Chapter 275
2015 -- S 0825 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
Enacted 07/15/2015

A N   A C T
RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY

Introduced By: Senator Michael J. McCaffrey
Date Introduced: April 09, 2015

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Sections 3-12-1 and 3-12-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 3-12 entitled
"Enforcement of Title" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     3-12-1. Duty of deputy sheriffs, constables, and police officers -- Action on
taxpayer's demand Duty of deputy sheriffs, town constables, and police officers -- Action on
taxpayer's demand. -- Members of the division of sheriffs, and the city and town sergeants,
town constables, officers, or members of the town or city police, and members of the division of
state police, police are empowered and it is made their duty to see that the provisions of this title
and the rules and regulations made or authorized by the department of business regulation and the
division of taxation are enforced within their counties, towns, and cities. It is their special duty to
use their utmost efforts to repress and prevent crime by the suppression of unlicensed liquor
shops, gambling places, and houses of ill fame, and they shall also do so on the request of any
taxpayer of any town or city and may command aid in the execution of the authority conferred.
Any officer within the above enumeration who willfully neglects or refuses to perform the duties
imposed upon him or her by this section shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500)
and be rendered ineligible again to be appointed to this position; provided, that the officer may
after investigation, before taking any further action at the request of any taxpayer, demand that
the taxpayer requesting him or her to act give a bond to secure to that officer reasonable
compensation for his or her services and to protect him or her from all costs and damages that
may arise from that action.
     3-12-3. Entry on licensed premises -- Arrest without warrant -- Evidence of
unlawful sales. -- The mayor and council of any city or the town council city, or the town
council, or either member, or the chief of police of any city or town, or any police officer, or any
town constable specially authorized by that city or town council, or any member of the division of
state police, or agent of the department of business regulation and the division of taxation, may at
any time enter upon the premises of any person licensed under this title, title to ascertain the
manner in which that person conducts his or her business and to preserve order; and every chief
of police, police officer, town constable or member of the division of state police, has the power
to arrest, without a warrant, all persons found actually engaged, in the premises entered, in the
commission of any offense in violation of any of the provisions of this title, title and to keep
those persons arrested in custody until they can be brought before some magistrate (but for a
period not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours) having the proper jurisdiction of that offense in that
city or town, town to be dealt with according to law; and whenever any person is seen to drink
any beverage in those premises, or in any part of those premises, on any days or hours prohibited,
under this title, it is evidence that those beverages were sold and kept for sale by the occupant of
those premises or his or her authorized agent.
     SECTION 2. Sections 4-1-12 and 4-1-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled
"Cruelty to Animals" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     4-1-12. Entry of premises where bird or animal fights are conducted -- Arrest --
Seizure of birds or animals. -- Any deputy sheriff, town sergeant, town constable, police officer
officer, or any officer authorized to serve criminal process may enter any place, building, or
tenement anywhere within the state, state where there is an exhibition of the fighting of birds or
animals, or where preparations are being made for that exhibition, and and, without a warrant,
arrest all persons present, present and take possession of the birds or animals engaged in
fighting, fighting and all birds or animals found there and intended to be used or engaged in
fighting. Those persons shall be kept in custody in jail or other convenient place not more than
twenty-four (24) hours, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, at or before the expiration of which
time those persons shall be brought before a district court or the superior court and proceeded
against according to law.
     4-1-20. Duty of police officers -- Fines paid to society for prevention of cruelty to
animals. -- Any deputy sheriff, town constable constable, or police officer shall prosecute all
violations of this chapter which that come to his or her knowledge and all fines and forfeitures
resulting from the complaint of any officer or agent of the society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals under this chapter, shall enure and
be paid over to the society in aid of the benevolent objects for which it was incorporated.
     SECTION 3. Section 5-2-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-2 entitled "Bowling Alleys,
Billiard Tables, and Shooting Galleries" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-2-4. Providence -- Regulation of bowling alleys. -- The bureau of licenses of the city
of Providence may regulate bowling alleys in that city and make orders as to the manner of
building and the hours of using bowling alleys; and in case an order is disobeyed, may issue their
warrant, directed to the city sergeant or to any town constable, commanding him or her to take up
and destroy any bowling alley kept in violation of that order; and every city sergeant or constable
to whom a warrant is delivered shall immediately execute the warrant.
     SECTION 4. Section 5-11-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-11 entitled "Hawkers and
Peddlers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-11-12. Arrest of violators -- Detention of merchandise. -- Any state police officer,
any police officer of any city or town who has probable cause to believe a person has violated the
provisions of this chapter, and any deputy sheriff, town sergeant, or town constable within his or
her precinct who has probable cause to believe a person has violated the provisions of this
chapter, may arrest that person, and may also detain any goods, wares, or other merchandise
which that the arrested person has with him or her at the time of his or her arrest, for the purpose
of hawking and peddling; and the arresting officer detaining the goods, wares, or merchandise
shall be allowed a reasonable compensation for the safekeeping and care of the merchandise and
property, to be taxed in the costs of prosecution and conviction for the offense.
     SECTION 5. Section 5-22-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-22 entitled "Shows and
Exhibitions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     5-22-16. Appointment of officers to preserve order at shows. -- Town or city councils
may also appoint town constables or other proper officials, at the expense of the licensee, to
preserve order and to execute the orders of the city or town council at any such show, show and
to report to the chief of police or the city or town sergeant any violation of the law and especially
any violation of § 5-22-23 that occurs during the show.
     SECTION 6. Section 8-5-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-5 entitled "Court
Secretaries, Court Reporters, and Electronic Court Reporters" is hereby amended to read as
follows:
     8-5-1. Supreme court secretary and assistant -- Powers of court attendants. -- The
supreme court may appoint a secretary and an assistant secretary, each of whom shall hold office
during its pleasure and shall perform such duties as may be required by the court. All court
attendants, when on duty, shall have the power of police constables.
     SECTION 7. Section 8-8.1-4.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-8.1 entitled "Domestic
Assault" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     8-8.1-4.2. Return of service -- Alternate service. -- (a) The complaint and any order
issued under this chapter shall be personally served upon the defendant by a deputy sheriff or
certified constable except as provided in subsections (c), (d), and (f) of this section. Service shall
be made without payment of any fee when service is made by a deputy sheriff. At the election of
the plaintiff, service pursuant to this subsection may also be made by a certified constable
licensed authorized to serve process of the district court pursuant to § 45-16-4.1 9-5-10.1. The
certified constable shall be entitled to receive the fee allowed by law for the service of a district
court summons.
      (b) Return of service shall be forwarded by the deputy sheriff or certified constable to the
clerk of court prior to the date set down for hearing on the complaint. If service has not been
made, the deputy sheriff or certified constable shall indicate on the summons the reason therefor
and the attempts made to serve the defendant.
      (c) At the time the return of service is sent to the clerk of the court, the deputy sheriff or
certified constable shall cause a copy of the return of service to be sent to the plaintiff and to the
appropriate law enforcement agency.
      (d) If, at the time of hearing on the complaint, the court determines that after diligent
effort the deputy sheriff or certified constable has been unable to serve the defendant personally,
the judge may order an alternate method of service designed to give reasonable notice of the
action to the defendant and taking into consideration the plaintiff's ability to afford the means of
service ordered. Alternative service shall include include, but not be limited to: service by
certified and regular mail at defendant's last known last-known address (excluding the residence
which that he or she has been ordered to vacate) or place of employment, employment; leaving
copies at the defendant's dwelling or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and
discretion residing therein, therein; or by publication in a newspaper for two (2) consecutive
weeks. The court shall set a new date for hearing on the complaint and shall extend the temporary
order until that date.
