The bill amends Chapter 45-2 of the General Laws by adding a new section, 45-2-70, which establishes a reimbursement system for municipalities and fire districts in Rhode Island for public safety training expenses incurred when hiring public safety employees (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel) from other municipalities or fire districts within the state. The reimbursement applies if the hiring occurs within three years of the employee's training and equipping.

Reimbursable expenses include costs for basic and specialized training programs, uniforms, personal protective equipment, equipment and materials provided during the training period, and a prorated portion of the employee's base salary and benefits during the training academy period.

The bill outlines specific procedures for reimbursement, including that the hiring organization must notify the original employing municipality or fire district within ten days of the employee's hire. The original employer is required to provide an itemized statement of reimbursable costs within thirty days of notification, and payment must be made within one hundred twenty days of receipt of the itemized claim.

Reimbursement percentages are tiered 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 completion, and 50% for hires between two and three years after training completion. This section supersedes any conflicting municipal policies, resolutions, charter provisions, bylaws, or ordinances. The act will take effect upon passage.