SECTION 1. Definitions

“Private college or private university”, under this act shall mean any campus or other property of an educational institution of higher learning within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding any College or University under the control of the trustees of the University of Massachusetts.

“Special state police officer”, under this act shall mean any person employed on a full-time basis by a covered private college or private university as a special state police officer, who has been assigned to and has satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study approved by the municipal police training committee or its equivalent, or the department of state police, and who is authorized to carry class A firearms under M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 131.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, special state police officers appointed by any private college or private university covered by this section, in connection with the operation of any part of the college or university within the limits of the campuses, its other properties or the environs thereof, may perform police duties under the direction of the commanding officer or the person in charge of such campus or other property. While performing such duties within those limits, the special state police officers shall have the same authorities, including but not limited to the authority to use electronic weapons authorized under M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 121 & 123, immunities, and privileges, as duly appointed and qualified Police Officers acting elsewhere in the commonwealth.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, special stat police officers under this act and retired special state police officers shall be entitled to possession of a Massachusetts police identification card, as authorized by state and federal law, under the same terms and conditions as municipal police officers and university of Massachusetts police officers.