(a)  Any provision of Rhode Island law that refers to, adopts, or relies upon provisions of federal law, including, but not limited to, those in title 44, shall apply to parties recognized as married under the laws of this state, as if federal laws recognized such marriages in the same manner as Rhode Island law.

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(b)  Notwithstanding the unavailability of federal financial participation, no person who is recognized as a spouse under the laws of this state shall be denied benefits that are otherwise available to spouses under Rhode Island law, including, but not limited to, those in chapters 40-8 to 40-8.10 inclusive, due to the provisions of 1 U.S.C. § 7 or any other federal non-recognition of spouses of the same sex.