Chapter 213
2022 -- H 7705 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 06/27/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Craven, Serpa, Vella-Wilkinson, Solomon, Cardillo, and Shanley

Date Introduced: March 02, 2022

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Sections 11-47-17 and 11-47-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47
entitled "Weapons" are hereby amended to read as follows:
     11-47-17. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June
17, 1959.
     Except as provided in § 11-47-15.3, all law enforcement officers of this state and its
political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place after June 17, 1959, will be
required to qualify with the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent
appointment, that qualification to be the same as that required in § 11-47-15. Town constables or
police constables, special officers, and all law enforcement officers, who by law are authorized to
carry side arms and whose appointments are made on a recurring basis, will be required to qualify
not later than one year following the date of enactment of this section and their commissions or
warrants will be plainly marked or stamped "QUALIFIED WITH PISTOL OR REVOLVER" and
will be signed and dated by the certifying authority attesting to that fact. The failure of any law
enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this section revokes his or her privilege of
carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on or about his or her person. All law
enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions will repeat this qualification at
periods of not more than one year, except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification
every two (2) years.
     11-47-17.1. Mandatory or discretionary nature of § 11-47-15.1 requirements --
Qualification reports to be filed.
     (a) All law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions, whose
permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall be required to qualify with
the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent appointment, that
qualification to be as required in §§ 11-47-15.1 and 11-47-15.3. All permanent appointed law
enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions who are required to qualify under §
11-47-17 may, at the discretion of the officer, qualify under either § 11-47-15, § 11-47-15.1 or §
11-47-15.3. The failure of any law enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this
section revokes his or her privilege of carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on
or about his or her person. Qualification under this section will be required at periods of not more
than one year, except for correctional officers who must repeat this qualification every two (2)
years.
     (b) Copies of all of the qualification reports shall be filed with the office of the attorney
general.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004878/SUB A
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