2024 -- S 2673

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LC004976

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT, AND BRIDGE

POLICE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 12-2 of the General Laws entitled "Railroad, Steamboat, and Bridge

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Police" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     12-2-9. Privacy protections for railway employees.

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     (a) Any police report involving a railroad fatality and all communications between police

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officers and railroad crew members involved in such fatality shall not be made public and shall be

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maintained by the police department that responds to such fatality in a manner that shall ensure

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confidentiality; provided, however, that all such reports shall be accessible at all reasonable times,

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upon written request, to:

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     (1) The host railroad;

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     (2) The railroad of employ of any employee mentioned in such reports; and

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     (3) Any other person authorized by judicial order to obtain such information if access to

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such report is necessary in the performance of their duties; and provided, further, that all such

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reports shall be accessible at all reasonable times, upon written or electronic mail request to law

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enforcement officers, or the office of attorney general.

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     (b) Communications between police officers and railroad employees concerning any

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railroad fatality incident may be shared with any person listed in subsection (a) of this section if

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such access is necessary to the performance of their duties.

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     (c) A violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one

 

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year or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

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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 PROCEDURE -- RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT, AND BRIDGE

POLICE

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     This act would provide any police report involving a railroad fatality and all

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communications between railroad employees not be made public. Additionally, this act would

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make a violation of this section a misdemeanor.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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