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H 5034

An Act relative to waiving the maximum age requirement for police officers for Matthew Cummings

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dan Hunt

Massachusetts bill waives maximum age requirement for police officer recruitment specifically for individual Matthew Cummings, creating targeted exemption from standard hiring eligibility rules.

Read second and ordered to a third reading
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Bill Summary · H 5034

Legislative bill overview

H 5034 is a special legislation bill that would waive Massachusetts' maximum age requirement for police officer eligibility specifically for an individual named Matthew Cummings. The bill allows this person to bypass the state's standard age cap that typically applies to police recruits, enabling him to pursue a career in law enforcement despite exceeding the normal age limit.

Why is this important

Police departments have maximum age requirements to ensure recruits have sufficient years of service ahead before retirement and to maintain physical fitness standards. This bill creates a specific exemption for one individual, raising questions about how personnel standards are applied and whether such exemptions should be available based on individual circumstances rather than uniform rules.

Potential points of contention

  • Equal application of rules: Special exemptions for individuals may undermine the principle that objective hiring standards apply uniformly to all candidates
  • Precedent concerns: Granting one age waiver could encourage similar requests from other candidates who exceed age limits, potentially fragmenting recruitment standards
  • Lack of public justification: The bill provides no explanation for why this particular individual merits an exception, leaving the public basis for the waiver unclear

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

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