2025 -- H 5673
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LC000937
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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. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS --
COMMISSION ON STANDA RDS AND TRAINING
Introduced By: Representatives Fascia, Place, Chippendale, and Paplauskas
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 42-28.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28.2 entitled "Police 1
Officers — Commission on Standards and Training" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
42-28.2-8. Establishment of standards. 3
(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training 4
standards, not applicable to the city of Providence, and to be promulgated with due consideration 5
to varying factors and special requirements of local police agencies, the division of enforcement of 6
the department of environmental management and the board of regents relative to: 7
(1) Minimum standards of physical, educational, mental and moral fitness which shall 8
govern the recruitment, selection, and apportionment of police officers; provided, however, that the 9
minimum height and weight standards for local police officers shall be determined by each 10
municipality. 11
(2) The commission with the approval of the director of public safety will establish the 12
courses of training, and set rules and regulations relative to the education, physical standards, and 13
personal character of candidates and trainees. 14
(3) Minimum course of study, attendance requirements, equipment, and facilities required 15
at the municipal police training school, or other approved training schools certified pursuant to § 16
42-28.2-6. 17
(4) Minimum qualification for instructors at the municipal police training school, or other 18
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approved training schools certified pursuant to § 42-28.2-6. 1
(5) Minimum basic training requirements which police officers appointed to probationary 2
terms shall complete before being eligible for continued or permanent employment, and the term 3
within which that basic training must be completed following such appointment to a probationary 4
term. 5
(6) Minimum basic training requirements which police officers not appointed for 6
probationary terms but appointed on other than a permanent basis shall complete before being 7
eligible for continued employment. 8
(7) Categories or classifications of advanced in-service training programs and minimum 9
courses of study and attendance requirements for those categories or classifications. 10
(8) The establishment of subordinate regional training centers in strategic geographic 11
locations in order to serve the greatest number of local police agencies that are unable to support 12
their own training programs. 13
(b) The commission shall establish a schedule of sessions of the school, of which there 14
shall be a minimum of one session per year. 15
(c) The commission shall authorize the establishment of police training schools by any 16
municipality which demonstrates that it can satisfactorily meet the minimum standards established 17
for police training schools. 18
(d) The commission shall establish an equivalency of training certification program within 19
the municipal police training academy which allows for the certification of any candidate subject 20
to its oversight. Such certification shall apply to any candidate who: 21
(1) Has worked at least one year, full-time as a sworn law enforcement officer; 22
(2) Has received training which is comparable to the standards as set forth in subsection 23
(a) of this section; and 24
(3) Has no more than an eight (8) year break-in-service since the candidate's last separation 25
from a sworn law enforcement position. 26
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 27
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS --
COMMISSION ON STANDA RDS AND TRAINING
***
This act would establish an equivalent training certification program at the municipal 1
police academy which allows certification of any candidate who has worked at least one year, full-2
time as a sworn law enforcement officer, and has met certain other requirements. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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