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S 419

Relates to the repair or replacement of damaged residential lateral sewer and water pipes

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 3 co-sponsors

Creates a state grant program and fund to match local efforts for placing uniformed School Resource Officers in middle/high schools.

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
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Bill Summary · S 419

Summary — S.419 (MA): School Resource Officer Grant Program and Fund

Status: Reported and committed to Finance; introduced Feb 5, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 458 / Senate No. 419)
Presented by: Sen. Patrick M. O’Connor (with co‑petitioners)

Purpose

Creates a state grant program and dedicated fund to incentivize and support the placement of uniformed School Resource Officers (SROs) in middle and high schools through matching grants to local law enforcement and school districts.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 37 to Chapter 69 of the Massachusetts General Laws establishing:
    • The School Resource Officer Grant Program, administered by “the board” in consultation with the Board of Education.
    • A special non‑reverting state treasury account called the School Resource Officer Incentive Grant Program (the fund). Interest earned remains in the fund and monies do not revert to the General Fund at session end.
  • Grants and matching:
    • The fund is used to award matching grants to local law enforcement agencies and local school boards that have a collaborative agreement to employ uniformed SROs in middle and high schools.
    • The board, in consultation with the Commissioner and the Department of Public Safety, will set criteria for grants, including grant amounts and required local match.
    • Local matching requirements are to be scaled based on the locality’s ability to pay.
  • Training:
    • Up to 5% of the fund may be disbursed annually for SRO training.
  • SRO requirements and duties:
    • SROs must be certified law enforcement officers.
    • Stated roles include ensuring safety, preventing truancy and violence, and enforcing school board rules and codes of student conduct.
  • Rulemaking:
    • The board may adopt program guidelines and set employment and duty standards for SROs as appropriate.

Who is affected

  • Local school districts (middle and high schools) seeking to employ SROs.
  • Local law enforcement agencies entering collaborative agreements with school districts.
  • Municipalities/communities, which must provide the required local match (adjusted for ability to pay).
  • Current and prospective SROs (certified law enforcement officers) who may receive state‑supported positions and training.
  • Students, school staff, and families, as increased SRO presence and related policies may affect school safety practices and student‑discipline procedures.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Filed 1/13/2025; introduced/first read Feb 5, 2025.
  • Referred to Judiciary (and Education committee involvement noted); reported by the Committee on the Judiciary without amendment (ordered reported favorably).
  • Placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (Calendar No. 79).
  • A hearing was scheduled for June 17, 2025.
  • Current status: Reported and committed to Finance.

Potential implications (neutral)

  • Would provide dedicated state funding and training support to expand SRO programs, lowering initial local cost barriers via matching grants.
  • Localities would still bear part of the cost; match varies by ability to pay.
  • The statute empowers the administering board to set standards and duties, and to allocate training funds (up to 5% annually).

For more detail, consult the bill text (Senate No. 419 / Senate Docket No. 458) and tracking information from the Massachusetts Legislature.

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

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