2017 -- H 5598

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - STATE POLICE - DIVERSITY

     Introduced By: Representative Anastasia P. Williams

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-28-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28 entitled "State

Police" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-28-4. Composition of division.

     (a) There shall be a division of state police consisting of the following members: a

superintendent who shall have the rank of full colonel; as many captains as the superintendent

shall deem necessary, two lieutenant colonels, three majors; as many lieutenants as the

superintendent shall deem necessary; and such other personnel, the number and rank of whom

shall be designated by the superintendent, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate

such sum as it may deem necessary for the payment of the salaries of the members of the

division. The member of the Rhode Island state police who shall be assigned by the

superintendent to execute the duties of deputy superintendent shall have the rank of lieutenant

colonel.

     (b) The ranks of the division of state police shall reflect the diversity of the community

which it serves. The superintendent of state police shall conduct a vigorous effort to recruit

persons of color to the Rhode Island state police training academy and shall utilize all forms of

media in this effort including, but not limited to, print and electronic media, radio and television.

The recruitment effort required by this section shall include dissemination of information relating

to the selection and training process for admission to the Rhode Island state police training

academy.

     (c) Beginning June 30, 2018, at least one in every five (5) recruits attending the Rhode

Island State Police Training Academy shall be a person of color.

     (d) Beginning June 30, 2019, at least one in every five (5) new appointments to be

members of the state police shall be a member who is a person of color.

     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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - STATE POLICE - DIVERSITY

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     This act would require that by June 30, 2018, at least one in every five (5) recruits to the

Rhode Island State Police Training Academy be a person of color and by June 30, 2019 at least

one in every five (5) new appointments to the Rhode Island State Police be a person of color and

would also require the superintendent to conduct a vigorous effort to recruit persons of color to

the Rhode Island State Police Training Academy.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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