2023 -- H 5694

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LC001141

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Baginski, Vella-Wilkinson, Finkelman,
Place, Dawson, Azzinaro, Costantino, and Lima

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-47-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons"

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is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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Qualification reports to be filed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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11-47-15.3. The failure of any law enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this

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

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

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than one year two (2) times per year at intervals of at least four (4) months, except for correctional

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officers who must repeat this qualification one time per year. Provided further, effective January 1,

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2024, the qualification requirements pursuant to this section shall include a nighttime, low light/no

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light qualification component which shall simulate dusk to dawn lighting conditions, which

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conditions may be artificially produced indoors.

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

 

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general.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

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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 mandate that police officers qualify in the use of firearms in both daylight

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and nighttime conditions two (2) times per year and that correctional officers qualify every year

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instead of once every two (2) years.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2023.

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