HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2396        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2595

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Joseph D. McKenna and Paul K. Frost

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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 employment within the Oxford police department.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2396        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2595

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 4914 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to employment within the Oxford police department.

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. Section 3-3-1 of the charter of the town of Oxford, which is on file in the office of the archivist of the commonwealth, as provided in section 12 of chapter 43B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the words “election officers,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- election officers; and.

SECTION 2. Said section 3-3-1 is hereby further amended by striking out the words “; and (e) the Chief of Police and other police officers”.

SECTION 3. Section 5-3-9 of said charter is hereby amended by striking out the words “and (h)” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- (h) the police chief and, upon the recommendation of the police chief, all other sworn members of the police department; and (i).

SECTION 4. Section 3 of chapter 6 of said charter is hereby amended by adding the following section:- 6-3-2: There shall be a police department under the supervision of an office to be known as the chief of police. The chief of police shall have the authority, duties and responsibilities set forth in section 97A of Chapter 41  of the General Laws; provided, however, that the provisions of said section 97A of said chapter 41 requiring and authorizing the board of selectmen to appoint and remove the chief of police and other officers, to fix their compensation and to approve regulations governing the police department shall not apply.

SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, section 97 of chapter 41 of the General Laws shall no longer apply in the town of Oxford.

SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the positions of patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant and chief in the town of Oxford police department  shall be exempt from chapter 31 of the General Laws.

SECTION 7. Section 6 shall not impair the civil service status of a person holding the position of patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant or chief within the town of Oxford police department on the effective date of this act except for the purpose of promotion.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect upon its passage.