2014 -- H 7667

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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 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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every two (2) years only.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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shall qualify every two (2) years only.

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

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general.

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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 OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

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

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

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qualify on an annual basis.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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