2025 -- H 5673

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LC000937

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS --

COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

     Introduced By: Representatives Fascia, Place, Chippendale, and Paplauskas

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-28.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28.2 entitled "Police

Officers — Commission on Standards and Training" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-28.2-8. Establishment of standards.

     (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training

standards, not applicable to the city of Providence, and to be promulgated with due consideration

to varying factors and special requirements of local police agencies, the division of enforcement of

the department of environmental management and the board of regents relative to:

     (1) Minimum standards of physical, educational, mental and moral fitness which shall

govern the recruitment, selection, and apportionment of police officers; provided, however, that the

minimum height and weight standards for local police officers shall be determined by each

municipality.

     (2) The commission with the approval of the director of public safety will establish the

courses of training, and set rules and regulations relative to the education, physical standards, and

personal character of candidates and trainees.

     (3) Minimum course of study, attendance requirements, equipment, and facilities required

at the municipal police training school, or other approved training schools certified pursuant to §

42-28.2-6.

     (4) Minimum qualification for instructors at the municipal police training school, or other

approved training schools certified pursuant to § 42-28.2-6.

     (5) Minimum basic training requirements which police officers appointed to probationary

terms shall complete before being eligible for continued or permanent employment, and the term

within which that basic training must be completed following such appointment to a probationary

term.

     (6) Minimum basic training requirements which police officers not appointed for

probationary terms but appointed on other than a permanent basis shall complete before being

eligible for continued employment.

     (7) Categories or classifications of advanced in-service training programs and minimum

courses of study and attendance requirements for those categories or classifications.

     (8) The establishment of subordinate regional training centers in strategic geographic

locations in order to serve the greatest number of local police agencies that are unable to support

their own training programs.

     (b) The commission shall establish a schedule of sessions of the school, of which there

shall be a minimum of one session per year.

     (c) The commission shall authorize the establishment of police training schools by any

municipality which demonstrates that it can satisfactorily meet the minimum standards established

for police training schools.

     (d) The commission shall establish an equivalency of training certification program within

the municipal police training academy which allows for the certification of any candidate subject

to its oversight. Such certification shall apply to any candidate who:

     (1) Has worked at least one year, full-time as a sworn law enforcement officer;

     (2) Has received training which is comparable to the standards as set forth in subsection

(a) of this section; and

     (3) Has no more than an eight (8) year break-in-service since the candidate's last separation

from a sworn law enforcement position.

     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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS --

COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

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     This act would establish an equivalent training certification program at the municipal

police academy which allows certification of any candidate who has worked at least one year, full-

time as a sworn law enforcement officer, and has met certain other requirements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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