2022 -- H 7705 SUBSTITUTE A

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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, Craven, Serpa, Vella-Wilkinson, Solomon,
Cardillo, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Dept. of Corrections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-17 and 11-47-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47

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entitled "Weapons" are 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, except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification

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every two (2) years.

 

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     11-47-17.1. Mandatory or discretionary nature of § 11-47-15.1 requirements --

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Qualification reports to be filed.

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     (a) All law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions, whose

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permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall be required to qualify with

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the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent appointment, that

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qualification to be as required in §§ 11-47-15.1 and 11-47-15.3. All permanent appointed law

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enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions who are required to qualify under §

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11-47-17 may, at the discretion of the officer, qualify under either § 11-47-15, 11-47-15.1 or 11-

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47-15.3. The failure of any law enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section

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revokes his or her privilege of carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about

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his or her person. Qualification under this section will be required at periods of not more than one

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year, except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification every two (2) years.

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     (b) Copies of all of the qualification reports shall be filed with the office of the attorney

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general.

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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 require correctional officers to qualify annually with the pistol or revolver

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which they are armed rather than the previous requirement of biennial qualification.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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