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Bill

HD 4423

An Act directing the city of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Adam Watt

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Brandy Fluker-Reid

Targeted bill waives the Boston Police Department's maximum age limit for Adam Watt's original officer appointment, if he meets all other hiring requirements.

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Bill Summary · HD 4423

Summary of HD 4423: An Act directing the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Adam Watt

Purpose

This bill seeks a targeted exception to the City of Boston’s police officer hiring rules, authorizing the Boston Police Department to waive the typical maximum age limit for the original appointment of a police officer specifically for Adam Watt. If Watt meets all other departmental requirements, he would be eligible for certification for the position.

What the bill would do

  • Notwithstanding any general or special law, including Chapter 43 of the Acts of 2007, the City of Boston Police Department shall waive the maximum age requirement for the original appointment of police officers for Adam Watt.
  • If Adam Watt satisfies all other requirements set forth by the Boston Police Department, his name may be certified for original appointment to the position of police officer.
  • The act takes effect upon passage.

Key provisions (textual details)

  • Section 1: Creates a targeted waiver of the standard age ceiling for Adam Watt’s original appointment as a Boston police officer. It expressly allows his appointment if he meets all other BPD requirements.
  • Section 2: Establishes that the act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Who is affected

  • Adam Watt: The sole individual explicitly covered by the waiver.
  • City of Boston Police Department: Responsible for applying the waiver and certifying Watt for appointment if all other criteria are met.
  • Local government participants (City of Boston, Mayor, City Council): In practice, the bill indicates local approval is required; the sponsor notes that the bill includes approval by the mayor and city council.

Procedural/timeline context

  • Bill number: HD 4423 (House Docket No. 4423).
  • Filed date (per the bill text): February 14, 2025.
  • Primary sponsor: Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid (Boston).
  • Status indicators in the provided materials: The bill is presented as a local/ordinance-style action with “local approval received,” and is described as a petition accompanied by the bill.
  • Note: The provided materials reference a previously filed similar matter (2023-2024 session), indicating this is a renewed targeted effort.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Targeted carve-out: This is a one-off exception for Adam Watt rather than a general change to hiring rules, so it does not alter age requirements for other applicants.
  • Compliance safeguards: Watt must meet all other Boston Police Department requirements to qualify for certification.
  • Precedential considerations: While limited in scope, such targeted waivers can prompt discussion about consistency and equal opportunity in hiring practices; however, the bill itself is narrowly tailored to a single individual.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon passage; no gradual phase-in.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to the prior (2023-2024) version or map out how this interacts with current Massachusetts police hiring standards.

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

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