2016 -- H 7059

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LC003243

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- COMMISSION ON

STANDARDS AND TRAINING

     Introduced By: Representatives Lombardi, Regunberg, Amore, Handy, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: January 07, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-28.2 of the General Laws entitled "Police Officers -

Commission on Standards and Training" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

section:

     42-28.2-8.3. Educational requirements -- Development disability recognition

training. -- The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory

training standards to provide instruction for police officers in identifying, responding to,

handling, investigating and reporting all incidents involving any person with a "developmental

disability" as defined in §40.1-1-8.1. The commission shall include this training in all curricula

for recruits and in-service trainees, and in all police academies operated or certified by the

commission.

     SECTION 2. Section 40.1-1-8.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-1 entitled

"Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals" is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     40.1-1-8.1. "Developmental disability" defined. -- The term "developmental disability"

means a severe, chronic disability of a person which:

      (1) Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and

physical impairments;

      (2) Is manifested before the person attains age twenty-two (22) at any age;

      (3) Is likely to continue indefinitely;

      (4) Results in substantial functional limitations in three (3) or more of the following

areas of major life activity:

      (i) Self-care;

      (ii) Receptive and expressive language;

      (iii) Learning;

      (iv) Mobility;

      (v) Self-direction;

      (vi) Capacity for independent living; and

      (vii) Economic self-sufficiency; and

      (5) Reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special,

interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services which are of life-long or extended

duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- COMMISSION ON

STANDARDS AND TRAINING

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     This act would require mandatory training standards for police officers and trainees, in

identifying, responding, and handling all incidents involving any person with a developmental

disability.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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