2014 -- H 7667

========

LC004512

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Representatives Jacquard, Nunes, and Palangio

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: House Finance

     (Corrections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-17 and 11-47-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47

entitled "Weapons" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-47-17. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June

17, 1959. -- Except as provided in section 11-47-15.3, all law enforcement officers of this state

and its political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place after June 17, 1959,

will be required to qualify with the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their

permanent appointment, that qualification to be the same as that required in section 11-47-15.

Constables, special officers, and all law enforcement officers who by law are authorized to carry

side-arms and whose appointments are made on a recurring basis will be required to qualify not

later than one year following the date of enactment of this section, and their commissions or

warrants will be plainly marked or stamped "QUALIFIED WITH PISTOL OR REVOLVER" and

will be signed and dated by the certifying authority attesting to that fact. The failure of any law

enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section revokes his or her privilege of

carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about his or her person. All law

enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions will repeat this qualification at

periods of not more than one year, except for correctional officers who must repeat this

qualification every two (2) years who shall not qualify on an annual basis but instead shall qualify

every two (2) years only.

     11-47-17.1. Mandatory or discretionary nature of section 11-47-15.1 requirements --

Qualification reports to be filed. -- (a) All law enforcement officers of this state and its political

subdivisions, whose permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall be

required to qualify with the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent

appointment, that qualification to be as required in sections 11-47-15.1 and 11-47-15.3. All

permanent appointed law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions who are

required to qualify under section 11-47-17 may, at the discretion of the officer, qualify under

either section 11-47-15, 11-47-15.1 or 11-47-15.3. The failure of any law enforcement officer to

qualify under the provisions of this section revokes his or her privilege of carrying a pistol or

revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about his or her person. Qualification under this section

will be required at periods of not more than one year, except for correctional officers who must

repeat this qualification every two (2) years who shall not qualify on an annual basis but instead

shall qualify every two (2) years only.

      (b) Copies of all of the qualification reports shall be filed with the office of the attorney

general.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004512

========

LC004512 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

***

     This act would require that correctional officers qualify to carry a pistol or revolver not

on an annual basis, but every two (2) years, unlike other law enforcement officers who must

qualify on an annual basis.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004512

========

LC004512 - Page 3 of 3