2015 -- H 5655

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LC001326

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Abney, Bennett, Fogarty, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 8-8.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-8.1 entitled "Domestic

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Assault" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     8-8.1-3. Protective orders -- Penalty -- Jurisdiction. -- (a) A person suffering from

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domestic abuse may file a complaint in the district court requesting any order which will protect

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her or him from the abuse, including but not limited to the following:

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      (1) Ordering that the defendant be restrained and enjoined from contacting, assaulting,

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molesting or otherwise interfering with the plaintiff at home, on the street, or elsewhere, whether

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the defendant is an adult or minor;

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      (2) Ordering the defendant to vacate the household forthwith, unless the defendant holds

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sole legal interest in the household;

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      (3) Upon motion by the plaintiff, his or her address shall be released only at the

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discretion of the district court judge;.

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      (4)(b) After notice to the respondent and after a hearing, the court may shall order the

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defendant a person restrained under this section to surrender physical possession of all firearms in

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his or her possession, care, custody or control, and not to purchase or receive or attempt to

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purchase or receive any firearms while the restraining order is in effect.

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      (b) Any individual who accepts physical possession of a firearm pursuant to this section

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is prohibited from returning any firearm to any defendant under a restraining order during the

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existence of the restraining order. Violation of this provision shall subject both the defendant and

 

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the individual responsible for the return of the firearm to the defendant, to being found in

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contempt of court.

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      (c) The district court shall provide a notice on all forms requesting a protective order

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that, at the hearing for a protective order, the defendant may a person restrained under this section

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shall be ordered pursuant to § 11-47-5 to surrender possession or control of any firearms and not

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to purchase or receive or attempt to purchase or receive any firearms for a period not to exceed

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the duration of the while the restraining order is in effect.

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      (d) If the defendant is present in court at a duly noticed hearing, the court may shall, in

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addition to any other restrictions, order the defendant a person restrained under this section to

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physically surrender any firearm(s) in that person's immediate physical ownership, possession or

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control, or subject to that person's immediate physical ownership, possession or control, within

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twenty-four (24) hours of the order, by surrendering the possession of the firearm(s) to the control

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of any individual not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm who is not related to the

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defendant by blood, marriage, or relationship as defined by § 15-15-1(3), (4), or (5) of the Rhode

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Island general laws, or by surrendering any firearm(s) to the Rhode Island state police or local

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police department, or by surrendering the firearm(s) to a licensed gun dealer. If the defendant is

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not present at the hearing, the defendant shall surrender the firearm(s) within forty-eight (48)

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hours after being served with the order. A person ordered to surrender possession of any

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firearm(s) pursuant to this subsection shall file with the court a receipt showing the firearm(s) was

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either physically surrendered to an individual not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm

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who is not related to the defendant by blood, marriage, or relationship as defined by § 15-15-1(3),

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(4), or (5) or surrender the Rhode Island state police or local police department, or to a licensed

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gun dealer within seventy-two (72) hours after receiving the order. Any defendant transporting a

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firearm to surrender in accordance with the above shall not be liable to prosecution under § 11-

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47-8.

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      (e) Nothing in this section shall limit a defendant's right under existing law to petition

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the court at a later date for modification of the order.

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      (f) The prohibition against possessing a firearm(s) due solely to the existence of a

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domestic violence restraining order issued under this section shall not apply with respect to sworn

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peace officers as defined in § 12-7-21 and active members of military service including members

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of the reserve components thereof, who are required by law or departmental policy to carry

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departmental firearms while on duty or any person who is required by their employment to carry

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a firearm in the performance of their duties. Any individual exempted pursuant to this exception

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may possess a firearm only during the course of their employment. Any firearm required for

 

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employment must be stored at the place of employment when not being possessed for

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employment use; all other firearm(s) must be surrendered in accordance with § 8-8.1-3.

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      (g) Any violation of the aforementioned protective order shall subject the defendant to

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being found in contempt of court.

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      (h) No order shall issue under this section which would have the effect of compelling a

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defendant who has the sole legal interest in a residence to vacate that residence.

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      (i) The contempt order shall not be exclusive and shall not preclude any other available

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civil or criminal remedies. Any relief granted by the court shall be for a fixed period of time not

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to exceed three (3) years, at the expiration of which time the court may extend any order upon

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motion of the plaintiff for such additional time as it deems necessary to protect the plaintiff from

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abuse. The court may modify its order at any time upon motion of either party.

