Rhode Island legislators are in disagreement about whether the state’s attorney general has the power to allocate settlement funds toward dental health initiatives, Rhode Island PBS reported June 16.
Five notes:
1. The state recently settled an illegal dumping lawsuit with a construction company for $11 million.
2. Attorney General Peter Neronha announced his plan to use $10 million from the settlement to provide dental care to children in Providence, R.I.
3. State Reps. Brian Newberry and George Nardone have argued that Mr. Neronha doesn’t have the legal authority to decide where settlement funds are allocated.
4. House leaders say that state law mandates that settlement money be entered into the state’s general fund, which is controlled by the state’s General Assembly.
5. The lawmakers have said they want to instead send $1 million in settlement money to 11 different organizations, including the Rhode Island Dental Association.
