H7408

	2022 -- H 7408
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	LC004564
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

	Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Baginski, Hawkins, and Vella-Wilkinson
	Date Introduced: February 09, 2022
	Referred To: House Judiciary
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Section 11-47-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"
2	is hereby amended to read as follows:
3	11-47-17. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June
4	17, 1959.
5	Except as provided in § 11-47-15.3, all law enforcement officers of this state and its
6	political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place after June 17, 1959, will be
7	required to qualify with the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent
8	appointment, that qualification to be the same as that required in § 11-47-15. Town constables or
9	police constables, special officers, and all law enforcement officers, who by law are authorized to
10	carry side arms and whose appointments are made on a recurring basis, will be required to qualify
11	not later than one year following the date of enactment of this section and their commissions or
12	warrants will be plainly marked or stamped "QUALIFIED WITH PISTOL OR REVOLVER" and
13	will be signed and dated by the certifying authority attesting to that fact. The failure of any law
14	enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section revokes his or her privilege of
15	carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about his or her person. All law
16	enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions will repeat this qualification at
17	periods of not more than one year two (2) times per year at intervals of at least four (4) months,
18	except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification every two (2) years one time per
19	year. Provided further, effective January 1, 2023, the qualification requirements pursuant to this

1	section shall include a nighttime low light/no light qualification component which shall simulate
2	dusk to dawn lighting conditions which conditions may be artificially produced indoors.
3	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
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1	This act would mandate that police officers qualify in the use of firearms two (2) times per
2	year instead of one time annually.
3	This act would take effect on July 1, 2022.
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