AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND MONITORING OF CHILD PLACING AGENCIES, CHILD CARING AGENCIES, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES, AND CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

HB 7949 authorizes Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to license mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS) that provide crisis intervention for children and young adults under 21. This bill directly affects MRSS providers, requiring them to meet new licensing standards set by DCYF. Key provisions include regulations on staff qualifications, safety standards, child-to-staff ratios, background checks, and record-keeping to ensure quality care. The law amends existing licensing rules to include MRSS as a distinct service category under DCYF's oversight.