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HD 5801

A communication from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (see item 1599-0026 of Section 2 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025) submitting its Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant legislative report for fiscal year 2026

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill provides at least $6 million in competitive SFY26 grants to Massachusetts municipalities to restore, retain, or expand police and fire staffing, including civilian staff a

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Bill Summary · HD 5801

Summary of HD 5801 (SFY26 Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant Program – Report)

Purpose and main intent

  • This bill serves as the SFY26 (State Fiscal Year 2026) reporting and authorization framework for the Massachusetts Municipal Public Safety Staffing Grant Program under the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and its Office of Grants and Research (OGR).
  • The objective is to provide competitive grants to municipalities to support public safety staffing, with the aim of restoring, retaining, or expanding police and fire department personnel, including civilian staff and related costs.

Key provisions and changes

  • Funding and administration
    • At least $6,000,000 is transferred to EOPSS to administer a competitive grant program for public safety and emergency staffing.
    • Administrative costs are capped at 4% of total funds.
    • A formal report detailing awards and distribution criteria must be submitted to the House and Senate Ways and Means by February 16, 2026.
  • Eligibility and applicants
    • Ten Massachusetts communities were eligible to apply: Brockton, Fall River, Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Newton, and Somerville.
    • Applicants could request funds for police and/or fire departments; the Mayor/City Manager determined department allocation.
  • Program design for SFY26
    • To address urgent needs, applications were accepted earlier and reviewed on a rolling basis to expedite awards (notably in response to the Gabriel House fire tragedy).
    • An 18-month contract option was introduced in addition to the traditional 12-month period to provide longer-term funding stability for recipients.
  • Allowable funding purposes and costs
    • Use of funds includes:
    • Restoring laid off sworn officers/firefighters
    • Retaining personnel at risk of layoff
    • Restoring staffing levels due to attrition
    • Supporting civilian staff in police/fire departments
    • Providing overtime to maintain coverage
    • Eligible costs include:
    • Salaries and employer-paid fringe benefits
    • Overtime
    • Other targeted costs (e.g., training, uniforms) tied to hiring, rehiring, or retention
  • Application and review process
    • Timeline: Solicitation posted July 18, 2025; applicant webinar July 22, 2025; deadline August 8, 2025; award period through December 31, 2026.
    • Separate applications were required for police and fire departments when requesting funds for both.
    • A competitive review determined funding levels; 16 department applications (across 10 communities) were funded in SFY26.
  • Awards and contracting
    • Total SFY26 allocations: $5,729,996 distributed across police and fire departments in the funded communities.
    • Notable award timing: some departments received funds with a late-2025 start date (e.g., Fall River, Lawrence) and others began in January 2026.
    • Disbursement structure: 50% upfront upon award approval; the remaining 50% after submission and approval of the SFY26 quarter-one report (approximately April 15, 2026).
    • Administrative cap and contract setup: standard contracts issued; extended 18-month contracts require and enable earlier spending.

Who is affected

  • Municipal police and fire departments within the eligible communities (and potentially their civilian staff) that received grant funds.
  • Municipal governments responsible for implementing staffing plans and matching funding to approved uses.
  • OGR/EO PSSS as grant administrator and fiscal agent overseeing compliance, reporting, and performance.

Timelines and procedural notes

  • The appropriation language and reporting obligations are tied to the FY2026 General Appropriation Act.
  • A formal SFY26 grant report to the General Court’s Ways and Means committees is due by February 16, 2026.
  • Contract start dates span from January 1, 2026, with some funds potentially available earlier via extended contract options.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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