SENATE DOCKET, NO. 357        FILED ON: 1/28/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1618

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

_________________

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 public safety on private college and university campuses.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

 

Alyson M. Sullivan

7th Plymouth

3/3/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 357        FILED ON: 1/28/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1618

By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1618) of Michael O. Moore and Alyson M. Sullivan for legislation relative to public safety on private college and university campuses.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 763 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act relative to public safety on private college and university campuses.

 

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. 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 section 131 of chapter 140 of the General Laws.

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 sections 121 and 123 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, 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.