Chapter 121
2017 -- S 0512
Enacted 07/05/2017

A N   A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS RESIDENCY

Introduced By: Senators Lombardi, McCaffrey, Lynch Prata, Felag, and Lombardo
Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 45-2-15.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-2 entitled "General
Powers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     45-2-15.1. Police officers and firefighters -- Residency within municipality or state
not required.
     Notwithstanding any prior ratification and validation by the general assembly of any
home rule charter provision requiring that police officers and fire fighters firefigthers reside
within the employing city, or town, or state of Rhode Island, no home rule charter provision shall
require that a police officer or fire fighter firefighter reside within the city, or town, or state of
Rhode Island as a condition of appointment or continued employment. Any prior ratification and
validation by the general assembly of a home rule charter provision requiring residency within a
city, or town, or the state of Rhode Island as a condition for employment of a police officer or
fire fighter firefighter is hereby expressly repealed by the general assembly; further, no city or
town council shall make or ordain any ordinance requiring a police officer or fire fighter
firefighter to reside within the employing city, or town, or state of Rhode Island as a condition of
appointment or continued employment. Any existing ordinance requiring a police officer or fire
fighter firefighter to reside within the employing city, or town, or state of Rhode Island as a
condition of appointment or continued employment is hereby considered contrary to the laws of
this state and is thus void as being in violation of state law.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC001827
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