AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS -- COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING (Establishes an equivalent training certification program at the municipal police academy.)

S2321

2026 -- S 2321
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LC003329
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS --
COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

Introduced By:
Senators Rogers, Paolino, Appollonio, and de la Cruz

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Labor & Gaming
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 42-28.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-28.2 entitled "Police
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Officers — Commission on Standards and Training" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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42-28.2-8. Establishment of standards.
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(a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory training
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standards, not applicable to the city of Providence, and to be promulgated with due consideration
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to varying factors and special requirements of local police agencies, the division of enforcement of
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the department of environmental management and the board of regents relative to:
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(1) Minimum standards of physical, educational, mental, and moral fitness which shall
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govern the recruitment, selection, and apportionment of police officers; provided, however, that the
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minimum height and weight standards for local police officers shall be determined by each
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municipality.
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(2) The commission with the approval of the director of public safety will establish the
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courses of training, and set rules and regulations relative to the education, physical standards, and
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personal character of candidates and trainees.
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(3) Minimum course of study, attendance requirements, equipment, and facilities required
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at the municipal police training school, or other approved training schools certified pursuant to §
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42-28.2-6.
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(4) Minimum qualification for instructors at the municipal police training school, or other

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approved training schools certified pursuant to § 42-28.2-6.
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(5) Minimum basic training requirements which police officers appointed to probationary
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terms shall complete before being eligible for continued or permanent employment, and the term
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within which that basic training must be completed following such appointment to a probationary
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term.
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(6) Minimum basic training requirements which police officers not appointed for
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probationary terms but appointed on other than a permanent basis shall complete before being
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eligible for continued employment.
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(7) Categories or classifications of advanced in-service training programs and minimum
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courses of study and attendance requirements for those categories or classifications.
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(8) The establishment of subordinate regional training centers in strategic geographic
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locations in order to serve the greatest number of local police agencies that are unable to support
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their own training programs.
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(b) The commission shall establish a schedule of sessions of the school, of which there
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shall be a minimum of one session per year.
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(c) The commission shall authorize the establishment of police training schools by any
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municipality that demonstrates that it can satisfactorily meet the minimum standards established
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for police training schools.
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(d) The commission shall establish an equivalency of training certification program within
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the municipal police training academy which allows for the certification of any candidate subject
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to its oversight. Such certification shall apply to any candidate who:
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(1) Has worked at least one year, full-time as a sworn law enforcement officer;
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(2) Has received training which is comparable to the standards as set forth in subsection
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(a) of this section; and
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(3) Has no more than an eight (8) year break-in-service since the candidate's last separation
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from a sworn law enforcement position.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003329
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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 STANDARDS AND TRAINING
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This act would establish an equivalent training certification program at the municipal
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police academy which allows certification of any candidate who has worked at least one year, full-
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time as a sworn law enforcement officer, and has met certain other requirements.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003329
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LC003329 - Page 3 of 3