2015 -- S 0674

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LC001617

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SPECIAL POLICE FOR PRIVATE

INSTITUTIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Goldin, and Metts

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 12-2.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-2.1 entitled "Special

Police for Private Institutions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     12-2.1-2. Powers of special police officers. – (a) Upon issuance of a license as a special

police officer under § 12-2.1-1, the person so designated as a special police officer shall have the

same immunities and may exercise, in and upon the lands and buildings of the institution by

which the special police officer he or she is employed, and upon streets and highways

immediately adjacent to those lands, the institution's lands and buildings, the same powers and

authority of a police officer as are conferred by the laws of this state upon members of the

division of state police, including the power to arrest persons for violation of state criminal

statutes or for violation of city or town ordinances of the city or town in which the institution is

located, for the purpose of protecting the institution's lands and buildings, and students,

employees and visitors in and upon those lands and buildings.

     (b) Where the institution has two (2) or more land areas and/or buildings separated by

public or private lands not owned by the institution, said special police officers appointed under §

12-2.1-1 shall also have jurisdiction in and upon the most natural public street or highway

corridors for travel between the institution's properties. This jurisdiction is for the limited purpose

of travel on those public streets or highways between those land areas and/or buildings, and not

for the exercise of the powers and authority set forth in subsection (a) of this section, with the

sole exception that those powers and authority may be exercised if, in the course of that travel,

the special police officer views a person or persons in danger of imminent, immediate bodily

harm.

     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 PROCEDURE -- SPECIAL POLICE FOR PRIVATE

INSTITUTIONS

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     This act would set forth the jurisdiction of special police officers on public streets and

highway corridors between land areas and/or buildings owned by educational institutions.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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