2014 -- S 2712 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004912/SUB A

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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 PROVISIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, and Miller

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     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:

     45-2-3.4. Background checks. -- (a) Any person seeking employment as a firefighter

with any city or town in Rhode Island shall undergo a national and state criminal background

check to be initiated prior to, or within one week of, employment after receiving a conditional

offer of employment.

     (b) The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification (BCI), department of

attorney general, state police, or the local police department where he or she resides, for a

national and state criminal records check. Fingerprinting shall be required. The applicant shall be

responsible for the cost of conducting the national and state criminal records check.

     (c) At the completion of the criminal background check required by this section, the

attorney general, state police, or the local police department shall promptly destroy the fingerprint

record of the applicant.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC004912/SUB A

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

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     This act would require all persons seeking employment as a firefighter to undergo a state

and national criminal background check at the applicant's expense, prior to being hired. The act

would also require fingerprinting of the applicant, which fingerprinting records would be

destroyed after completion of the background check.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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