Chapter 139

2017 -- H 5351 Enacted 07/05/2017

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS RESIDENCY

Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Marshall, and Canario

Date Introduced: February 02, 2017

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 45-2-15.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-2 entitled "General

Powers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

45-2-15.1. Police officers and firefighters -- Residency within municipality or state

not required.

Notwithstanding any prior ratification and validation by the general assembly of any

home rule charter provision requiring that police officers and fire fighters firefighters reside

within the employing city, or town, or state of Rhode Island, no home rule charter provision shall

require that a police officer or fire fighter firefighter reside within the city, or town, or state of

Rhode Island as a condition of appointment or continued employment. Any prior ratification and

validation by the general assembly of a home rule charter provision requiring residency within a

city, or town, or the state of Rhode Island as a condition for employment of a police officer or

fire fighter firefighter is hereby expressly repealed by the general assembly; further, no city or

town council shall make or ordain any ordinance requiring a police officer or fire fighter

firefighter to reside within the employing city, or town, or state of Rhode Island as a condition of

appointment or continued employment. Any existing ordinance requiring a police officer or fire

fighter firefighter to reside within the employing city, or town, or state of Rhode Island as a

condition of appointment or continued employment is hereby considered contrary to the laws of

this state and is thus void as being in violation of state law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001109

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