Office of HIV/AIDS & Viral Hepatitis

Information for Providers

Laws, Rules & Regulations

AIDS Law

The AIDS Law includes all of the statues associated with AIDS and HIV. It includes the following:

• § 23-6-10 – Purpose
• § 23-6-11 – Definitions
• § 23-6-12 – Testing
• § 23-6-13 – Informed consent form
• § 23-6-14 – Exceptions
• § 23-6-15 – Reasonable effort to secure consent
• § 23-6-16 – Due process – Right to bring suit
• § 23-6-17 – Confidentiality
• § 23-6-18 – Protection of records
• § 23-6-19 – Penalties and remedies
• § 23-6-20 – Notification of disclosure
• § 23-6-21 – Protection of public health
• § 23-6-22 – Discrimination prohibited
• § 23-6-23 – Administrative relief
• § 23-6-24 – Insurance exemption
• § 23-6-25 – Alternative test sites
• § 23-6-26 – Laboratory analysis for HIV
• § 23-6-27 -  Reporting of HIV/AIDS and perinatal exposure of newborns.

The statute begin as 23-6-10 end 23-6-26.

For information about related laws, go to HIV/AIDS-related laws.

Rules & Regulations

Rules and Regulations Pertaining to HIV Counseling, Testing, Reporting, and Confidentiality

Ryan White Care Act

The HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) was formed in August 1997 to consolidate all programs funded under the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act. The CARE Act was signed into law on August 15, 1990 to improve the quality and availability of care for people with HIV/AIDS and their families. Amended and reauthorized in May 1996 and November 2000, the Act is named after the Indiana teenager, Ryan White, who became an active public educator on HIV/AIDS after he contracted the syndrome. He died the same year the legislation was passed. For more information about the Ryan White CARE Act, go to HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau.

For rules and regulations for other communicable diseases issues, go to Rhode Island Department of Health’s Office of Communicable Disease website.