WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 3942

Betty Ann Henderson sympathy

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Creates a dedicated School Resource Officer Fund to finance SROs in K–12 schools when local funds are insufficient.

Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 3942

Summary — H 3942: "An Act relative to increasing the safety and security in schools"

Overview / Purpose

H 3942 establishes a dedicated state fund to support assignment of School Resource Officers (SROs) to K–12 schools in Massachusetts. The intent is to provide a centralized funding mechanism, administered by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, to supplement local resources when municipalities or school districts lack sufficient funds to assign SROs pursuant to existing law (see chapter 71, section 37P).

Key provisions

  • Adds a new section (2KKKKKK) to Chapter 29 of the Massachusetts General Laws creating the "School Resource Officer Fund."
  • Fund governance and deposits:
    • Administered by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.
    • Credited with: (i) appropriations or other monies the General Court designates to the fund; (ii) public or private funds, gifts, grants, and donations; and (iii) interest earned on fund balances.
  • Use of funds:
    • The Commissioner may expend fund monies, without further appropriation, to provide funding to cities, towns, regional school districts, and the Department of State Police for assignment of SROs in schools (pursuant to chapter 71, section 37P).
    • Expenditures may be made only where the Commissioner determines the municipality or district does not have sufficient resources to otherwise assign an SRO.
  • Reporting:
    • Annual report due each year by July 1 to the House and Senate clerks and to the House and Senate ways & means committees, the Joint Committee on Education, and the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, describing fund activities.

Who or what is affected

  • Municipalities, regional school districts and the Department of State Police that seek state funding to place SROs in schools.
  • The Office of the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education (fund administrator and decisionmaker on eligibility).
  • Potential private and public donors and appropriators who may contribute to the fund.
  • Schools and students indirectly, through availability of SROs where local funding is insufficient.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Filed: House Docket No. 444 (filed 01/09/2025; presented by Rep. Joshua Tarsky).
  • Introduced in the House: 03/31/2025 (also shows earlier “introduced/adopted” actions in February).
  • Referred to: House Committee on Education (03/31/2025).
  • Hearing scheduled: 05/12/2025 (01:00 PM–05:00 PM, A-2).
  • Senate concurred: 04/03/2025 (legislative action records show concurrence and returned with concurrence actions).

Notes / Observations

  • The bill text package includes an unrelated South Carolina concurrent resolution expressing sympathy on the death of Betty Ann Williams Henderson. That portion appears to be a distinct condolence resolution and is not part of the Massachusetts statutory amendments establishing the School Resource Officer Fund.
  • Related bill: HD 444 (listed as replaced).

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

Sign in to ask a question.