It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 11-47 of the General Laws entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 11-47-15.3. Commission on law enforcement standards and training. -- ADD} {ADD (A) In lieu of the provisions of sections 11-47-15.1, 11-47-15.2 and 11-47-17; each law enforcement department of this state and its political subdivisions may, on an annual basis, submit to the commission on law enforcement standards and training, herein after referred to as the commission, a proposal for the training and qualification of their officers on all firearms which they are authorized to carry or use in the performance of their official duties.

(H) Any law enforcement officer of this state and its political subdivisions whose permanent appointment took place prior to July 1, 1997, may elect to qualify under the applicable provisions of sections 11-47-15.1, 11-47-15.2, 11-47-17 or 11-47-17.1. ADD}

SECTION 2. Sections 11-47-15.1, 11-47-16, 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:

11-47-15.1. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June 6, 1970. -- ADD} {DEL All DEL} {ADD Except as provided in section 11-47-15.3, all ADD} law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions whose permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall qualify on the official national rifle association B-21 police combat target firing a score of 165 or better out of a possible score of 250 with fifty (50) rounds in the distance, time period, and position required in the course. {DEL All positions shall be fired double-action. DEL}

Stage A. -- 7 yards 10 shots crouch position, time 25 seconds.

Stage B. -- 12 yards 5 shots point shoulder left hand 5 shots point shoulder right hand, both unsupported and 5 shots kneeling, time 75 seconds.

Stage C. -- 21 yards 5 shots point shoulder left hand supported, 5 shots point shoulder right hand supported, time 45 seconds.

Stage D. -- 25 yards 5 shots prone, 5 shots left hand barricade, 5 shots right hand barricade, time one minute 45 seconds.

All stages are started with the weapon loaded with 5 rounds and holstered.

11-47-16. Certification of qualification. -- The range officer of the Rhode Island state police, the range officer of any city or town police department maintaining a regular and continuing firearms training program, a pistol instructor certified by the National Rifle Association and/or the United States Revolver Association, and other qualified persons as the attorney general may designate are authorized to certify the qualification required by sections 11-47-15 and 11-47-15.1. The certification required by sections 11-47-15 and 11-47-15.1 {ADD and section 11-47-15.3 ADD} shall be accomplished on a form to be prescribed by the attorney general.

11-47-17. Qualifications required of law enforcement officers appointed after June 17, 1959. -- {DEL All DEL} {ADD Except as provided in section 11-47-15.3 all ADD} 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 section 11-47-15. 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 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.

11-47-17.1 Mandatory or discretionary nature of section 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 section 11-47-15.1 {ADD and 11-47-15.3 ADD} . All permanent appointed law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions who are required to qualify under section 11-47-17, may, at the discretion of the officer, qualify under either sections 11-47-15{ADD , ADD} {DEL or DEL} 11-47-15.1 {ADD or 11-47-15.3 ADD} . 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.

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

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.