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      (j) Any violation of a protective order under this chapter of which the defendant has

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actual notice shall be a misdemeanor which shall be punished by a fine of no more than one

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thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

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      (k) The penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties provided

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under § 12-29-5.

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      (l) "Actual notice" means that the defendant has received a copy of the order by service

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thereof or by being handed a copy of the order by a police officer pursuant to § 8-8.1-5(d).

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      (m) The district court shall have criminal jurisdiction over all violations of this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. Section 11-5-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-5 entitled "Assaults" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-5-3. Simple assault or battery. -- (a) Except as otherwise provided in § 11-5-2, every

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person who shall make an assault or battery or both shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or

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fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

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      (b) Where the provisions of "The Domestic Violence Prevention Act", chapter 29 of title

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12, are applicable, the penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties as

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provided in § 12-29-5.

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     (c) Upon conviction for a violation under this section, the court shall determine whether,

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as a result of the violation, the offender is prohibited from purchasing, owning, carrying,

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transporting, or having in his or her possession a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9) or § 11-47-

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5.

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     (d) If the offender is prohibited as described in subsection (c) of this section, the court

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shall order the offender to surrender any and all firearms in his or her possession or control, and

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shall ensure surrender is made as provided under § 11-47-5.3.

 

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     SECTION 3. Section 11-47-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-47-5. Possession of arms by person convicted of crime of violence or who is a

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fugitive from justice. -- Possession of arms by person convicted of crime of violence or

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misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, person subject to certain restraining orders, or

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who is a fugitive from justice. -- (a) No person who:

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     (1) has Has been convicted in this state or elsewhere of a crime of violence;

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     (2) Has been convicted in this state or elsewhere of a misdemeanor that involves the use

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or attempted use of force, or the threatened use of a firearm, against a family or household

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member as defined in § 12-29-2, including without limitation an offense under § 12-29-2

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punishable as a misdemeanor offense under § 12-29-5; or

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     (3) who is Is a fugitive from justice; or

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     (4) Is subject to an order issued pursuant to chapter 8.1 of title 8 or chapter 15 of title 15,

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or an equivalent order in this state or elsewhere, that was issued after the restrained person

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received notice of the proceedings and had an opportunity to be heard shall purchase, own, carry,

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transport, or have in his or her possession any firearm.

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      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, no person convicted

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of an offense punishable as a felony offense under § 12-29-5 shall purchase, own, carry,

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transport, or have in his or her possession any firearm, for a period of two (2) years following the

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date of that conviction.

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      (c) No person who is in community confinement pursuant to the provisions of § 42-56-

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20.2 or who is otherwise subject to electronic surveillance or monitoring devices as a condition of

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parole shall purchase, carry, transport, or have in his or her possession any firearm. This

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subsection shall not apply to any person who has not been convicted of (or pleaded guilty or nolo

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contendere to) a crime of violence in a court of competent jurisdiction.

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      (d) Every person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be

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punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) nor more than ten (10) years; and for

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penalties provided in this section he or she shall not be afforded the benefit of suspension or

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deferment of sentence nor of probation.

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     SECTION 4. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following section:

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     11-47-5.3. Surrender of firearms by persons convicted of domestic violence offenses.

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-- A conviction for an offense under § 12-29-2, punishable as a misdemeanor offense under § 12-

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29-5 shall prohibit the convicted person from purchasing, owning, carrying, transporting, or

 

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having in his or her possession any firearm. Upon such a conviction, the court shall order the

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convicted person to surrender all firearms owned by the person, or in the person's possession as

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described in this section.

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     (1) Surrender shall be made within twenty-four (24) hours of conviction to state or local

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law enforcement or to a federally licensed firearms dealer. A law enforcement agency or federally

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licensed firearms dealer taking possession of a firearm shall issue a proof of surrender to the

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person surrendering the firearm. The proof of surrender must include the name of the person, the

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date of surrender, and the serial number, manufacturer, and model of all surrendered firearms.

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     (2) The convicted person shall, within forty-eight (48) hours after being served with the

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order, either:

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     (i) File a copy of proof of surrender with the court of conviction, and attest that all

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firearms owned by the person or in the person's possession at the time of conviction have been

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surrendered in accordance with this section and that the person currently owns no firearms and

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has no firearms in his or her possession; or

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     (ii) Attest that, at the time of conviction, the person owned no firearms and had no

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firearms in his or her possession, and that the person currently owns no firearms and has no

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firearms in his or her possession.

