2022 -- H 7408

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LC004564

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Baginski, Hawkins, and Vella-Wilkinson

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-17 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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     11-47-17. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June

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17, 1959.

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     Except as provided in § 11-47-15.3, all law enforcement officers of this state and its

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political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place after June 17, 1959, will be

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required to qualify with the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent

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appointment, that qualification to be the same as that required in § 11-47-15. Town constables or

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police constables, special officers, and all law enforcement officers, who by law are authorized to

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carry side arms and whose appointments are made on a recurring basis, will be required to qualify

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not later than one year following the date of enactment of this section and their commissions or

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warrants will be plainly marked or stamped "QUALIFIED WITH PISTOL OR REVOLVER" and

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will be signed and dated by the certifying authority attesting to that fact. The failure of any law

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enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section revokes his or her privilege of

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carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about his or her person. All law

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enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions will repeat this qualification at

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periods of not more than one year two (2) times per year at intervals of at least four (4) months,

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except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification every two (2) years one time per

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year. Provided further, effective January 1, 2023, the qualification requirements pursuant to this

 

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section shall include a nighttime low light/no light qualification component which shall simulate

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dusk to dawn lighting conditions which conditions may be artificially produced indoors.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

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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 mandate that police officers qualify in the use of firearms two (2) times per

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year instead of one time annually.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2022.

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