The bill amends Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws by adding a new section, 45-2-70, which establishes a reimbursement system for public safety training expenses incurred by municipalities and fire districts in Rhode Island. Under this new provision, any law enforcement agency, fire department, fire district, or emergency medical services organization that hires a public safety employee (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel) from another municipality or fire district must reimburse the original employer for the cost of training and equipping the employee, provided these costs were incurred within three years prior to the employee's hire.

The reimbursable expenses include, but are not limited to, costs for basic and specialized training programs, uniforms, personal protective equipment, other non-reusable items, equipment and materials directly provided during the training period, and a prorated portion of the base salary and benefits paid during the training academy period.

The bill outlines specific reimbursement percentages based on the time elapsed since the completion of training: 100% reimbursement for hires made within one year of training academy completion, 75% for hires between one and two years after training academy completion, and 50% for hires between two and three years after training academy completion. The reimbursing organization is required to notify the original employing municipality or fire district within ten days of the employee's hire, and the original employer must provide an itemized statement of reimbursable costs within thirty days of notification. Payment must be made within 120 days of receipt of the itemized claim. This section supersedes any conflicting municipal policies, resolutions, charter provisions or bylaws, or ordinances.