      (e) If the defendant appears in person before the court, the necessity for further service is
waived and proof of service of that order is not necessary.
      (f) If the defendant is served notice regarding the complaint and hearing, but does not
appear at the hearing, the clerk of the district court shall mail the defendant a copy of the resulting
order.
     SECTION 8. Sections 9-5-6, 9-5-7, 9-5-10 and 9-5-15 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-
5 entitled "Writs, Summons and Process" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     9-5-6. Writs and process operating throughout state -- Officers to whom directed. --
All writs, executions, and process shall run throughout the state, state and shall be directed for
service to the division of sheriffs, or to a certified constables constable, but if any deputy sheriff
is a party to the action or suit, the process, process shall be directed to the town sergeant or a
certified constable and may be served by any one of them not a party to the action or suit.
     9-5-7. Direction of writs for arrest or execution against the body. -- All writs
whatsoever, whatsoever commanding the arrest of a defendant, or executions running against
the body of a defendant, shall be directed for service only to the division of sheriffs or to a
certified constable authorized pursuant to § 9-5-10.1, or if the writ is to be served in the town of
New Shoreham, it may be directed to the town sergeant of the town, subject to the provisions of §
9-5-8, and no writ of arrest shall be served by any other officer.
     9-5-10. Direction and return of district courts writs and summonses. -- Writs and
summonses issued by a district court shall be made returnable to the court at the place and on the
day and hour provided by law, to be named in the writs and summonses, and shall, except as
otherwise specifically provided, be directed to the division of sheriffs, or to either of the town
sergeants sergeants, or constables to a certified constable licensed authorized pursuant to § 45-
16-4.1 9-5-10.1 of the county in which the action shall be brought, or pursuant to § 45-16-4.3 for
statewide service; provided, that writs of arrest and writs, summonses, and executions issued by a
district court in actions for possession of tenements or estates let or held at will or by sufferance
shall be directed to the division of sheriffs and service thereof shall be made by a member of the
division of sheriffs; and provided, further, that in actions wherein the debt or damages demanded
exceed three hundred dollars ($300), a town sergeant of the county in which the action is brought
shall have power to serve the writs or summonses only if his or her certificate of appointment has
been endorsed approving such use thereof by the judge of the district court having jurisdiction in
the city or town by which the sergeant was appointed or elected. In case any person upon whom it
is necessary to make service of any writ, summons, or execution issued by a district court is, or
has estate, in any other county than the one in which the action is brought, the writ, summons, or
execution may also be directed to and served by the like officer of such other county.
     9-5-15. Form for writs of replevin. -- Writs of replevin shall be substantially in the
following form:
WRIT OF REPLEVIN.
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
     SC. To the sheriffs of our several counties and to their deputies, or to a certified
constable,
     (SEAL) Greeting:
     We command you that you replevy, if to be found within your precinct, the goods and
chattels following, viz.: (Here enumerate and particularly describe them) belonging to
…………………….. of …………………… now taken (detained, or attached as the case may be)
by ……………………… of ……………………… at ………………………. in the county of
………………………. and them deliver unto the said ………………………………., provided
the same are not taken, attached, or detained upon original writ, mesne process, warrant of
distress, or upon execution as the property of the said ………………………………….; and
summon the said ………………….. to appear on the return-day hereof (said return-day being the
day of …………………….. A. D. 19…….) in the SUPERIOR COURT to be holden at the
county courthouse at …………………….., to answer unto the said …………………….. in a plea
of replevin that the said ………………….. on the day of …………………….. at said
………………… unlawfully, and without justifiable cause, took the goods and chattels of the
said …………………… as aforesaid, and them unlawfully detained unto this day, (or, unlawfully
detained the goods and chattels aforesaid, as the case may be) to the damage of the said
………………………., as he says, …………………… dollars.
     Hereof fail not, and make true return of this writ with your doings thereon, together with
the bond you shall take of the plaintiff.
     Witness, the seal of our superior court, at ……………………… this day of
…………………… in the year ……
, Clerk.
     SECTION 9. Chapter 9-5 of the General Laws entitled "Writs, Summons and Process" is
hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:
     9-5-10.1. Certification of constables. – (a) A person at least twenty-one (21) years of
age who complies with the statute and the requirements set forth in any regulations promulgated
by the department of business regulation may file an application with the department requesting
that the applicant be certified as a constable. Once issued by the department, such certification
shall be effective for a period of two (2) years or until such approval is withdrawn by the
department. Such certified constable shall be entitled to serve or execute writs and process in such
capacity for any court of the state, anywhere in the state, subject to any terms and limitations as
set forth by the court, and in such number as determined by the chief judge of the district court.
     (b) Certification process.
     (1) Application.
     (i) Any person seeking certification pursuant to this section shall complete an application
and submit it to the department of business regulation in the form designated by the department
for such applications.
     (ii) The application shall include information determined by the department to be relevant
to licensure and shall include a national criminal background check.
     (2) Referral to certified constables' board.
     (i) Once the applicant has provided a completed application, the department shall refer
the applicant to the certified constables' board by providing a copy of the application to the board
and to the chief judge of the district court.
     (3) Training.
     (i) Following review of the application, the board shall determine whether the applicant
should be recommended for training by the board to be conducted by a volunteer training
constable. If the board determines that training is appropriate, the applicant shall be assigned to
a training constable who shall be a constable in good standing for a minimum of ten (10) years
and who is approved by the chief judge of the district court to train prospective constables.
     (ii) Training shall consist of a minimum of ninety (90) hours to be completed within
ninety (90) days from the date of the referral by the board.
     (iii) Within thirty (30) days from the conclusion of training, a written report shall be
submitted by the training constable to the board with a copy to the department that reflects the
dates and times of training and comments on the aptitude of the trainee.
     (iv) If the board concludes that training is not appropriate or if the report of the training
constable concludes that the applicant does not have the aptitude to perform the duties of a
constable, the board shall so inform the department which shall deny the application on that basis.
     (4) Oral and written tests.
     (i) Upon the successful completion of the training period and recommendation from the
training constable, within ninety (90) days, the applicant shall complete an oral examination on
the legal and practical aspects of certified constables' duties that shall be created and
administered by the board.
     (ii) Upon the successful completion of the oral examination, within sixty (60) days the
applicant must complete a written test created by the board and approved by the chief judge of the
district court that measures the applicant's knowledge of state law and court procedure.
     (iii) If the board concludes that the applicant has not successfully passed either the oral or
written test, the board shall so inform the department which shall deny the application on that
basis.
     (5) Final review. The department shall review the application, training record, test scores,
and such other information or documentation as required and shall determine whether the
applicant shall be approved for certification and the person authorized to serve process in the
state.
     9-5-10.2. Posting of bond by certified constables. -- Upon filing of the application and
training required by § 9-5-10.1, an applicant shall submit an application fee in the amount of four
hundred dollars ($400) and deposit a bond with sufficient sureties in the sum of ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) for the faithful performance of the duties of his or her office conditioned to
protect members of the public and persons contracting with the certified constable against any
damage arising from any actionable misconduct on the part of the applicant while serving as a
certified constable. The terms of the bond shall include notification by the surety issuing the bond
to the department if the bond is revoked, cancelled, or otherwise not in effect. Failure to keep the
bond in effect shall be grounds for revocation of the certification to act as a constable.
     9-5-10.3. Powers and authority of certified constables. – (a) No certified constable
shall display any badge, emblem, or certification in the course of his or her duties except that
which is issued or authorized by the department of business regulation, nor shall any certified
constable misrepresent himself or herself as a law enforcement officer or peace officer.
     (b) Certified constables shall have no power or authority other than to serve process and
execute writs as provided by this section.
