2023 -- S 0134

========

LC000139

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

     Introduced By: Senators LaMountain, Quezada, McKenney, Euer, Burke, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: February 01, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-11 and 11-47-18 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47

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

     11-47-11. License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver.

     (a) The licensing authorities of any city or town shall, upon application of any person

twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence or place of business within the

city or town, or of any person twenty-one (21) years of age or over having a bona fide residence

within the United States and a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver concealed upon his or

her person issued by the authorities of any other state or subdivision of the United States, issue a

license or permit to the person to carry concealed upon his or her person a pistol or revolver

everywhere within this state for four (4) years from date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has

good reason to fear an injury to his or her person or property or has any other proper reason for

carrying a pistol or revolver, and that he or she is a suitable person to be so licensed. The license

or permit shall be in triplicate in form to be prescribed by the attorney general and shall bear the

fingerprint, photograph, name, address, description, and signature of the licensee and the reason

given for desiring a license or permit and in no case shall it contain the serial number of any firearm.

The original shall be delivered to the licensee. Any member of the licensing authority, its agents,

servants, and employees shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based upon any

official act or decision, performed or made in good faith in issuing a license or permit under this

chapter.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other chapter or section of the general laws of the state of Rhode

Island, the licensing authority of any city or town shall not provide or release to any individual,

firm, association or corporation the name, address, or date of birth of any person who has held or

currently holds a license or permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. This section shall not be

construed to prohibit the release of any statistical data of a general nature relative to age, gender

and racial or ethnic background nor shall it be construed to prevent the release of information to

parties involved in any prosecution of § 11-47-8 or in response to a lawful subpoena in any criminal

or civil action which the person is a party to that action.

     11-47-18. License or permit issued by attorney general on showing of need — Issuance

to retired police officers.

     (a) The attorney general may issue a license or permit to any person twenty-one (21) years

of age or over to carry a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, upon his or her person upon

a proper showing of need, subject to the provisions of §§ 11-47-12 and 11-47-15; that license or

permit may be issued notwithstanding the provisions of § 11-47-7. Any person who resides in

another state, whether the person has a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued by that,

or any other state, shall be subject to all requirements in this section.

     (b) All state police officers and permanent members of city and town police forces of this

state who have retired in good standing after at least twenty (20) years of service, or retired in good

standing due to a physical disability other than a psychological impairment, may be issued a license

or permit by the attorney general subject to the provisions of §§ 11-47-12 and 11-47-15. If any such

retired police officer resides outside the State of Rhode Island, the person shall be subject to the

requirements of subsection (a) of this section. The term “in good standing” means that at the time

of retirement, the police officer was not facing disciplinary action that could have resulted in his or

her termination for misconduct or unfitness for office. Any member of the licensing authority, and

its agents, servants, and employees shall be immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based

upon any official act or decision, performed or made in good faith in issuing a license or permit

under this chapter.

     (c) Notwithstanding any other chapter or section of the general laws of the state of Rhode

Island, the attorney general shall not provide or release to any individual, firm, association or

corporation the name, address, or date of birth of any person who has held or currently holds a

license or permit to carry a concealed pistol or revolver. This section shall not be construed to

prohibit the release of any statistical data of a general nature relative to age, gender and racial or

ethnic background nor shall it be construed to prevent the release of information to parties involved

in any prosecution of § 11-47-8 or in response to a lawful subpoena in any criminal or civil action

LC000139 - Page 2 of 4

which said person is a party to such action.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC000139

========

LC000139 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

***

     This act would prohibit any city or town from issuing a license or permit to carry a

concealed weapon to any individual on the basis that person has a license or permit from another

state. Cities and towns would be restricted to issuing licenses or permits to those individuals who

reside or who have a business within that city or town. This act would also require that any out-of-

state applicant meet all the requirements of § 11-47-18 before being issued a license or permit to

carry a concealed weapon.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC000139

========

LC000139 - Page 4 of 4