2022 -- H 7705 SUBSTITUTE A

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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, Craven, Serpa, Vella-Wilkinson, Solomon,
Cardillo, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Dept. of Corrections)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-17 and 11-47-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47

entitled "Weapons" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     11-47-17. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June

17, 1959.

     Except as provided in § 11-47-15.3, all law enforcement officers of this state and its

political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place after June 17, 1959, will be

required to qualify with the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent

appointment, that qualification to be the same as that required in § 11-47-15. Town constables or

police constables, special officers, and all law enforcement officers, who by law are authorized to

carry side arms and whose appointments are made on a recurring basis, will be required to qualify

not later than one year following the date of enactment of this section and their commissions or

warrants will be plainly marked or stamped "QUALIFIED WITH PISTOL OR REVOLVER" and

will be signed and dated by the certifying authority attesting to that fact. The failure of any law

enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section revokes his or her privilege of

carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about his or her person. All law

enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions will repeat this qualification at

periods of not more than one year, except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification

every two (2) years.

     11-47-17.1. Mandatory or discretionary nature of § 11-47-15.1 requirements --

Qualification reports to be filed.

     (a) All law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions, whose

permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall be required to qualify with

the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent appointment, that

qualification to be as required in §§ 11-47-15.1 and 11-47-15.3. All permanent appointed law

enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions who are required to qualify under §

11-47-17 may, at the discretion of the officer, qualify under either § 11-47-15, 11-47-15.1 or 11-

47-15.3. The failure of any law enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section

revokes his or her privilege of carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about

his or her person. Qualification under this section will be required at periods of not more than one

year, except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification every two (2) years.

     (b) Copies of all of the qualification reports shall be filed with the office of the attorney

general.

     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 OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

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     This act would require correctional officers to qualify annually with the pistol or revolver

which they are armed rather than the previous requirement of biennial qualification.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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