     (c) The powers and authority of any constable who is presently approved to serve process
by the district court shall continue in full force and effect until such time that his or her
application for certification is approved in accordance with the certification process set forth in §
9-5-10.5, but in no event shall such period exceed two (2) years.
     (d) No certified constable, while serving or executing any process or writ issued by or
returnable to the court, is liable in any civil action to respond in damages as a result of his or her
acts of commission or omission arising directly out of his or her negligent serving or executing
the process or writ except as provided in § 9-5-10.5. In the event a civil action is brought against
a certified constable as the result of the performance of his or her duties, the constable is entitled
to recover all costs and attorney's fees incurred by the certified constable incidental to the civil
action.
     9-5-10.4. Renewal of certification of certified constables. -- A certified constable shall
be required to renew his or her certification every two (2) years. Any certified constable failing to
renew his or her certification shall no longer be approved to serve as a certified constable. At the
time of renewal, the certified constable shall submit a renewal application fee of four hundred
dollars ($400) and provide evidence that he or she has completed ten (10) hours of approved
continuing education in the areas of service of process within the prior twenty-four-month (24)
period, and such courses shall be approved by the Independent Constables Association, Inc.
and/or the Rhode Island Constables, Inc., along with proof of sufficient bond, a current criminal
background check, and current contact information. Failure to provide any of these items shall be
grounds to deny renewal of the certification.
     9-5-10.5. Suspension, revocation or review of certification of certified constables. –
(a) Upon the receipt of a written complaint, request of the board, request of a judge of any court,
or upon its own initiative, the department shall ascertain the facts and, if warranted, hold a
hearing for the reprimand, suspension, or revocation of a certification. The director, or his or her
designee, has the power to refuse a certification for cause or to suspend or revoke a certification
or place an applicant on probation for any of the following reasons:
     (1) The certification was obtained by false representation or by fraudulent act or
conduct;
     (2) Failure to report to the department any of the following within thirty (30) days of the
occurrence:
     (i) Any criminal prosecution taken in any jurisdiction. The constable shall provide the
initial complaint filed and any other relevant legal documents;
     (ii) Any change of name, address or other contact information;
     (iii) Any administrative action taken against the constable in any jurisdiction by any
government agency within or outside of this state. The report shall include a copy of all relevant
legal documents.
     (3) Failure to respond to the department within ten (10) days to any written inquiry from
the department;
     (4) Where a certified constable, in performing or attempting to perform any of the acts
mentioned in this section, is found to have committed any of the following:
     (i) Inappropriate conduct that fails to promote public confidence, including failure to
maintain impartiality, equity, and fairness in the conduct of his or her duties;
     (ii) Neglect, misfeasance, or malfeasance of his or her duties;
     (iii) Failure to adhere to court policies, rules, procedures, or regulations;
     (iv) Failure to maintain the highest standards of personal integrity, honesty, and
truthfulness, including misrepresentation, bad faith, dishonesty, incompetence, or an arrest or
conviction of a crime.
     (5) A copy of the determination of the director of department of business regulation, or
his or her designee, shall be forwarded to the chief judge of the district court within ten (10)
business days.
     (b) Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the chief of any court from suspending
the certification of a constable to serve process within his or her respective court pending the
outcome of an investigation consistent with the provisions of chapter 35 of title 42.
     9-5-10.6. Certified constables' board. – (a) There shall be created a certified constables'
board that shall review each applicant and recommend him or her for training, conduct the oral
examination of each applicant, and that shall serve as a resource to the chief judge and the
department in the consideration of the practical aspects of constable practice. The board shall
consist of five (5) members: two (2) who shall be constables in good standing who have served
for at least ten (10) years, one of whom shall be appointed by the Rhode Island Constables, Inc.
and one appointed by the Rhode Island Constables Association; and three (3) attorneys who shall
be licensed to practice law by the supreme court in good standing who shall be appointed by the
chief judge of the district court. Members of the constables' board shall serve for terms of five (5)
years until a successor is appointed and qualified.
     (b) A representative of the board may attend hearings in order to furnish advice to the
department. The board may also consult with the department of business regulation from time to
time on matters relating to constable certification.
     SECTION 10. Sections 9-10-1 and 9-10-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-10 entitled
"Selection of Jury" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     9-10-1. Notice by court of jurors required -- Notifications to sergeants and
constables. -- From time to time as occasion may require, the superior court or family court shall
direct notices to be sent by the clerk thereof to the jury commissioner that there will be required
for the county or counties for which the court is held a certain number of grand or petit jurors and
the time and place at which they are required to attend. And the jury commissioner
commissioner, on receiving the notice notice, shall take from the list of jurors qualified as
provided in chapter 9 of this title, in the order in which their names appear on the jury list, so
many names as may be required to insure ensure the attendance of the number of jurors required
by the court, court and shall issue notifications to the city or town sergeant or any certified
constable of the town where the jurors reside, either in person person, or by one of his or her
assistants assistants, or by registered or certified mail, and under his or her hand and seal,
designating who are grand and petit jurors, and the time and place at which the jurors are required
to attend. Upon consent of the town sergeant of the town where any juror resides, the jury
commissioner may retain the notifications for service by the jury commissioner or his or her
agents.
     9-10-2. Service of notice on jurors. -- The city or town sergeant or certified constable,
upon receipt of the notification as provided in section 9-10-1, shall forthwith make service of the
notification upon the persons named therein as jurors by delivering to each of them, or by leaving
at their last and usual place of abode, a notice substantially in the following form:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
     Sc.
     TO ………………………………. Greeting:
     You are hereby notified that you have been drawn as a juror for the superior or family
court for the county (or counties) of ………………………. and you are required to attend the
said court be holden at ………………….on the ………………… day of ……………………, at
………………. o'clock in the forenoon.
     Sergeant.
     Constable.
     For warning each person the town sergeant or constable shall be paid fifty cents ($.50)
out of the town treasury. The jury commissioner or his or her agents, having retained the
notifications in accordance with § 9-10-1, shall forthwith serve the notifications in the same form
as contained in this section by regular mail.
     SECTION 11. Section 9-25-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-25 entitled "Execution"
is hereby amended to read as follows:
     9-25-9. Form of superior court writs of possession. -- (a) Writs of possession issuing
from the superior court shall be substantially in the following form:
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
     SC.
     To the sheriffs of our several counties or to their deputies or to a certified constable,
     (SEAL) ………………….; ……………………; Greeting:
     Whereas ………………. of …………… by the consideration of the SUPERIOR COURT
holden at ……………… did on the ………………… day of …………………. recover judgment
for the possession of …………………… with the privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging
against ……………………. of …………………….. who had unjustly withholden …………..
from the possession thereof, and also by the consideration of the same court recovered judgment
against the said ……………………. for the sum ……………………… of costs of suit, as to us
appears of record, whereof execution remains to be done: We command you, therefore, that
without delay you cause the said ……………….. to have possession of and in the said
………………….. with the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging. We also command
you that of the goods and chattels and real estate of the said …………………, within your
precinct, you cause to be levied and paid to the said ………………… the aforesaid sum of
…………….. with 50 cents more for this writ, and thereof also to satisfy yourself for your own
fees; ]nd for want of the goods and chattels and real estate of the said …………. to be found in
your precinct to satisfy and pay the same as aforesaid, we command you to take the body of the
said ……………. and ……………… commit unto our correctional institution in your precinct,
therein to be kept until ……………….. pay the full sum above mentioned, with your fees, or until
…………….. be discharged by the said ………………. or otherwise by order of law.[
     Hereof fail not, and make true return of this writ and of your doings thereon to our
superior court at …………………… on the …………….. day of …………. A.D. ………..
     Witness, the seal of our superior court at ……………….. this …………….. day of
……………… in the year …….. , Clerk.
