Bill
Bill > S0250
RI S0250
RI S0250Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.
summary
Introduced
02/13/2025
02/13/2025
In Committee
02/13/2025
02/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/20/2025
06/20/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This act would require all public schools, in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12), to have at least one full-time certified school social worker for every two hundred fifty (250) students and provide for an appropriation by the general assembly in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) in the budget for Fiscal Year 2026 to the various school districts and municipalities to employ additional social workers. This act would take effect upon passage.
AI Summary
This bill mandates that all public K-12 schools must employ at least one full-time certified school social worker for every 250 students, with "social worker" defined specifically as a person holding a valid professional school social work certificate issued by the state department of education. The bill allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to help school districts and municipalities hire additional social workers beyond the required staffing levels. This provision aims to increase mental health support and professional social work resources in schools, ensuring that students have access to dedicated social work professionals who can provide counseling, support services, and help address various social and emotional challenges. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, meaning schools will need to work towards meeting the new social worker staffing requirement in the upcoming academic year. By specifying a precise student-to-social-worker ratio and providing dedicated funding, the legislation seeks to systematically improve mental health support and student well-being across public school systems.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (6)
Sue Sosnowski (D)*,
Alana DiMario (D),
Hanna Gallo (D),
Melissa Murray (D),
Ryan Pearson (D),
Bridget Valverde (D),
Last Action
Committee recommended measure be held for further study (on 05/27/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://status.rilegislature.gov/ |
| BillText | https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText25/SenateText25/S0250.pdf |
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