2021 -- S 0073

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LC000259

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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 - THE HAROLD M. METTS SCHOOL SAFETY

ACT OF 2021

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Coyne, Goodwin, Gallo, Pearson, Euer, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. This act shall be known as the "Harold M. Metts School Safety Act of 2021".

     SECTION 2. Section 11-47-60 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

is hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-47-60. Possession of firearms on school grounds.

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

grounds.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

educational institution:

     (1) Firearm instruction and/or safety courses;

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

     (3) Interscholastic shooting and/or marksmanship events;

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

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

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

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

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

     SECTION 3. 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 - THE HAROLD M. METTS SCHOOL SAFETY

ACT OF 2021

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     This act would prohibit the possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace

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

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

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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