      (b) If an officer, serving an execution issued under this section on a judgment for the
plaintiff for possession of land or tenements, removes personal property belonging to a person
other than the plaintiff from the land or tenements and places it upon the sidewalk, highway,
street, or way on which land or tenements abut, he or she may forthwith and before the expiration
of the time limited in any statute or ordinance for the removal of obstructions in the street,
remove the personal property and cause it to be stored for the benefit of the owners thereof.
     (c) Whoever accepts the personal property on storage from the officer shall have a lien
thereon for reasonable storage fees and for reasonable expenses of removing it to the place of
storage, but the lien shall not be enforced by sale of the property until the property has been kept
on storage for at least thirty (30) days.
     (d) If the owner of the property is present and claims it when it is so removed from the
land or tenements, the officer shall not remove and store it, and his or her act of placing it upon
the sidewalk, highway, street, or way shall be deemed to be the act of the owner, who alone shall
be held to answer therefor.
     SECTION 12. Section 11-8-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-8 entitled "Burglary and
Breaking and Entering" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-8-6. Entry to steal poultry -- Arrest -- Fine. -- Every person who breaks and enters,
or enters in the nighttime without breaking, any building or enclosure in which are kept or
confined any kind of poultry, with intent to steal any of the poultry, shall be punished by
imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars
($500), or both. Every person who is discovered in the act of willfully entering any building or
enclosure in which are kept or confined any kind of poultry, with intent to steal any of the
poultry, may be arrested without a warrant by a deputy sheriff, town constable, guard, police
officer, or other person and detained in jail or otherwise until a complaint can be made against
him or her for the offense, and until he or she is taken on a warrant issued upon the complaint, but
detention without a warrant shall not continue more than twenty-four (24) hours. One-half (1/2)
of any fine imposed under this section shall inure to the complainant.
     SECTION 13. Section 11-12-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-12 entitled "Dueling
and Fighting" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-12-9. Arrest of fighters. -- A deputy sheriff, town sergeant, town constable
constable, or police officer shall immediately arrest in any county any person violating any of the
provisions of §§ 11-12-6 -- 11-12-8, and shall detain the person until a warrant can be obtained
for his or her arrest.
     SECTION 14. Section 11-17-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-17 entitled "Forgery
and Counterfeiting" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-17-11. Seizure and destruction of counterfeits and counterfeiting devices. --
Whenever the existence of any false, forged, or counterfeit bank bills or notes, or any plates, dies,
or other tools, instruments, or implements used by counterfeiters or designed for the forging or
making of any false or counterfeit notes, coin, or bills, shall come to the knowledge of any deputy
sheriff, town constable, or police officer in this state, the officers shall immediately seize and
take possession of it and deliver it into the custody of the superior court for the county in which it
shall be, and the court shall, as soon as the ends of justice will permit, cause it to be destroyed by
an officer of the court, which officer shall make a return to the court of his or her doings in the
premises.
     SECTION 15. Section 11-30-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-30 entitled
"Nuisances" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-30-8. Entry by police officers of premises -- Commanding departure of persons
found. -- The sheriffs of the several counties and their deputies, and the town sergeants, town
constables, and chiefs of police of the several towns and cities may, within their respective towns
and counties, enter any house or building which that they have cause to suspect to be inhabited
for purposes of prostitution and lewdness, to be resorted to by persons of ill fame or by persons of
dissolute, idle, or disorderly character, or in which they have reasonable cause to believe
intoxicating liquors are sold in violation of law, or unlawful games are carried on or permitted, or
in which they have reasonable cause to believe a common nuisance is kept or maintained. Upon
entering the house or building building, they may command all persons assembled there to
immediately depart from the house or building. In the event of the neglect or refusal of any
person so commanded to leave, they may arrest that person and hold him or her for a period not
exceeding twenty-four (24) hours for prosecution. Every person who shall so refuse or neglect
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00)
or be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days.
     SECTION 16. Section 11-43-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-43 entitled "Treason
and Related Offenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-43-10. Arrest and commitment of persons charged. -- Whenever any person shall
be adjudged to be probably guilty of any offense under this chapter, he or she may be committed
to the adult correctional institutions in any county, there to remain until discharged by order of
law, and warrant of commitment shall issue accordingly, directed to the division of sheriffs or to
either of the city or town sergeants or town constables in the same county with himself or herself,
and to the warden of the adult correctional institutions, which warrant may be executed by the
officer charged with it, although beyond his or her precinct, and shall constitute him or her, while
charged with it, an officer, the obstructing of whom, while in the execution of this office, shall be
punished as is or may be by law in other cases provided.
     SECTION 17. Section 11-44-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-44 entitled "Trespass
and Vandalism" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-44-3. Arrest and detention of persons taking fruits and vegetables. -- Every deputy
sheriff, town or city sergeant, town constable, or police officer, who shall discover any person or
persons in the act of taking and carrying away any growing fruit or vegetables as prohibited by §
11-44-2, shall arrest that person or persons and detain the person or persons in custody until a
complaint can be made against him, her, or them for the offense for which he, she, or they shall
have been arrested and until he, she, or they be taken on a warrant issued upon the complaint;
provided, that the arrest and detention without a warrant shall not continue longer than the space
of twenty-four (24) hours.
     SECTION 18. Sections 11-47-17 and 11-47-43 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 constables, special officers, and all law enforcement officers officers, who by
law are authorized to carry side-arms sidearms and whose appointments are made on a recurring
basis basis, will be required to qualify not later than one year following the date of enactment of
this section, 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.
     11-47-43. Collectors and police officers exempt from section 11-47-42. -- The
provisions of § 11-47-42, so far as they forbid the possession of certain instruments or weapons,
shall not apply to any person who possesses or is making a collection of the weapons as curios or
for educational, professional, scientific, or any other lawful purpose, without intent to use the
instrument or weapon unlawfully. Nor shall the provisions of § 11-47-42, so far as they relate to
the possession or carrying of any billy, apply to sheriffs, town constables, police constables,
police, or other officers or guards whose duties require them to arrest or to keep and guard
prisoners or property, nor to any person summoned by those officers to aid them in the discharge
of their duties while actually engaged in their duties.
     SECTION 19. Section 12-1-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1 entitled
"Identification and Apprehension of Criminals" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-1-14. Body attachment -- Nonsupport of children. -- (a) Any body attachment
issued by the family court in a case involving the bureau of family support relating to the
nonsupport of children shall be entered into the state and police telecommunications system
known as the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, "RILETS". The
family court shall be responsible for transmitting all body attachments and cancellations of them
to the attorney general's bureau of criminal identification for distributing the body attachment
information into RILETS. Within the body attachment, the information entered in RILETS shall
include date of birth and social security number when available. The family court shall be
responsible for transmitting information regarding all body attachments and cancellations to the
attorney general's bureau of criminal identification for entering the body attachment information
into RILETS. The family court shall transmit the original body attachment to the attorney
general's bureau of criminal identification.
      (b) Any peace officer as defined in § 12-7-21 or certified constable authorized pursuant
to § 9-5-10.1 shall have the authority to execute a body attachment as issued by the family court
pursuant to § 8-10-3.1.
     SECTION 20. Section 12-4-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-4 entitled
"Recognizance to Keep the Peace" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-4-2. Warrant to apprehend accused. -- If the complainant shall then, before the
judge or justice of the peace, enter into a recognizance in a sum not exceeding fifty dollars
($50.00), and with this surety, as the judge or justice of the peace shall direct and approve, with
condition to prosecute the complaint with effect, or in default of prosecution to pay the costs that
may accrue to the state, the judge or justice of the peace shall issue a warrant returnable
immediately, annexing to the warrant the complaint, or reciting its substance in it, directed to the
sheriff, deputy sheriffs, town sergeants, and town constables in the county in which the division
is, and to the like officers in the county in which the accused may be supposed to belong, reside,
or be found, and requiring the officer who shall be charged with the service of the warrant
immediately to apprehend the accused and have him or her before the district court for the
division in which the offense shall be alleged to have been committed.
