2018 -- H 7854

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LC005038

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL

RESOURCE OFFICERS

     Introduced By: Representative Robert D. Phillips

     Date Introduced: February 28, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 45 of the General Laws entitled "TOWNS AND CITIES" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 69

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ACT OF 2018

     45-69-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island school resource

officers act of 2018."

     45-69-2. Definitions.

     When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:

     (1) "Chief law enforcement officer" means the chief of police for a city or town or the

highest ranking law enforcement officer of a duly organized police force or the superintendent of

the state police.

     (2) "School resource officer" means a duly sworn active, retired, reserve, or special law

enforcement or police officer with all necessary training and current certifications as a school

resource officer appointed by the chief law enforcement officer to provide law enforcement and

security services to designated schools.

     45-69-3. Training.

     (a) The Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training, in

consultation with the attorney general shall develop a training course for school resource officers.

The attorney general, in conjunction with the police officers commission on standards and

training shall ensure that the training course is developed within one hundred eighty (180) days of

the effective date of this chapter. The course, at a minimum, shall provide comprehensive training

in current school resource officers' practices and concepts. The course shall be made available to:

     (1) Any law enforcement officer referred by the chief law enforcement officer of any city

or town or by the superintendent of the state police; and

     (2) Any person to be appointed as a school resource officer.

     (b) The Rhode Island police officers commission on standards and training shall award a

certificate to each individual who successfully completes the course.

     45-69-4. Assignment of resource officers.

     (a) Every city's or town's chief law enforcement officer, or where no law enforcement

department has been established, the superintendent of the state police, in conjunction with each

local school committee shall assign at least one school resource officer for each middle school

and each high school.

     (b) Factors considered in assignment of the school resource officer shall include, but not

be limited to:

     (1) Fostering an optimal learning environment and educational community;

     (2) Specialized training in child and adolescent development;

     (3) Training in de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques with children and

adolescents;

     (4) Experience and/or training in behavioral health disorders in children and adolescents;

and

     (5) Experience and/or training in behavioral threat assessment methods.

     45-69-5. Duties.

     The chief law enforcement officer, after consultation with the school committee and

school administrators, shall provide detailed written instructions on the role and duties of each

school resource officer. A copy of the written instructions shall be kept in the office of the chief

school administrator for the assigned school.

     45-69-6. Review of performance.

     The performance of the school resource officers shall be reviewed annually by the school

committee and the chief law enforcement officer.

     45-69-7. Law enforcement powers.

     A school resource officer has and shall exercise the power to make arrests for violation of

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law on school property and to arrest persons, whether on or off such property, who violate any

law on school property under the same conditions as sworn law enforcement officers. School

resource officers shall have the authority to carry weapons when performing their official duties.

     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 TOWNS AND CITIES - ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL

RESOURCE OFFICERS

***

     This act would establish a program for the training and assignment of school resource

officers to middle and high schools.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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