Bill
S 1806
In Newton, the bill raises the cap on special police officers from 70 to 75 and adds an ongoing annual pre‑appointment/fitness requirement.
Note on source material
- The descriptive title you provided ("Prohibits correctional facilities from denying entry to certain peer support advocates based on such advocates' prior history of incarceration") does not match the bill text supplied. The text attached is a Massachusetts local act (Senate No. 1806 / Senate Docket No. 750) amending chapter 96 of the Acts of 2014 regarding the appointment of special police officers in the city of Newton.
- Below is a summary of the actual bill text you provided. If you intended the peer‑support/ correctional‑facilities bill instead, please resend that text or the correct bill number.
Bill at a glance
- Bill number: S 1806 (Senate Docket No. 750)
- Title in text: An Act relative to the appointment of special police officers in the city of Newton
- Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Massachusetts (local act for the City of Newton)
- Introduced/filed: 01/14/2025; presented by Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem
- Current procedural note: Substituted by A4159A (4/29/2025) — consult A4159A for the enacted/most recent text
Purpose and intent
- To amend the local statute (chapter 96 of the Acts of 2014, as amended) governing appointment, qualifications, and related requirements for special police officers in the city of Newton. The changes adjust numeric limits and the timing/frequency of certain pre‑appointment requirements and remove one statutory cross‑reference.
Key provisions (by section)
- Section 1: Increases a numeric limit referenced in the existing act from “70” to “75.” (The bill strikes “70” and inserts “75.”)
- Section 2: Expands the timing requirement for a pre‑appointment condition by adding the phrase “, and annually thereafter unless required more often by the police chief” immediately after “Prior to appointment under this act.” In other words, the specified requirement must be satisfied before appointment and then on an annual basis (or more often if the police chief requires).
- Section 3: Revises a statutory cross‑reference in section 2 of the 2014 act. The bill removes the phrase “41, chapter 150E or chapter 151A of the General Laws” and replaces it with “41 or chapter 150E of the General Laws” — i.e., it deletes the reference to chapter 151A.
- Section 4: Like Section 1, it amends section 8 of the 2014 act by changing the figure “70” to “75.”
Who is affected
- Primary: The City of Newton — municipal officials involved in appointing and overseeing special police officers (mayor, city council, police chief).
- Directly affected individuals: Special police officers in Newton (current and prospective), since numeric caps and a recurring pre‑appointment requirement are changed.
- Indirectly affected: City departments that work with special police and any town processes tied to the references in the amended statute.
Potential practical impacts
- Allows up to five additional special police officers (increase from 70 to 75), enabling a modest expansion of the special police ranks.
- Introduces (or clarifies) an annual compliance requirement for whatever condition is specified by the clause beginning “Prior to appointment under this act” — this likely strengthens ongoing oversight or fitness checks for special officers (exact effect depends on the referenced requirement in the existing act).
- Removes the bill’s prior cross‑reference to chapter 151A of the General Laws. Chapter 151A concerns Massachusetts unemployment law; removing the reference could change how unemployment‑related provisions are applied in the context of appointment/eligibility, but the specific consequence depends on how chapter 151A was used in the original local act.
Procedural status and next steps
- Filed 01/14/2025; presented by Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem.
- The file indicates multiple committee referrals/reads and that the measure was “SUBSTITUTED BY A4159A” on 04/29/2025 — substitution means a companion or amended House bill (A4159A) became the vehicle for further action. To determine final law or current operative text, review A4159A and any enrolled/act language.
- Recommendation: If you need authoritative, enforceable language or the final enacted version, consult the substituted bill A4159A and the municipal record for Newton (and the Massachusetts General Court's enacted legislation database).
If you want, I can:
- Summarize A4159A (the substitute) if you provide its text or bill number in the House records.
- Compare this draft with the original chapter 96 (Acts of 2014) to show exact practical changes in context.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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