     SECTION 21. Section 12-6-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-6 entitled "Warrants for
Arrest" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-6-7. Warrants issued to other divisions. -- Whenever any judge of the district court,
or any justice of the peace, shall issue his or her warrant against any person charged with an
offense committed in a division of the district court, and the person so charged shall escape into,
reside, or be in any other county than the one in which the division is, the judge or justice of the
peace may direct his or her warrant to each and all deputy sheriffs, city or town sergeants, and
town constables within the state, requiring them to apprehend the person and bring him or her
before the division of the district court having jurisdiction of the offense, to be dealt with
according to law; the officers shall obey and execute the warrant, and be protected from
obstruction and assault in executing the warrant as in service of other process.
     SECTION 22. Section 12-7-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-7 entitled "Arrest" is
hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-7-17. Arrest of escapees and parole violators without warrant. -- The director of
the department of corrections, the warden of the adult correctional institutions, any superintendent
or employees connected with any institution under the management and control of the department
of corrections, or any police officer or town constable, may arrest, without a warrant warrant,
any person who has escaped from any institution, or who, being absent from the institution on
parole, has violated the conditions of the parole, for the purpose of returning the person to the
institution from which the escape was made or from which the parole was granted.
     SECTION 23. Section 12-13-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-13 entitled "Bail and
Recognizance" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-13-2. Warrant for apprehension of accused person. -- Any court before which an
indictment or information shall be found or be pending, and any court before which a complaint
shall be made or be pending, against any person for an offense of which the court has cognizance,
may issue a warrant directed to each and all deputy sheriffs, town sergeants, and town constables
within the state requiring them to apprehend the person and bring him or her before the court, if
the court is in session, or if not, to commit him or her to jail in the county in which the
indictment, information, or complaint is pending, there to be kept until he or she shall be brought
before the court, or until he or she shall give recognizance before some person authorized to take
recognizance for the offense, with sufficient surety or sureties in the sum named in the warrant, if
any sum is named in the warrant, and, if not, in the sum as the person taking the recognizance
shall deem reasonable if the offense is bailable, to appear before the court in which the
indictment, information, or complaint is pending, at the time required by the person so taking the
recognizance, and to answer the indictment, information, or complaint; provided, that the prisoner
may give the recognizance while in the custody of the officer before he or she is committed to jail
before some person authorized to take recognizance for the offense, and upon taking
recognizance the officer shall discharge the prisoner from his or her custody. The officers to
whom the warrant shall be directed are required to obey and execute it, and in its execution shall
be protected from obstruction and assault, as in the service of other process.
     SECTION 24. Section 12-19-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-19 entitled "Sentence
and Execution" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-19-31. Commitment for nonpayment of fines and costs. -- Whenever any person
shall be committed for nonpayment of fines and costs, the sheriffs of the several counties and
their deputies, and the town sergeants and town constables of any town in the several counties,
upon due warrant from the court before whom the person has been convicted, may lawfully
remove and commit the persons to the adult correctional institutions, institutions and they shall
be allowed any fees that are now provided by law in similar cases; provided, that in the counties
of Newport and Washington Washington, any person before removal from the county of
Newport, Newport or the county of Washington, in which sentence is entered, may pay the fine
and costs into the court or into the office of the clerk of the court in which sentence is imposed,
imposed and upon payment shall be discharged.
     SECTION 25. Section 12-21-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-21 entitled
"Recovery of Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     12-21-23. Seizure and retention of forfeited property. -- Whenever any personal
property shall be forfeited for any violation of law, any deputy sheriff, town sergeant, or town
constable, or any person by law authorized to seize the property, may take and retain the property
until he or she shall deliver it to a proper officer having a warrant to take and detain the property.
     SECTION 26. Section 15-15-4.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-15 entitled
"Domestic Abuse Prevention" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     15-15-4.1. Return of service/alternate service. -- (a) The complaint and any order
issued under this chapter shall be personally served upon the defendant by a member of the
division of sheriffs except as provided in subsections (c), (d) (d), and (f) of this section. Service
shall be made without payment of any fee when service is made by a deputy sheriff. At the
election of the plaintiff, service, pursuant to the subsection, may also be made by a certified
constable authorized to serve process of the family court pursuant to § 45-16-4.3 § 9-5-10.1. The
constable shall be entitled to receive the fee allowed by law for the service of a family court
summons. Where the defendant is a minor, the complaint and any order issued under this chapter
shall also be personally served upon a parent or guardian of the minor.
      (b) Return of service shall be forwarded by the deputy sheriff or certified constable to the
clerk of court prior to the date set down for a hearing on the complaint. If service has not been
made, the deputy sheriff or constable shall indicate on the summons the reason and the attempts
made to serve the defendant.
      (c) At the time the return of service is sent to the clerk of the court, the deputy sheriff or
certified constable shall cause a copy of the return of service to be sent to the plaintiff and to the
appropriate law enforcement agency.
      (d) If, at the time of the hearing on the complaint, the court determines that after diligent
effort the deputy sheriff or certified constable has been unable to serve the defendant personally,
the judge may order an alternate method of service designed to give reasonable notice of the
action to the defendant and taking into consideration the plaintiff's ability to afford the means of
service ordered. Alternative service shall include, but not be limited to: service by certified and
regular mail at defendant's last known address (excluding the residence which he or she has been
ordered to vacate) or place of employment, leaving copies at the defendant's dwelling or usual
place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion residing at the defendant's dwelling or
usual place of abode, or by publication in a newspaper for two (2) consecutive weeks. The court
shall set a new date for the hearing on the complaint and shall extend the temporary order until
that date.
      (e) If the defendant appears in person before the court, the necessity for further service is
waived and proof of service of that order is not necessary.
      (f) If the defendant is served notice regarding the complaint and hearing, but does not
appear at the hearing, the clerk of the family court will mail the defendant a copy of the resulting
order.
     SECTION 27. Section 17-19-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-19 entitled "Conduct
of Election and Voting Equipment, and Supplies" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     17-19-21. Arrangement of polling places -- Election officials -- Police officers. -- (a)
The polling places shall be established, equipped, and furnished with the paraphernalia necessary
for the conduct of each election, by the officers and in the manner provided by this title. There
shall be placed, outside each polling place, a clearly marked sign to be provided by the state
board of elections indicating the location of the polling place. This sign shall be of a conspicuous
nature, nature and shall be visible from the street. The area within which the balloting is
conducted shall be arranged with a guard rail having one place for entrance and another place for
exit. The rail shall be placed so that only persons admitted inside the rail can approach within five
(5) feet of any voting booth or optical scan precinct count unit. The voting booths and optical
scan precinct count unit shall be placed so that the warden and the clerk shall always have a clear
view of the front of each voting booth and the optical scan unit. It shall be the duty of the warden
to direct the location of the voting equipment in relation to the guard rail and the posts of the
warden and the clerk so as to enforce the requirements of this section.
      (b) One bipartisan pair of supervisors, the clerk, and the warden shall be stationed, in
that order, along the guard rail so that a voter desiring to cast a ballot will pass first in front of the
bipartisan pair, then in front of the clerk, and finally in front of the warden. A second bipartisan
pair shall be stationed within the guard rail and shall be available to relieve the first bipartisan
pair or the clerk, clerk and to assist voters within the limits prescribed by this title. The second
bipartisan pair, when not engaged in the preceding duties, shall watch the voters in and about the
voting equipment and shall call to the attention of the warden any violation, or circumstance
suggesting a violation, of the provisions of this title.
