§ 45-2-70. Reimbursement of public safety training expenses.
(a) Any law enforcement agency, fire department, fire district, or emergency medical services
organization within the state that hires a public safety employee (including law enforcement
officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel) from another municipality
or fire district within the state shall, upon hiring such personnel, reimburse the
original employing municipality or fire district for the cost of training and equipping
the employee, provided these costs were incurred within three (3) years of the employee's
hire.
(b) Reimbursable expenses shall include, but are not limited to:
(1) Costs for basic and specialized training programs;
(2) Uniforms, personal protective equipment, and other non-reusable items;
(3) Equipment and materials directly provided during the training period; and
(4) A prorated portion of the base salary and benefits paid during the training academy
period.
(c) The reimbursing organization shall notify the original employing municipality or fire
district within ten (10) days of the employee's hire. The original employer shall
provide an itemized statement of reimbursable costs within thirty (30) days of notification.
Payment must be made within one hundred twenty (120) days of receipt of the itemized
claim.
(d) Reimbursement percentages are determined based on the time elapsed since the completion
of training:
(1) One hundred percent (100%) reimbursement for hires made within one year of training
academy completion;
(2) Seventy-five percent (75%) reimbursement for hires between one and two (2) years after
training academy completion;
(3) Fifty percent (50%) reimbursement for hires between two (2) and three (3) years after
training academy completion.
(e) This section supersedes any conflicting municipal policies, resolutions, charter provisions
or bylaws, or ordinances.