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S 1749

Relates to regulations on the percentage of zero-emission vehicles in manufacturers' sales fleets of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles

2025 Regular Session Introduced by George Borrello and 5 co-sponsors

Creates a statewide ASHER program using NFPA 3000 to standardize training, coordination, and oversight for active shooter/hostile events in Massachusetts.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · S 1749

Summary — S 1749 (Massachusetts Senate Docket No. 331)

Title in file: "An Act relative to emergency response in an active shooter or hostile event situation"
Filed: 01/11/2025 (Senate Docket No. 331)
Filed/Presented by: Sen. Patrick M. O'Connor; petitioned with Steven G. Xiarhos
Committee referral (state): Public Safety and Homeland Security

Note on metadata: the package of information provided contains inconsistent/mixed metadata (an initial unrelated title about zero‑emission vehicles, federal committee actions, and a list of federal sponsors). The bill text included here is a Massachusetts state bill (Senate No. 1749 / docket 331) establishing an Active Shooter/Hostile Events Response framework. The summary below addresses the Massachusetts bill text.

Purpose

To create a statewide, standardized framework for preparedness, training, coordination, and oversight of responses to active shooter or other hostile events in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by adopting nationally recognized standards and establishing an interagency executive council and related duties within the Executive Office of Public Safety.

Key provisions

  • Definitions

    • Establishes the Active Shooter/Hostile Events Response (ASHER) Program as a community‑based preparedness/response/recovery approach.
    • Defines “Department” as the Executive Office of Public Safety (Secretary of Public Safety).

  • Adoption of national standard

    • Requires the department to adopt NFPA 3000 (the National Fire Protection Association standard for active shooter/hostile events) as the guideline for such incidents in the Commonwealth.

  • Training and standards

    • Directs the department, in conjunction with state, county, municipal and regional law enforcement, fire, EMS and emergency response agencies, to develop and implement standard training requirements to achieve integrated preparedness, response, and recovery.
    • Gives the department authority to establish minimum standards and criteria for all elements of emergency response to active shooter/hostile events and to define/approve minimum training standards.

  • ASHER Executive Council

    • Creates an Executive Council housed in the department to coordinate and advise on ASHER matters.
    • Composition: Secretary (or designee), Fire Marshal (or designee), Colonel of State Police (or designee), an OEMS‑appointed medical director, director (or designee) from DPH Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management, plus 10 members appointed by the Secretary representing fire fighters, ambulance association, fire chiefs, EMT/paramedics, chiefs of police, police coalitions/associations, state 911, and two at‑large members.
    • Terms and operations: appointed members serve 3‑year terms; at least half constitute a quorum; members unpaid; council meets at least quarterly.
    • Reporting: council must submit an annual report to the Secretary and clerks of the House and Senate on or before June 30 each year.

  • Department duties and authority

    • Designates the department as the lead state agency for development and recommendations on emergency response to active shooter/hostile events.
    • Authorizes the department to plan, direct, coordinate, maintain and improve the statewide program.

Who is affected

  • State and local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, emergency medical systems, 911 operations, public health preparedness offices.
  • Municipal, regional and county emergency management entities.
  • Medical community and hospitals involved in trauma/mass‑casualty response.
  • Public institutions and private organizations involved in preparedness/response partnerships (schools, businesses, venues).
  • Residents and visitors indirectly, through improved coordination, standards, and training.

Procedural / timing notes

  • Bill filed in Massachusetts Senate on 01/11/2025 (Senate Docket No. 331); presented by Sen. Patrick M. O'Connor.
  • Referred to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (per bill text header).
  • The executive council must produce an annual report by June 30 each year after formation.
  • Implementation will require the department to promulgate standards, adopt NFPA 3000 formally, appoint council members, and develop training—timelines for those steps would be set by the department upon enactment.

Potential impact

  • Standardizes Massachusetts’ approach to active shooter/hostile events using NFPA 3000, likely improving interoperability across agencies.
  • Creates a formal advisory and coordinating body to sustain ongoing training, planning and evaluation.
  • May impose new training and planning requirements on municipal/regional responders; costs and resource needs (training, equipment, staffing) would depend on final standards and implementation decisions.

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

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