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     (3) If the person surrenders a firearm to a law enforcement agency, the firearm shall be

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considered to be abandoned. The law enforcement agency may establish policies for disposal of

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the abandoned firearm, provided that such policies require that the offender be notified of the

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disposal, and that the offender receive any financial value received from the disposal, less the cost

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associated with taking possession of, storing, and disposing of the firearm.

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     SECTION 5. Section 12-29-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29 entitled "Domestic

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Violence Prevention Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-29-5. Disposition of domestic violence cases. -- (a) Every person convicted of or

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placed on probation for a crime involving domestic violence or whose case is filed pursuant to §

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12-10-12 where the defendant pleads nolo contendere, in addition to any other sentence imposed

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or counseling ordered, shall be ordered by the judge to attend, at his or her own expense, a

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batterer's intervention program appropriate to address his or her violent behavior; provided,

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however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved

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counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. This order shall

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be included in the conditions of probation. Failure of the defendant to comply with the order shall

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be a basis for violating probation and/or the provisions of § 12-10-12. This provision shall not be

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suspended or waived by the court.

 

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      (b) Every person convicted of or placed on probation for a crime involving domestic

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violence, as enumerated in § 12-29-2 or whose case if filed pursuant to § 12-10-12 where the

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defendant pleads guilty or nolo contendere, in addition to other court costs or assessments

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imposed, shall be ordered to pay a one hundred twenty-five dollar ($125) assessment. Eighty

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percent (80%) of the assessment collected pursuant to this section shall be provided to the Rhode

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Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence for programs to assist victims of domestic violence

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and twenty percent (20%) of the assessment shall be deposited as general revenue.

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      (c) (1) Every person convicted of an offense punishable as a misdemeanor involving

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domestic violence as defined in § 12-29-2 shall:

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      (i) For a second violation be imprisoned for a term of not less than ten (10) days and not

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more than one year.

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      (ii) For a third and subsequent violation be deemed guilty of a felony and be imprisoned

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for a term of not less than one year and not more than ten (10) years.

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      (2) No jail sentence provided for under this section can be suspended.

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      (3) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the discretion of the judges

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to impose additional sanctions authorized in sentencing.

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     (d) The court shall indicate on every record of conviction for an offense punishable as a

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misdemeanor involving domestic violence, as defined in § 12-29-2, that the offender is prohibited

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under § 11-47-5 from purchasing, owning, carrying, transporting, or having in his or her

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possession any firearm. The court shall inform the offender of his or her prohibited status and

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shall order the offender to surrender any firearms in his or her possession in accordance with §

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11-47-5.3.

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      (d)(e) For the purposes of this section, "batterers intervention program" means a program

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which is certified by the batterers intervention program standards oversight committee according

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to minimum standards, pursuant to §§ 12-29-5.1, 12-29-5.2, and 12-29-5.3.

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      (e)(f) For purposes of this section, "servicemember" means a person who is presently

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serving in the armed forces of the United States including the Coast Guard, a reserve component

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thereof, or the National Guard. "Veteran" means a person who has served in the armed forces,

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including the Coast Guard of the United States, a reserve component thereof, or the National

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Guard, and has been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

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     SECTION 6. Section 15-15-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-15 entitled "Domestic

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Abuse Prevention" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     15-15-3. Protective orders -- Penalty -- Jurisdiction. -- (a) A person suffering from

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domestic abuse may file a complaint in the family court requesting any order which will protect

 

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and support her or him from abuse including, but not limited, to the following:

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      (1) Ordering that the defendant be restrained and enjoined from contacting, assaulting,

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molesting, or interfering with the plaintiff at home, on the street, or elsewhere, whether the

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defendant is an adult or a minor;

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      (2) Ordering the defendant to vacate the household immediately;

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      (3) Awarding the plaintiff custody of the minor children of the parties, if any;

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      (4) After notice to the respondent and a hearing, ordering either party to make payments

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for the support of a minor child or children of the parties as required by law for a period not to

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exceed ninety (90) days, unless the child support order is for a child or children receiving public

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assistance pursuant to chapter 5.1 of title 40. In these cases, legal counsel for the division of

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taxation, child support enforcement, shall be notified as a party in interest to appear for the

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purpose of establishing a child support order under a new or existing docket number previously

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assigned to the parties and not under the protective docket number. The child support order shall

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remain in effect until the court modifies or suspends the order.

