SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1519        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1558

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael O. Moore

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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 public safety on private college and university campuses.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1519        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1558

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1618 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 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. Chapter 147 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

Section 63. Private College and University Police

(i) “Private college” or “private university”, under this section shall mean any campus or other property of an educational institution of higher learning within the commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding any public college or university as defined in Section 5 of Chapter 15A of the General Laws.

(ii) 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 2. Section 63 of chapter 22C of the general laws, as so appearing, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, or their status as a special state police officer, qualified private university and college 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.