Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-72.7-5. Funding

(a) There is established a fund within the department of children, youth and families to be allocated to each of the two (2) pilot program local coordinating councils in Pawtucket/Central Falls and Washington County. This fund shall be comprised of the proportional share of funds utilized during the current fiscal year for the residential treatment of children who reside in the communities that comprise each of the two (2) pilot program local coordinating councils, which treatment is required not due to abuse or neglect of those children. The sources of these funds will include those funds previously utilized by the department of children, youth and families, the department of elementary and secondary education, the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the department of human services, or other agency of state government that receives state or federal funds for children, and state education funds distributed to local education authorities, to meet the programming needs of the children who are receiving residential services, not due to abuse or neglect, and who are residents of the communities that comprise each of the two (2) pilot program local coordinating councils. This fund shall be assigned on a proportional basis to the two (2) pilot program local coordinating councils. This fund shall be expended for public or private nonresidential or residential services for children and their families who reside in the communities that comprise each of the two (2) pilot program local coordinating councils, and who are in need of education, care, and treatment.

(b) The principles and purposes of organizing the locally administered merged funding for coordinated community social service, education, and mental health services for children in need of education, care, and treatment and their families are as follows: