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HD 4894

An Act exempting the position of Fire Chief in the city of Holyoke from the provisions of the civil service law

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Pat Duffy

Exempts Holyoke Fire Chief from civil service, giving the city hiring/firing control; preserves current civil service status for the incumbent and takes effect on passage.

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 4894

Summary: House Bill HD 4894 — Exemption of Holyoke Fire Chief from Civil Service

What the bill would do

  • Exempts the position of Fire Chief in the City of Holyoke from the provisions of the civil service law (Chapter 31 of the General Laws).
  • Specifically repeals a prior 1917 act (Chapter 278, Acts and Resolves of 1917) as part of the change.
  • The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: Repeals Chapter 278 of the Acts and Resolves of 1917.
  • Section 2: Exempts the Holyoke Fire Chief position from Chapter 31 (civil service law).
  • Section 3: Protects the civil service status of the current Fire Chief if they hold civil service status on the act’s effective date; i.e., the change should not impair the incumbent’s status.
  • Section 4: States the act takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: The City of Holyoke and the Fire Chief position within its fire department.
  • Indirect: Future appointments to the Fire Chief role in Holyoke would no longer be governed by civil service recruitment/appointment requirements, allowing the city to determine hiring and firing processes for that role outside the civil service framework.
  • The current incumbent, if civil service status applies on the effective date, would retain that status under Section 3.

Background and context

  • The bill is a local option requested by Holyoke (introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Duffy; filed July 7, 2025; local approval noted in the bill’s petition).
  • Local approval status is specified as “Local Approval Received,” indicating endorsement from Holyoke’s city government.
  • The aim aligns Holyoke with other municipalities that choose to exempt certain top municipal positions from civil service to gain hiring/firing flexibility.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Status: Identified as a proposed bill in the 194th General Court (2025-2026 session).
  • Introduction/filing: July 7, 2025 (House Docket No. 4894; accompanying petition by Rep. Duffy).
  • Local approval: The bill’s caption notes local approval has been received from Holyoke authorities.
  • Effective date: On passage of the act (no separate delay or sunset; immediate effect upon enactment).

Potential implications

  • Increased local control over the selection and removal of the Holyoke Fire Chief.
  • Possible shifts in qualifications, recruitment timelines, and accountability mechanisms for the Fire Chief role.
  • No state-level ongoing civil service requirements would apply to future Holyoke Fire Chiefs after implementation, though the incumbent’s status that existed at the effective date would be preserved if applicable.

Note: This summary focuses on the substantive provisions and their likely impact based on the bill text.

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

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