Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 262 of the acts of 1984 is hereby amended by striking out section 1 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 1. The positions of regular or permanent members of the police force, including intermittent reserve officers and regular or permanent members of the fire department of the town of Hopedale, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 31 of the General Laws and the tenure of any incumbent thereof shall be unlimited, subject to the provisions of said chapter 31.

SECTION 2. Section 2 of said chapter 262 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. Public safety personnel hired during the six month period preceding the effective date of this act shall be included as civil service employees under chapter 31 of the General Laws, subject to any applicable probationary period.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.