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S 1658

Establishes certain rights for shareholders in limited-profit housing companies

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey

The bill allows the Colonel to appoint retired uniformed Massachusetts State Police as at-will, 1-year special state police officers for police detail work, outside civil service r

REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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Bill Summary · S 1658

Summary — S.1658 (2025): "An Act relative to special state police officers"

Note: the bill text provided pertains to appointments of special state police officers (sponsored by Sen. John J. Cronin). Some surrounding metadata in the submission (a different title referencing housing, varied sponsor lists) appears inconsistent with the bill text below; this summary follows the statute language filed as Senate No. 1658.

Purpose

To authorize the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police to appoint retired uniformed state police members as “special state police officers” for limited-term, at‑will assignments (primarily police detail work), and to define qualifications, status, and administrative controls for those appointments.

Where it would be added

  • Inserts a new Section 51A into Chapter 22C of the Massachusetts General Laws (immediately after existing section 51).

Key provisions

  • Authorization: The Colonel may appoint retired uniformed members as special state police officers to perform police details and any police duties arising from those details, whether related to the detail or not.
  • Eligibility requirements:
    • Must have an honorable discharge status from the State Police.
    • Must be deemed necessary, suitable, qualified and fit by the Colonel to perform the same essential functions/duties as current uniformed members.
    • Must be certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (per G.L. c.6E, §4).
  • Employment status:
    • Appointees are at‑will employees (appointment and removal by the Colonel).
    • Appointments are for 1‑year terms, renewable at the Colonel’s sole discretion.
    • Appointees are not subject to civil service law or rules and are not entitled to benefits under civil service laws/rules.
    • Appointees are nevertheless, for purposes of assigned duties and for G.L. c.258, §9A (liability/indemnification), deemed members of the State Police.
  • Administrative control:
    • The Colonel determines whether retired members are subject to or exempt from department rules.
    • The Colonel determines equipment, training, and deployment.

Who is affected

  • Retired uniformed members of the Massachusetts State Police who meet the eligibility criteria.
  • State Police command (increased discretion and staffing flexibility for detail assignments).
  • Civil service administration and relevant pension/benefit systems (the bill exempts appointees from civil service rules and associated benefits).
  • Potentially municipalities, event organizers, or private employers who use police detail services (may gain access to retired officers for details).

Procedural status / timeline (as provided)

  • Filed in Senate: 1/15/2025 (Docket No. 1196).
  • Presented by Sen. John J. Cronin.
  • Introduced in Senate / Read twice and referred: 05/07/2025.
  • Referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security (and later reported favorably and referred to Senate Ways & Means / Finance committee per provided actions).
  • Hearing scheduled (per provided record) for 05/07/2025.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Operational: Provides the State Police with a mechanism to supplement staffing for detail work using experienced retired officers, potentially improving staffing flexibility.
  • Labor/benefits: Creates a class of at‑will reappointments outside civil service protections and benefit entitlements; may raise questions about pension offsets, double-dipping, and labor relations.
  • Oversight & accountability: Broad discretion given to the Colonel over appointment, rules, training, and deployment; oversight mechanisms (e.g., reporting, limits on assignments) are not specified in the text.
  • Liability: Appointees are treated as members for indemnification under G.L. c.258, §9A, clarifying civil liability coverage while on duty.

If you want, I can prepare a short comparison to prior related measures (listed prior-session bills) or draft likely fiscal/legal questions for committee review.

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

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