      (c) The chiefs of police of cities and towns, and town sergeants of towns having no chief
of police, shall detail a certain number of police officers to each polling place as may be
requested by the local board. The police officers shall preserve order at each polling place and
within two hundred (200) feet of the polling place. It shall be the duty of every police officer or
other peace officer or town or police constable to arrest without warrant any person detected in
the act of violating the provisions of this chapter, but no arrest shall be made without the approval
of the warden.
      (d) The election officials provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be
provided with, and shall be required to prominently display upon their persons, identification
badges which that shall designate that person as an election official. Powers and duties of all
designated election officials at polls shall be posted in a conspicuous and prominent location
within the voting place, preferably with the posted sample ballot.
     SECTION 28. Section 19-26-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 19-26 entitled
"Pawnbrokers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     19-26-13. Search of premises on warrant. -- Whenever complaint shall be made by any
person, on oath to a judge, that any property belonging to that person has been lodged or pledged
without his or her consent with any pawnbroker and that the complainant believes the property to
be in some house or place within the county where the complaint is made, the judge shall, if
satisfied of the reasonableness of that belief, issue a warrant directed to the division of sheriffs, or
to either of the town sergeants or town constables in the county, commanding them to search for
the property alleged to have been so lodged or pledged and to seize and bring the property before
the division of the district court. The warrant shall be issued and served as search warrants are
now by law required to be issued and served.
     SECTION 29. Section 23-9-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-9 entitled "Quarantine
of Vessels" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     23-9-10. Enforcement by sheriffs, sergeants, and constables. -- Every sheriff, deputy
sheriff, town sergeant, and town constable shall carry the rules and regulations of the city or town
council within his or her precinct into effect.
     SECTION 30. Section 28-52-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-52 entitled
"Workplace Violence Protection" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     28-52-2. Workplace violence protection. -- (a) If an employer, or an employer's
employee(s) or invitee(s) have: (1) suffered unlawful violence by an individual; or (2)
received invitee(s), have: (1) Suffered unlawful violence by an individual; or (2) Received a
threat of violence by an individual which that can reasonably be construed as a threat which that
may be carried out at the worksite; or (3) been Been stalked or harassed at the worksite; the
employer may (in addition to, or instead of, filing criminal charges against the individual) seek a
temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, and an injunction pursuant to Rule 65 of the
Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure, prohibiting further unlawful acts by that individual at
the worksite, which worksite that shall include any place at which work is being performed on
behalf of the employer.
      (b) Proof (by affidavit in an ex parte hearing, or by a preponderance of the evidence in
any other hearing) of any action described in subsection (a) of this section shall constitute
irreparable harm or damage to the employer, or employer's employee(s) or invitee(s). Upon
granting of any restraining order, preliminary injunction, or injunction, the court may, among
other appropriate orders:
      (1) Order the defendant not to visit, assault, molest, or otherwise interfere with the
employer or the employer's operations, or the employer's employee(s) or invitee(s) at the
employer's worksite;
      (2) Order the defendant to cease stalking the employer's employee(s) or invitee(s) at the
employer's worksite;
      (3) Order the defendant to cease harassment of the employer or the employer's
employee(s) or invitee(s) at the employer's worksite;
      (4) Order the defendant not to abuse or injure the employer, including the employer's
property, or the employer's employee(s) or invitee(s) at the employer's worksite;
      (5) Order the defendant not to telephone the employer or the employer's employee(s) or
invitee(s) at the employer's worksite;
      (6) Order any other necessary and appropriate relief as deemed appropriate in the
discretion of the court.
      (c) When necessary to protect the employer or the employer's employee(s), invitee(s), or
property, and when authorized by the court, temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions,
and injunctions granted pursuant to the provisions of this act may be served upon the defendant
by a peace officer, sheriff, certified constable, or policeman, police officer, or other officer
whose duty it is to preserve the peace, with appropriate orders to these officials to enforce the
court's order.
      (d) All orders and injunctions issued pursuant to the provisions of this act shall have
statewide validity, unless specifically modified or terminated by the issuing judge, and may be
enforced by the issuing court for any violation anywhere in the state, and by any court of
competent jurisdiction within the state for violations which may occur within that court's
jurisdiction.
      (e) An employer and an employer's agents who or that act in accord with the provisions
of this act shall be presumed to be acting in good faith and, unless lack of good faith is shown by
clear and convincing evidence, are immune from civil liability for actions taken under this
chapter.
      (f) Any employer, or its employee(s) or invitee(s), which who or that does not utilize
the procedures authorized by this act, shall not be liable for negligence nor shall evidence of the
same be admissible as evidence of negligence.
      (g) In no event shall this chapter be construed to prevent lawful picketing or lawful
demonstrations including, but not limited to, those related to a labor dispute.
     SECTION 31. Section 30-9-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-9 entitled "Military
Property" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     30-9-11. Search warrant. -- Any court of the state empowered to issue search warrants,
on complaint on oath made to it by the adjutant general, by any commissioned officer authorized
by the adjutant general, or by, by any commanding officer of any organization, unit, or separate
detachment of the national guard, that any arms, ammunition, uniforms, equipment, supplies, or
other military property of the state or for which the state is responsible is unlawfully being
withheld by any person within the jurisdiction of the court, and where the military property is
believed to be in a particular place specified in the complaint, shall issue to any deputy sheriff,
town sergeant, member of any municipal or state police, or town constable a warrant in the nature
of a search warrant, commanding him or her in the name of the state diligently to search the
house or place described therein, in the daytime and upon the finding of the military property the
court issuing the warrant shall order the property to be delivered to the officer making the
complaint.
     SECTION 32. Section 31-2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-2 entitled "Division of
Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     31-2-3. Enforcement duties of administrator. -- (a) The administrator of the division of
motor vehicles is vested with the power and is charged with the duty of observing, administering
administering, and enforcing the provisions of chapters 1 -- 50 of this title and of all laws
regulating the operation of vehicles, or the use of the highways, the enforcement or administration
of which is now or hereafter vested in the division of motor vehicles.
      (b) The administrator shall appoint any subordinates he or she may require for the proper
performance of his or her duties. The administrator administrator, and any subordinates
designated by the administrator administrator, shall have and exercise throughout this state the
same authority to make arrests for violations of statutes relating to motor vehicles and to enforce
those statutes as police or town constables have in their respective jurisdictions, including the
power of arrest without warrant for any violation of title 31. The administrator administrator,
and any subordinates designated by the administrator administrator, may serve all process
lawfully issued by the administrator. Whenever a complaint is made of any violation of the
provisions of the aforementioned chapters by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles,
or those subordinates designated by him or her to enforce these provisions, he or she shall not be
required to furnish surety for cost or be liable for cost upon any complaint. The administrator
administrator, and any subordinates he or she may designate designate, may bear and use
firearms and may be equipped with uniforms as prescribed by the administrator of motor vehicles
in accordance with the policing and enforcing provisions as prescribed by this section.
      (c) The administrator may provide for training for those persons designated with
authority to make arrests and shall issue to each such person credentials showing his or her
identity and these credentials shall be carried upon their person while in the discharge of his or
her duties.
      (d) At no time may any subordinate authorized to make arrests stop a motorist for any
violation of the motor vehicle law while the motorist is operating a vehicle upon any highway of
this state, unless that subordinate is operating or riding in a division of motor vehicles vehicle
which that is plainly marked "Division of motor vehicles" or unless the motorist is fleeing from
pursuit by a division of motor vehicles officer.
      (e) The administrator may adopt any further regulations that he or she may deem
necessary to implement this section.
