Bill > S0849

This bill establishes a comprehensive reimbursement system for municipalities in Rhode Island when public safety employees (such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel) are hired by a different municipality or agency within three years of completing their initial training. The bill requires the new employer to reimburse the original employing municipality for training and equipment costs, with the reimbursement percentage varying based on how soon after training the employee is hired: 100% if hired within one year, 75% if hired between one and two years, and 50% if hired between two and three years after training. Reimbursable expenses include training programs, uniforms, personal protective equipment, materials used during training, and a prorated portion of the employee's base salary and benefits during training. The new employer must notify the original employer within ten days of hiring, and the original employer must provide an itemized statement within 30 days. The new employer must then pay the claim within 120 days. The bill explicitly states that these provisions override any conflicting municipal policies, resolutions, or ordinances, ensuring a standardized approach to reimbursing public safety training costs across Rhode Island.

Housing and Urban Affairs

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