2023 -- H 6284
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LC002796
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Craven, Solomon, Casimiro, O'Brien, Dawson,
Noret, Kennedy, Vella-Wilkinson, and Batista
Date Introduced: April 19, 2023
Referred To: House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is 1
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
16-21-42. School security volunteer program. 3
(a) In this section: 4
(1)"Honorably retired" means the applicant did not retire in lieu of any disciplinary action, 5
was eligible to retire from the law enforcement agency or other former employer, or was eligible 6
to retire only as a result of an injury received in the course of the applicant's employment, and is 7
entitled to receive a pension as a law enforcement officer, if the applicant is a former law 8
enforcement officer and the department from which the officer retired offered a pension to its 9
retirees. 10
(2) "Qualified retired law enforcement officer" means a person who: 11
(i) Meets the qualifications provided by 18 U.S.C. Section 926C (c); and 12
(ii) Is honorably retired. 13
(3) "Veteran" means a person who has served in: 14
(i) The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps of the United States; or 15
(ii) The Rhode Island National Guard or reserve forces; and 16
(iii) Has been honorably discharged from the branch of service which they served. 17
(b) This section applies to any school district or charter school. 18
(c) The commissioner of the Rhode Island department of education, may approve a 19
LC002796 - Page 2 of 3
program under which any school may provide written regulations or written authorization for 1
eligible persons to serve as school security volunteers by: 2
(1) Providing security services for the school on school grounds, including any location in 3
which an activity sponsored by the school is being conducted, and in school vehicles; and 4
(2) Carrying a handgun in providing the security services under this section; 5
(d) A person is eligible to serve as a school security volunteer for a program approved 6
under this section only if: 7
(1) The person is not: 8
(i) An employee of the school; 9
(ii) A contractor providing services under a contract with the school; or 10
(iii) A person who otherwise receives compensation or remuneration from the school; 11
(2) The person is: 12
(i) A qualified retired law enforcement officer; 13
(ii) A military firearm trained veteran; and 14
(3) The commissioner determines the person is eligible based on the results of a national 15
and state criminal background check conducted on the person using criminal history record 16
information obtained by the school in accordance with § 16-2-18.1 and meets all eligibility criteria 17
as established by the commissioner. 18
(e) A school that approves a program under this section shall include the program in the 19
school safety plan, school emergency response plan, and school crisis response plans pursuant to § 20
16-21-24 to ensure, in an emergency, coordination with the department of health and local 21
emergency management agencies, law enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire 22
departments. 23
(f) A school that approves a program under this section shall provide to each school security 24
volunteer a course of instruction on the safety and security policies of the school and instruction 25
about the school emergency operations plan adopted under § 16-21-24. 26
(g) A school security volunteer is immune from civil liability to the same extent as a 27
professional employee of a school district under § 9-1-31. This subsection does not limit the 28
liability of a person for intentional misconduct or gross negligence. 29
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 30
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
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This act would provide for the creation of a volunteer school security force. 1
This act would take effect upon passage. 2
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