2022 -- H 7891

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LC005428

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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, and Place

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. 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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     11-47-8.2. Review and appeal of the decision of the licensing authority or attorney

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general.

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     (a) A decision denying a permit pursuant to either §§ 11-47-11 or 11-47-18 shall be final

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unless further review or appeal is initiated in writing within fifteen (15) days after the decision has

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been mailed to the applicant at the address listed on the application.

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     (b) An aggrieved individual may submit a written request to reconsider the denial to the

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licensing authority or the department of the attorney general. Said request shall be submitted within

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fifteen (15) days after the decision has been mailed to the address provided by the applicant.

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     (1) The licensing authority or the department of the attorney general shall schedule and

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conduct an in-person meeting within fourteen (14) days of the request to review and discuss the

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decision. Said meeting shall only be scheduled or rescheduled beyond the initial fourteen (14) day

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period by agreement of the parties or for good cause, but in no event exceed sixty (60) days.

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     (2) The applicant may submit any supplemental documentation relative to the application,

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which shall become part of the application.

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     (3) The meeting shall be conducted as an informal meeting, not as an administrative

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hearing. The licensing authority or the department of the attorney general shall receive and consider

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documents and other evidence without regard to statutory and common law rules. A stenographic

 

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record, transcription, video, audio or other recording is only allowed by agreement of the parties.

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     (4) The applicant may be represented at this meeting by an attorney.

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     (5) The licensing authority or the department of the attorney general shall, within seven (7)

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days after the meeting mail, a decision to the applicant granting or denying the application. Any

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denial shall be in writing and state with specificity the reason(s) and evidence upon which the denial

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was based and the rationale for the denial.

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     (c) An aggrieved individual may submit an appeal of the decision denying a permit

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pursuant to either §§ 11-47-11 or 11-47-18 or of the decision of the request to reconsider to the

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superior court for the county in which the licensing authority or attorney general is located, in the

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form of a miscellaneous petition, within fifteen (15) days after the decision has been mailed to the

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applicant at the address listed on the application.

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     (1) The petition for review shall state the grounds upon which review is sought but need

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not be verified.

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     (2) Upon appeal, the petitioner is entitled to a trial de novo before a justice of the superior

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court without a jury.

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     (3) Within thirty (30) days of the notice of appeal the licensing authority or attorney general

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shall provide a full, complete and certified copy of the application and all submitted documents to

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both the petitioner and the superior court.

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     (d) Pursuant to chapter 3 of title 38, the request to reconsider and the appeal to the superior

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court, shall not be deemed public. All documents, records and proceedings before the licensing

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authority, the department of the attorney general and the superior court shall not be open to the

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public, but may be accessed by law enforcement personnel to be used for law enforcement purposes

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only and shall otherwise remain otherwise confidential.

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     (e) An applicant may have his or her hearing open to the public upon written request to the

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superior court.

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     (f) The superior court may award reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and filing fees to the

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prevailing applicant if the court finds that there is no justiciable issue of either law of fact, or if the

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licensing authority or the department of the attorney general did not have a good faith basis in the

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denial of the license or permit.

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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 provide the review and appeal process for individuals applying for a permit

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or license to carry with the licensing authority or attorney general. This act would provide that an

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applicant denied a concealed carry handgun permit, could request a meeting with the licensing

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authority to reconsider the application. If the licensing authority fails to approve the application

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after the meeting, then an appeal for a trial de nova may be taken to the superior court. The act

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would further provide that the documents, records and proceedings before the licensing authority

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and before the superior court shall not be open to the public unless the applicant requests in writing

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that that hearing be open to the public.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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