§ 9-5-10.1. Certification of constables.
(a)(1) A person at least twenty-one (21) years of age who complies with the statute and the
requirements set forth in any regulations promulgated by the department of business
regulation may file an application with the department requesting that the applicant
be certified as a constable. Once issued by the department, the certification shall
be effective for a period of two (2) years or until the approval is withdrawn by the
department. A certified constable shall be entitled to serve or execute writs and
process in such capacity for any court of the state, anywhere in the state, subject
to any terms and limitations as set forth by the court.
(2) A person to be certified as a constable shall provide documentation and evidence satisfactory
to the department of business regulations that the person possesses the specified
minimum qualifications to include:
(i) Sixty (60) hours of earned credit from an accredited college, university, or institution;
or
(ii) Four (4) years of honorable military service; or
(iii) Twenty (20) years of honorable service with a local, state, or federal law enforcement
agency; and
(iv) United State citizenship; and
(v) Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license; and
(vi) Successful completion of unlawful drug use screening; and
(vii) Successful completion of psychological testing approved by the department of business
regulation.
(b) Certification process.
(1) Application.
(i) Any person seeking certification pursuant to this section shall complete an application
and submit it to the department of business regulation in the form designated by the
department for such applications.
(ii) The application shall include information determined by the department to be relevant
to licensure and shall include a national criminal background check.
(2) Referral to certified constables' board. Once the applicant has provided a completed application, the department shall refer
the applicant to the certified constables' board by providing a copy of the application
to the board.
(3) Training.
(i) Following review of the application, the board shall determine whether the applicant
should be recommended for training to be conducted by a volunteer training constable.
If the board determines that training is appropriate, the applicant shall be assigned
to a training constable who shall be a constable in good standing for a minimum of
ten (10) years and who is approved by the department.
(ii) Training shall consist of a minimum of ninety (90) hours to be completed no sooner
than ninety (90) days from the date of the referral by the board. The department may
waive the training requirement of this section for an applicant who has graduated
from a certified police or law enforcement academy and who has a minimum of twenty
(20) years of honorable service as a police or law enforcement officer.
(iii) Within thirty (30) days from the conclusion of training, a written report shall be
submitted by the training constable to the board with a copy to the department that
reflects the dates and times of training and comments on the aptitude of the trainee.
(iv) If the board concludes that training is not appropriate or if the report of the training
constable concludes that the applicant does not have the aptitude to perform the duties
of a constable, the board shall so inform the department which shall deny the application
on that basis.
(4) Oral and written tests.
(i) Upon the successful completion of the training period and recommendation from the
training constable, within ninety (90) days, the applicant shall complete an oral
examination on the legal and practical aspects of certified constables' duties that
shall be created and administered by the board.
(ii) Upon the successful completion of the oral examination, within sixty (60) days the
applicant must complete a written test created by the board and approved by the department
that measures the applicant's knowledge of state law and court procedure.
(iii) If the board concludes that the applicant has not successfully passed either the oral
or written test, the board shall so inform the department which shall deny the application
on that basis.
(5) Final review. The department shall review the application, training record, test scores, and such
other information or documentation as required and shall determine whether the applicant
shall be approved for certification and the person authorized to serve process in
the state.
(c) Any person certified as a constable on the effective date of this act shall continue
to be certified without complying with the certification requirements prescribed by
this act.
Notes
Applicability.
P.L. 2021, ch. 221, § 2 provides: "This act shall take effect upon passage [July 6, 2021] and any person
certified as a constable on the effective date of this act shall continue to be certified
without complying with the certification requirements prescribed by this act.�
P.L. 2021, ch. 222, § 2 provides: "This act shall take effect upon passage [July 8, 2021] and any person
certified as a constable on the effective date of this act shall continue to be certified
without complying with the certification requirements prescribed by this act.