Provides the general assembly make an annual appropriation of not less than eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) to the Rhode Island emergency management agency to assist with emergency communications during major or multiple emergency incidents.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require the Rhode Island General Assembly to set aside at least $80,000 every year for the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA). The money would specifically be used to support emergency communications when the state faces a major disaster or multiple emergencies happening at the same time — situations where clear and reliable communication between emergency responders is especially critical.

The funding is meant to ensure that RIEMA has consistent, dedicated resources to maintain or improve the communication systems and tools used during serious emergencies, such as natural disasters, large accidents, or other crises requiring a coordinated statewide response. By writing this minimum funding amount into law, the bill aims to make this support a regular, predictable part of the state budget rather than something that has to be requested and approved from scratch each year.

This bill would primarily affect state emergency management officials and first responders who rely on communication infrastructure during major incidents. Indirectly, it could benefit all Rhode Island residents by helping to ensure that emergency agencies can coordinate more effectively when lives and property are at risk. The bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Finance Committee, which will review whether the funding makes sense within the broader state budget.