SENATE DOCKET, NO. 527        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1370

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James E. Timilty

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to police details.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 527        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1370

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1309 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relative to police details.

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

Chapter 147 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 62 the following section:-

Section 63. Whereas it is recognized that police officers, with their superior training, greater enforcement authority, professionalism and experienced access to law enforcement resources, when working on so-called paid detail work increase public safety and are able to handle a variety of situations calling for a law enforcement response both on the site of such details and in the surrounding area when and as needed; now, therefore, notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, private flaggers will only be used on any highway or other construction or repair jobs where the Commonwealth will save at least twenty (20%) percent of the cost of paid details by using flaggers in place of police officers. The head of the state agency funding such work must certify in writing to the police chief of any community in or through which any such flaggers are to be used at least 30 days in advance, except in cases of emergency work, that such savings are assured, and must affording said chief or chiefs and respective police unions or associations the opportunity to review plans, make cost-saving recommendations, submit a proposal to provide police officers for such detail work, and document the estimated costs of using police officers.