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H 4246

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

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chris Worrell

One-time age waiver for Gissell Melo by Boston PD to qualify for original police officer appointment if she meets all other requirements.

Hearing rescheduled to 09/10/2025 from 01:00 PM-01:30 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
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Bill Summary · H 4246

Summary of H 4246: An Act directing the city of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Gissell Melo

Purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to authorize the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for original appointment for a single applicant, Gissell Melo, allowing her to be eligible for original appointment as a police officer if she meets all other BPD requirements.
  • It is a targeted, local-requested exemption (local approval received) rather than a broad policy change.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: 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 Gissell Melo. If Melo meets all other requirements set by the Boston Police Department, she shall be eligible for name certification for original appointment to the position of police officer.
  • Section 2: The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected parties and scope

  • Primary beneficiary: Gissell Melo, who would be eligible for police officer appointment if she satisfies all other BPD criteria.
  • City of Boston and its Police Department: The bill directs the department to apply a one-off age waiver in this case.
  • General public: The policy change is narrowly tailored to a single individual rather than a broad reform.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: June 30, 2025 (House Docket No. 4246).
  • Legislative trigger: Referred to the Committee on Public Service (June 30, 2025).
  • Senate action: Senate concurred on July 3, 2025.
  • Committee/ hearings: Public Service Committee hearing originally scheduled; as of updates, hearing rescheduled to September 10, 2025 (09/10/2025) with time adjustments (A-1 and virtual hearing with a new end time).
  • Current status: The act would take effect upon passage if enacted.

Legislative context and related bills

  • Related filing: House Docket No. 4856 (HD 4856), which appears to supersede or replace the original filing.
  • This is a local approval measure specific to Boston and does not establish a general policy for other departments or applicants.

Potential implications

  • Creates a one-time exception to the city’s standard age requirements for a single applicant.
  • Could raise questions about consistency of hiring standards, and whether similar exemptions could be sought in other cases.
  • If Melo meets all other qualifications, she would proceed to name certification for appointment, subject to the normal appointment process.

Overall, H 4246 is a narrowly tailored piece of legislation granting a single-age waiver to enable Gissell Melo’s potential appointment as a Boston police officer upon meeting all other requirements.

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

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