SECTION 1. Chapter 125 of the General Laws, as appearing in the most recent edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:

Section 22.  This section shall also be known as "The Correction Officers Bill of Rights".

(a) The following words and phrases as used in this section, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meanings:

“Correctional officer”, shall mean and refer to a sworn member of the Massachusetts Department of Correction who holds one of the following titles: Correction Officer, Industrial Instructor, or Recreation Officer, or a sworn officer of any county jail or house of correction. 

“Disciplinary action”, shall mean and refer to any action that may lead to dismissal, demotion, suspension, reduction in pay or benefits, written reprimand, or a transfer or reassignment for purposes of punishment.

(b) Whenever a correctional officer is under investigation and subject to interrogation by his commanding officer, or any other member of the employing agency or office, for any reason which could lead to disciplinary action, such interrogation shall be conducted under the following conditions:

(1)  The interrogation shall be conducted at a reasonable hour, preferably at a time when the correctional officer is on duty, unless the seriousness of the investigation is of such a degree that immediate action is required.

(2)  The interrogation shall take place either at the office headquarters of the investigating officer or at the correctional unit in which the incident allegedly occurred, as designated by the investigating officer or employing agency or office.