     SECTION 33. Section 32-3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 32-3 entitled "Town
Forests, Parks, and Recreation Systems" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     32-3-1. Local regulations -- Prosecution of violations. -- Town councils and city
councils may pass such ordinances, by-laws, and regulations as they may think proper in relation
to the care, management, and use of the public parks, squares, or grounds within the limits of
their respective towns or cities, and may prescribe punishment for the violation thereof by a fine
not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding ten (10) days for each
offense. Every deputy sheriff, town sergeant, town constable, or police officer, or any officer
authorized to serve criminal process, may arrest without a warrant any person who does any
criminal act or willfully violates any of those ordinances, bylaw, or regulation in any of those
public parks, squares squares, or grounds, and may detain that person until a complaint can be
made against him or her, and he or she can be taken upon a warrant issued upon that complaint;
provided, that the arrest and detention without a warrant shall not continue longer than the space
of six (6) hours when the arrest is made between the hours of 4 o'clock in the morning (4:00 a.m.)
and 8 o'clock in the evening (8:00 p.m.), and when made at any other hour, the person arrested
shall not be detained after 10 o'clock in the morning (10:00 a.m.) of the following day.
     SECTION 34. Section 34-18-48 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-18 entitled
"Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     34-18-48. Execution. -- If no appeal is claimed, and if the judgment has not been
satisfied, execution shall be issued on the sixth (6th) day following judgment. Executions shall be
issued only to the division of sheriffs or certified constable. Every execution issued by any district
court pursuant to this chapter shall continue in full force and effect for one year after the date
thereof, thereof and be returnable to the district court which that issued it in accordance with the
provisions of § 9-25-21. All costs costs, including reasonable moving costs costs, incurred by the
division of sheriffs or certified constable in carrying out the mandates of the execution may be
added to the execution by the clerk upon approval of the court upon presentment of evidence of
the costs.
     SECTION 35. Section 34-21-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 34-21 entitled "Replevin"
is hereby amended to read as follows:
     34-21-9. Form of writ of return and restoration. -- The writ of return and restoration
shall be substantially as follows:
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
     SC.
     To the sheriffs and certified constables of our several counties, or
     (SEAL) to their deputies, Greeting:
     Whereas ………….. of ………………… in the county of ……………….. lately
replevied the following goods and chattels, viz.: (here enumerate and particularly describe them)
which ……………………. of …………………….. in our county of ………………………. had
unlawfully taken (detained, or attached, as the case may be) as suggested, and caused
…………………. to be summoned to appear before our superior court to be held at
……………………….. to answer unto ……………………… for such unlawful taking
(detaining, or attaching, as the case may be) on the ……………. day of …………….. And
whereas, to our said court at its session held as aforesaid, upon a full hearing of the cause of the
taking (detaining, or attaching, as the case may be) it appeared that the taking (detaining, or
attaching, as the case may be) was lawful and justifiable, whereupon it was then and there by the
court considered that the same be returned and restored unto ……………………… irrepleviable,
and that ………………………… recover against ……………….. the sum of ………………….
dollars damages, for his or her taking the same by the process of replevin and his or her costs of
defense taxed at ……………………… as to us appears of record, whereof execution remains to
be done: we command you, therefore, that you forthwith return and restore the same goods and
chattels unto …………………… and also that of the goods and chattels and real estate of
…………………… within your precinct, you cause to be levied and paid unto the aforesaid
sums, being in the whole with twenty-five cents (25›) more for this writ, …………….. together
with your fees; and for want of such goods and chattels or real estate of ………………………. to
be by you found within your precinct, to satisfy and pay the sums aforesaid, we command you to
take the body of ……………………… and commit him or her to our correctional institution in
your precinct, therein to be kept until he or she pays the sums aforementioned, with your fees, or
until he or she is discharged by ……………………. or otherwise by order of law. Hereof fail not,
and make true return of this writ and your doings thereon, to our superior court on or before the
……………….. day of ……………
     Witness, the seal of our superior court at this ………. day of ……… in the year ….
      , Clerk.
     SECTION 36. Section 42-28-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28 entitled "State
Police" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     42-28-19. Police powers of members -- Fees -- Duties -- Suppression of riots. --
Members of the division shall have and may exercise in any part of the state, with regard to the
enforcement of the criminal laws, all powers of deputy sheriffs, town sergeants, chiefs of police,
police officers, and town constables. Any person authorized to issue criminal process may direct
that process to any member of the division. All fees received by members of the division in
connection with the performance of their duties shall be paid to the general treasurer for the use
of the state. It shall be the duty of its members to prevent and detect crime, crime; to apprehend
and assist in the prosecution of offenders, offenders; and to assist in the investigation and
prosecution of any criminal matters within the state. The governor may command their services in
the suppression of riots, but they shall not exercise their powers within the limits of any city to
suppress rioting except by direction of the governor and upon the request of the mayor or chief of
police of any city.
     SECTION 37. Sections 45-3-8 and 45-3-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-3 entitled
"Town Meetings" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     45-3-8. Clerk's warrant giving notice. -- The notice to the electors to meet in a town
meeting, prescribed by law, shall be given by the town clerk issuing his or her warrant, directed to
the town sergeant or one of the town constables of the town, or in the event that the town sergeant
or a town constable is not available, to any elector of that town designated by the town or city
clerk, requiring him or her to post, at least seven (7) days before the day appointed for the
meeting, written notifications in three (3) or more public places in the town, of the time when and
place where the meeting is to be held and of the business required by law to be transacted.
     45-3-19. Disorderly conduct at meeting. -- If any person conducts himself or herself in
a disorderly manner in any town, representative district, or voting district meeting, the moderator
may order that person to withdraw from the meeting; and, on the person's refusal, may order the
town sergeant, or any town constable present, or any other persons, to take him or her from the
meeting and to confine him or her in some convenient place until the meeting is adjourned. The
person refusing to withdraw shall, for each offense, be fined not exceeding twenty dollars
($20.00).
     SECTION 38. Section 45-5-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-5 entitled "Councils
and Governing Bodies" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     45-5-10. Fees for licenses and commissions issued to officers. -- Town councils and
city councils are authorized to charge and collect for licenses and commissions issued to officers
elected or appointed by them, fees that the town and city councils, respectively, fix by ordinance
or resolution; provided, that the license fee for appointment of town constable with power to
serve civil process in accordance with § 9-5-10.1 is not less than five dollars ($5.00) and not more
than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
     SECTION 39. Sections 45-16-4.1, 45-16-4.2, 45-16-4.3, 45-16-4.5, 45-16-5, 45-16-6, 45-
16-8, 45-16-9, 45-16-10, 45-16-11, 45-16-12, 45-16-13 and 45-16-14 of the General Laws in
Chapter 45-16 entitled "Sergeants and Constables" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     45-16-4.1. License and bond of constables License and bond of town constables. --
All town constables, except police and special constables as provided for in this chapter chapter,
shall be licensed certified by the chief judge of the Rhode Island district court department of
business regulation in order to serve civil process and execute writs as provided in §§ 9-5-10 and
9-5-10.1. Every constable shall at the time of being sworn into office give bond with sufficient
sureties to the clerk of the district court in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the
faithful performance of the duties of his or her office.
     45-16-4.2. Action on bond of constables. -- Any person injured by the breach of the
bond of any town constable, constable may commence an action in the name of the clerk of the
district court, for his or her own use, under like circumstances and in the same manner and
subject to the same provisions as that person might do in the name of the general treasurer upon a
bond given by the sheriff, if the person were injured by the breach of the bond.
     45-16-4.3. Service of process by constables. -- The chief justice of the supreme court,
and the chief judge of the family and district courts, department of business regulation, upon
application being made by a town constable authorized or licensed to serve civil process under
this chapter, may authorize the constable to serve or execute any process or writs issued by or
returnable to the any court in accordance with § 9-5-10.1. Upon being so authorized or licensed,
the town constable shall have the power and authority to serve or execute all writs and process
which that may issue from the any court. in like manner and at fees authorized to deputy sheriffs.
Each constable shall at the time of licensing or authorization give additional bond with the clerk
of the district court in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the faithful performance of
the duties of the office. Any appointee serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.
     45-16-4.5. Immunity. -- No town constable, while serving or executing any process or
writ issued by or returnable to the supreme, superior, family, or district court, is liable in any civil
action to respond in damages as a result of his or her acts of commission or omission arising
directly out of his or her negligent serving or executing the process or writ except as provided in §
9-5-10.1. In the event a civil action is brought against a town constable as the result of the
performance of his or her duties, the town constable is entitled to recover all costs and attorney's
fees incurred by the constable incidental to the civil action.
     45-16-5. Liability for neglect in serving process. -- Every town sergeant or town
constable who neglects or refuses to serve any process, process issuing from lawful authority,
directed to him or her to serve and execute, or who is guilty of neglect or misfeasance in
executing the duties of his or her office (having in all civil cases, paid or tendered unto him or
her, his or her legal fees, if he or she demands legal fees, fees for serving and executing the
process), is liable to the party aggrieved for the damages that he or she has sustained by the
neglect, refusal refusal, or misfeasance.
     45-16-6. Aid and assistance in execution of office. -- Every town sergeant and town
constable, in the due execution of his or her office, may command all necessary aid and assistance
in the execution of his or her office; and every person who, when so required, refuses or neglects
to give aid and assistance, shall be fined not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00).
     45-16-8. Election of special constables. Election of special town constables. -- Every
town council may elect for any amount of time, not exceeding one year, that they may determine,
one or more special town constables, constables who shall be commissioned and engaged,
engaged but shall not be required to give bond.
     45-16-9. Attendance of special constables at schools or meetings. Attendance of
special town constables at schools or meetings. -- A special town constable shall, upon the
request of any citizen, citizen and upon being tendered the sum of thirty cents ($.30) for each
hour of service required, attend any school or meeting lawfully assembled, assembled for the
purpose of preventing any interruption or disturbance at the school or meeting, meeting and may
arrest arrest, without warrant warrant, and detain detain, not exceeding six (6) hours, any
person found by the town constable in the act of willfully interrupting or disturbing a school or
meeting, and may, in like manner with other police and special constables, command all
necessary aid in the execution of the duties of the town constable's office.
     45-16-10. Employment of special constables by steamboat companies and railroads.
Employment of special town constables by steamboat companies and railroads. -- A special
town constable shall also also, at the request of any railroad company, or any proper officer or
agent of these companies, and upon being paid the sum of thirty cents ($.30) for each hour of
service required, attend at any regular steamboat wharf or landing, and any regular railroad
passenger station, for the purpose of preventing the assembling, crowding, and remaining at those
places of all idle, noisy, and disorderly persons to the obstruction, annoyance, and inconvenience
of the common and public travel, going and returning by the way of those stations, and may arrest
without warrant and detain not exceeding six (6) hours, any idle and noisy persons found by the
town constable in the act of willfully and idly intruding at those places, and there remaining when
commanded to depart by the constable.
     45-16-11. Judicial order disqualifying sergeant or constable from serving process.
Disqualification of sergeant or town constable from serving process. -- Whenever complaints,
in writing, are made to the district court department of business regulation that any town sergeant,
or town constable who has been certified in accordance with § 9-5-10.1, has been guilty of
malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance, or misconduct in serving or attempting to serve or
pretending to serve any writ or process returnable to the district court, or has made a false return
upon any writ or process, or has charged or exacted, for the service of any writ or process, fees
greater than those allowed by law, or has, within a division of a district court, been guilty of any
malfeasance or misconduct in his or her office other than that previously mentioned, the court
shall cite the town sergeant or town constable to appear before it at a time and place certain to
answer to the complaint shall be subject to the provisions of § 9-5-10. A citation shall contain
generally the substance of the complaint or have annexed a copy of the complaint. If, upon
hearing of the complaint, the court finds and adjudges the complaint to be true, the court shall
enter an order in its records disqualifying and debarring the town sergeant or constable from
serving and executing any writ or process issuing from the district court until the further direction
of the court. Thereupon, the town sergeant or constable shall be disqualified and debarred from
serving or executing any writ or process issuing from the district court until the further direction
of the court. The court shall send a certified copy of the order to the clerk of each division of the
district court, and shall also send a certified copy of the order to the town clerk or city clerk from
which the town sergeant or constable was appointed or elected, or the clerk of the board
appointing the constable, if appointed by any board.
     45-16-12. Penalty for serving process after disqualification -- Exemption from
liability for refusal to serve. -- (a) Any town sergeant or town constable who, being disqualified
and debarred from serving or executing any writ or process returnable to any district court of the
state under the provisions of § 45-16-11 chapter 5 of title 9, shall serve or execute execute, or
pretend or attempt to serve or execute execute, any writ or process while disqualified and
debarred, shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding five hundred dollars
($500).
      (b) Any town sergeant or town constable, while disqualified and debarred debarred,
shall not be bound or obliged to serve or execute any writ or process returnable to any district
court, although the writ or process is directed or given to him or her, and shall be exempt and free
from all liability for his or her refusal or neglect to serve or execute any writ or process.
     45-16-13. Removal of constables from office. Removal of town constables from
office. -- Any town constable, except a constable elected by the electors of any town or city, may
be removed for cause from office at any time by the town council or other body appointing him or
her, after notice, in writing, to the town constable of the charges against him or her and an
opportunity given him or her for a hearing.
     45-16-14. Unauthorized services of process. -- Any individual who serves, or attempts
to serve, any writ or legal process for any court of this state, other than deputy sheriffs, and those
individuals town sergeants and town constables so authorized for this service pursuant to this
chapter chapter, or in accordance with the provisions of chapter 5 of title 9, or other individuals
authorized by law or by rule of court shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor
more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and/or imprisoned for a term of not less than six (6)
months, nor more than one year in prison, for each violation; provided, that this section does not
apply to any city or town constable nor to any power or authority granted to them by any general
or special law.
     SECTION 40. Section 45-16-4.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-16 entitled
"Sergeants and Constables" is hereby repealed.
     45-16-4.4. Authorization to serve process of superior court. -- (a) The presiding
justice of the superior court, upon petition filed with the clerk in Providence County superior
court, by a constable authorized or licensed under this chapter, may, after hearing on the petition,
authorize the constable to serve or execute any process or writs issued by or returnable to the
superior court.
      (b) No petition shall be filed by a constable who does not have full authorization for
service of process from the chief judges of the district and/or family courts for a minimum of one
year.
      (c) At the hearing on the petition, the petitioner shall present any evidence that the
presiding justice may require.
      (d) If the petition is granted, the petitioner, prior to the service of any process of the
superior court, shall post with the general chief clerk of the superior court a bond in the amount of
ten thousand dollars ($10,000), which bond shall be renewed annually. The obligee of the bond
shall be the general chief clerk for the benefit of any aggrieved person. The bond shall be
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the constable. Any authority granted
pursuant to this section may be suspended or revoked by the presiding justice in the justice's sole
discretion.
      (e) A master file shall be maintained by the general chief clerk containing the names of
those duly licensed under this section.
      (f) Neither the state nor the presiding justice is liable to any person who is aggrieved in
any manner whatsoever as a result of the conduct or actions of a constable licensed pursuant to
this section.
     SECTION 41. This act shall take effect September 1, 2015.
========
LC002007/SUB A/2
========