Rhode Island § 42-51-13 - Governor’s Commission on Disabilities

§ 42-51-13. Livable home modification program.

(a) There is hereby established the livable home modification program for home modification and accessibility enhancements to construct, retrofit, and/or renovate residences to allow individuals with significant disabilities to remain in community settings.

(b) Any eligible resident who retrofits or hires an individual to retrofit an existing residence, provided that, such retrofitting meets the qualification criteria and guidelines as established by the commission, shall be eligible for a livable home modification grant of fifty percent (50%) of the total amount spent, not to exceed an amount annually appropriated by the commission in accordance with § 35-3-24.

(c) The commission is authorized and directed to issue regulations regarding:

(1) Income eligibility and other qualifications for a grant;

(2) Application guidelines;

(3) The maximum reimbursement;

(4) Filing claims for reimbursement; and

(5) Appeal procedures for applicants who are determined to be ineligible.

(d) By August 15 of each year, the commission shall submit an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house, senate president, and chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees for the period from July 1 to June 30 on the actual:

(1) Number of grants issued to qualifying individuals;

(2) Number of applications that did not qualify;

(3) Total dollar amount of grants issued;

(4) Average dollar amount of the grants issued;

(5) Number of retrofits by accessibility features; and

(6) Prognosis for the individual if the retrofit had not been made which shall determine:

(i) Increased likelihood of falls and other related emergency room, hospital, and/or rehabilitation expenses;

(ii) Loss of independence; and

(iii) Move into a long-term care facility.