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. Notwithstanding section 33 of chapter 31 of the General Laws or the first sentence of section 39 of said chapter 31 or any other general or special law or rule to the contrary, if a permanent employee of the fire department of the city of Boston serving in any position in a title above the lowest title on such department is to be separated from such position because of lack of money or the abolition of such position, each such employee shall be separated from his position according to such employee's seniority in title based on such employee's length of service in such title after permanent promotion in the department and shall be reinstated to such position held according to such seniority, provided, however, that this act shall only apply to reductions in force resulting in demotions from titles above the lowest title on such department to the next lower title or titles in succession in such department and shall not affect the seniority of any employee in service for any other purpose, including but not limited to, the separation of any permanent employee from service on such department.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.