2021 -- H 5555

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LC000912

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Diaz, Ajello, Ranglin-Vassell, Fogarty,
Caldwell, Blazejewski, McEntee, Carson, and Cortvriend

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2021

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Attorney General/General Treasurer/Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of State)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-60 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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     11-47-60. Possession of firearms on school grounds.

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     (a)(1) No person shall have in his or her possession any firearm or other weapons on school

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grounds.

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     (2) For the purposes of this section, "school grounds" means the property of a public or

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private elementary or secondary school or in those portions of any building, stadium, or other

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structure on school grounds which were, at the time of the violation, being used for an activity

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sponsored by or through a school in this state or while riding school provided transportation.

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

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sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five (5) years, or shall be fined

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not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

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     (4) Any juvenile adjudicated delinquent pursuant to this statute shall, in addition to

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whatever other penalties are imposed by the family court, lose his or her license to operate a motor

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vehicle for up to six (6) months. If the juvenile has not yet obtained the necessary age to obtain a

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license, the court may impose as part of its sentence a delay in his or her right to obtain the license

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when eligible to do so, for a period of up to six (6) months.

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     (b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who shall be exempt

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pursuant to the provisions of §§ 11-47-9, who is a "peace officer" as defined in § 12-7-21, a retired

 

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law enforcement officer permitted under 11-47-11, and § 11-47-18(b) or pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§

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926(B) and 926(C), or an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between a school

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and the individual or an employer of the individual to provide security services to the school, or to

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the following activities when the activities are officially recognized and sanctioned by the

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educational institution:

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     (1) Firearm instruction and/or safety courses;

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     (2) Government-sponsored military-related programs such as ROTC;

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     (3) Interscholastic shooting and/or marksmanship events;

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     (4) Military history and firearms collection courses and/or programs; and

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     (5) The use of blank guns in theatrical and/or athletic events.

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     (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to colleges, universities, or junior colleges.

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     (d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the possession of a firearm that is not

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loaded and is in a locked container or a locked rack that is in a motor vehicle.

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     SECTION 2. 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 the possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace

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officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security

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services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack on motor vehicles.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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