2014 -- H 7126

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - GENERAL POWERS - BACKGROUND CHECKS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Keable, Casey, Guthrie, Johnston, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 45-2-3.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-2 entitled "General

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Powers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     45-2-3.3. Background checks. -- Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any

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municipal recreation department may request a background check from their local police

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department for any employee or volunteer serving their community. Notwithstanding any

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provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any person seeking to work or volunteer

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for a municipal recreation department, or any municipal recreation department having the written

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authorization of a person seeking to work or volunteer for the municipal recreation department,

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may request a Rhode Island criminal history background check from their local police department

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for that person. The Rhode Island criminal history background check shall be a certified true copy

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of the criminal record report and shall bear indicia of authenticity including being printed on local

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police department letterhead with a raised seal and bearing the signature of a duly appointed local

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police officer.

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     Further, notwithstanding any provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any

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person seeking to work or volunteer for a fire department or fire district located in the town of

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Burrillville, or any fire department or fire district having the written authorization of a person

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seeking to work or volunteer for the fire department or fire district located in the town of

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Burrillville, may request a Rhode Island criminal history background check from the Burrillville

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Police Department for that person. The Rhode Island criminal history background check shall be

 

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a certified true copy of the criminal record report and shall bear indicia of authenticity including

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being printed on Burrillville Police Department letterhead with a raised seal and bearing the

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signature of a duly appointed Burrillville Police Officer.

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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 TOWNS AND CITIES - GENERAL POWERS - BACKGROUND CHECKS

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     This act would require municipal recreation departments to obtain written authorization

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to perform a background check on a volunteer or employee.

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     This act would also authorize any fire district or fire department located in the Town of

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Burrillville to request written authorization to perform a background check from their local police

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department for any employee or volunteer serving their community as a firefighter or employee

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of the fire district.

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