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      (5)(b) After notice to the respondent and a hearing, the court in addition to any other

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restrictions, may shall order the defendant a person restrained under this section to surrender

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physical possession of all firearms in his or her possession, care, custody or control, and not to

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purchase or receive or attempt to purchase or receive any firearms while the restraining order is in

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effect.

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      (b) Any individual who accepts physical possession of a firearm pursuant to this section

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is prohibited from returning any firearm to any defendant under a restraining order during the

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existence of the restraining order. Violation of this provision shall subject both the defendant and

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the individual responsible for the return of the firearm to the defendant, to being found in

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contempt of court.

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      (c) The Family Court shall provide a notice on all forms requesting a protective order

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that, at the hearing for a protective order, the defendant may a person restrained under this section

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shall be ordered pursuant to § 11-47-5 to surrender physical possession or control of any firearms

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and not to purchase or receive or attempt to purchase or receive any firearms for a period not to

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exceed the duration of while the restraining order is in effect.

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      (d) If the defendant is present in court at a duly noticed hearing, the court may shall

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order the defendant a person restrained under this section to physically surrender any firearm

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firearm(s) in that person's immediate ownership, possession or control, or subject to that person's

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immediate physical ownership, possession or control, within twenty-four (24) hours of the order,

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by surrendering the possession of the firearm(s) to the control of any individual not legally

 

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prohibited from possessing a firearm(s) who is not related to the defendant by blood, marriage, or

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relationship as defined by § 15-15-1(3), (4), or (5), of the Rhode Island general laws, or by

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surrendering any firearm(s) to the Rhode Island State Police or local police department, or by

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surrendering the firearm(s) to a licensed gun dealer. If the defendant is not present at the hearing,

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the defendant shall surrender possession of the firearm(s) within forty-eight (48) hours after being

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served with the order. A person ordered to surrender possession of any firearm(s) pursuant to this

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subsection shall file with the court a receipt showing the firearm(s) was either legally transferred

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to an individual not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm who is not related to the

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defendant by blood, marriage, or relationship as defined by § 15-15-1(3), (4), or (5) of the Rhode

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Island general laws or surrender physically surrendered to the Rhode Island state police or local

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police department, or to a licensed gun dealer within seventy-two (72) hours after receiving the

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order. Any defendant transporting a firearm to surrender in accordance with the above shall not

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be liable to prosecution under § 11-47-8.

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      (e) Nothing in this section shall limit a defendant's right under existing law to petition

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the court at a later date for modification of the order.

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      (f) The prohibition against possessing a firearm(s) due solely to the existence of a

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domestic violence restraining order issued under this section shall not apply with respect to sworn

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peace officers as defined in § 12-7-21 and active members of military service including members

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of the reserve components thereof, who are required by law or departmental policy to carry

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departmental firearms while on duty or any person who is required by their employment to carry

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a firearm in the performance of their duties. Any individual exempted pursuant to this exception

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may possess a firearm only during the course of their employment. Any firearm required for

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employment must be stored at the place of employment when not being possessed for

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employment use; all other firearm(s) must be surrendered in accordance with § 15-15-3.

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      (g) Upon motion by the plaintiff, his or her address shall be released only at the

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discretion of the family court judge.

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      (h) (1) Any violation of the protective orders in subsection (a) of this section shall

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subject the defendant to being found in contempt of court.

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      (2) The contempt order shall not be exclusive and shall not preclude any other available

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civil or criminal remedies. Any relief granted by the court shall be for a fixed period of time not

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to exceed three (3) years, at the expiration of which time the court may extend any order, upon

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motion of the plaintiff, for any additional time, that it deems necessary to protect the plaintiff

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from abuse. The court may modify its order at any time upon motion of either party.

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      (i) (1) Any violation of a protective order under this chapter of which the defendant has

 

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actual notice shall be a misdemeanor which shall be punished by a fine of no more than one

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thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

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      (2) The penalties for violation of this section shall also include the penalties as provided

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by § 12-29-5.

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      (j) Actual notice means that the defendant has received a copy of the order by service or

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by being handed a copy of the order by a police officer pursuant to § 15-15-5(d).

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      (k) (1) The district court shall have criminal jurisdiction over all adult violations of this

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chapter.

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      (2) The family court shall have jurisdiction over all juvenile violations of this chapter.

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     SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - WEAPONS

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     This act would prohibit any individual convicted of domestic violence or subject to a

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restraining order, from possessing a firearm.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001326

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