2023 -- H 5694
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LC001141
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Hull, Baginski, Vella-Wilkinson, Finkelman,
Place, Dawson, Azzinaro, Costantino, and Lima
Date Introduced: February 17, 2023
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 11-47-17.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" 1
is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
11-47-17.1. Mandatory or discretionary nature of § 11-47-15.1 requirements — 3
Qualification reports to be filed. 4
(a) All law enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions, whose 5
permanent appointment shall take place later than June 6, 1970, shall be required to qualify with 6
the pistol or revolver with which they are armed prior to their permanent appointment, that 7
qualification to be as required in §§ 11-47-15.1 and 11-47-15.3. All permanent appointed law 8
enforcement officers of this state and its political subdivisions who are required to qualify under § 9
11-47-17 may, at the discretion of the officer, qualify under either § 11-47-15, § 11-47-15.1, or § 10
11-47-15.3. The failure of any law enforcement officer to qualify under the provisions of this 11
section revokes his or her privilege of carrying a pistol or revolver, whether concealed or not, on 12
or about his or her person. Qualification under this section will be required at periods of not more 13
than one year two (2) times per year at intervals of at least four (4) months, except for correctional 14
officers who must repeat this qualification one time per year. Provided further, effective January 1, 15
2024, the qualification requirements pursuant to this section shall include a nighttime, low light/no 16
light qualification component which shall simulate dusk to dawn lighting conditions, which 17
conditions may be artificially produced indoors. 18
(b) Copies of all of the qualification reports shall be filed with the office of the attorney 19
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general. 1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2023. 2
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS
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This act would mandate that police officers qualify in the use of firearms in both daylight 1
and nighttime conditions two (2) times per year and that correctional officers qualify every year 2
instead of once every two (2) years. 3
This act would take effect on July 1, 2023. 4
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LC001141
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