intentional program design, OST
17 programs function as intergenerational systems of support that foster belonging, strengthen
18 protective factors, and support prevention, early identification of need, and connection to
19 appropriate supports.
1Investments made pursuant to this chapter strengthen the capacity of existing OST
2 programs to serve as stabilizing and supportive spaces for youth, mitigate the impacts of reduced
3 school-day and federally funded supports, and reinforce community-based systems that are built
4 by and for the communities they serve.
5SECTION 2. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by
6 adding thereto the following chapter:
7CHAPTER 117
8BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
916-117-1. Short title.
10This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "Building Opportunities in Out-of-School
11 Time".
1216-117-2. Eligibility and allowable use.
13(a) Funds appropriated under this chapter shall support evidence-informed initiatives that
14 promote the mental health and emotional well-being of children and youth through community-
15 based or school-affiliated out-of-school time (“OST”) programs serving students in kindergarten
16 through grade twelve (K-12).
17(b) Allowable uses of funds may include, but shall not be limited to:
18(1) Mental health first aid training, trauma-informed practices, or related learning
19 opportunities for OST staff, youth leaders, volunteers, caregivers, or program partners;
20(2) Peer support groups, mentoring models, restorative practices, or youth-led initiatives
21 that foster connection, belonging, and emotional well-being;
22(3) Development, purchase, or implementation of materials, curricula, or resources that
23 support mental health awareness, social-emotional learning, coping skills, and resilience;
24(4) Program-based mental health projects, workshops, enrichment activities, or creative
25 expressions that integrate wellness and prevention into OST programming; and
26(5) Other innovative, community-informed, or culturally responsive approaches designed
27 to support youth mental health, prevention, early identification of need, and connection to
28 appropriate supports.
29(c) Funds shall be used in a manner that allows OST programs to respond flexibly to local
30 needs and priorities, while promoting developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and supportive
31 practices for youth and families.
3216-117-3. Funding and allocation.
33(a) The general assembly shall allocate one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in the
34 fiscal year 2026–2027 budget to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
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1(b) Funds shall be administered by the appropriate state agency or by a designated
2 statewide intermediary, ideally the Rhode Island Afterschool Network, with demonstrated expertise
3 in out-of-school time systems, youth development, and equitable grantmaking. The administering
4 entity shall award funds through a competitive process to qualified OST programs, prioritize
5 programs serving youth with high levels of demonstrated need, ensure distribution across multiple
6 programs, and consider geographic diversity, including urban, suburban, and rural communities.
716-117-4. Reporting.
8The administering agency or intermediary shall submit a brief annual report to the general
9 assembly detailing the number of OST programs and youth served, the geographic distribution of
10 funded programs, and a summary of funded activities and observed outcomes.
11SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
    RELATING TO EDUCATION -- BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME
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1This act would provide one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in the fiscal year 2026–
2 2027 budget to support the mental health and emotional well-being of children and youth through
3 investments in out-of-school time (“OST”) settings, as essential, community-based spaces that
4 provide connection, stability, and resilience during a period of heightened need and reduced public
5 supports.
6This act would take effect upon passage.
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