2025 -- H 5950 AS AMENDED

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LC002047

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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

     Introduced By: Representative Scott Slater

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2025

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws entitled "General Powers" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     45-2-70. Reimbursement of public safety training expenses.

     (a) Any law enforcement agency, fire department, fire district or emergency medical

services organization within the state that hires a public safety employee (including law

enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel) from another municipality or

fire district within the state shall, upon hiring such personnel, reimburse the original employing

municipality or fire district for the cost of training and equipping the employee, provided these

costs were incurred within three (3) years of the employee's hire.

     (b) Reimbursable expenses shall include, but are not limited to:

     (1) Costs for basic and specialized training programs;

     (2) Uniforms, personal protective equipment, and other non-reusable items;

     (3) Equipment and materials directly provided during the training period; and

     (4) A prorated portion of the base salary and benefits paid during the training academy

period.

     (c) The reimbursing organization shall notify the original employing municipality or fire

district within ten (10) days of the employee's hire. The original employer shall provide an itemized

statement of reimbursable costs within thirty (30) days of notification. Payment must be made

within one hundred twenty (120) days of receipt of the itemized claim.

     (d) Reimbursement percentages are determined based on the time elapsed since the

completion of training:

     (1) One hundred percent (100%) reimbursement for hires made within one year of training

academy completion;

     (2) Seventy-five percent (75%) reimbursement for hires between one and two (2) years

after training academy completion;

     (3) Fifty percent (50%) reimbursement for hires between two (2) and three (3) years after

training academy completion.

     (e) This section supersedes any conflicting municipal policies, resolutions, charter

provisions or bylaws, or ordinances.

     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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

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     This act would establish a reimbursement system for a municipalities cost of training public

safety personnel when they are hired by a different municipality or public safety agency within

Rhode Island within three (3) years of receiving the public safety training.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002047

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