SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2709        FILED ON: 7/27/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2514

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 to allow temporary door-locking devices in public buildings.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2709        FILED ON: 7/27/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2514

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 to allow temporary door-locking devices in public buildings.

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

Chapter 143 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section:-

Section 101. Temporary Door Locking Devices

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary the executive office of public safety and security shall promulgate regulations to allow the use of temporary door locking devices for use in public buildings, and in consultation with the executive office of education and the Massachusetts school building authority, shall establish regulations regarding the use of temporary locking devices in school buildings. These regulations shall include, but not be limited to (1) circumstances under which temporary door locking devices may be used; (2) appropriate locations for temporary door locking devices and ensuring consistent operation throughout a building; (3) a local approval process, including consultation with the fire department and law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the building; (4) integration of such devices into building safety plans and training programs; (5) in-service training on the use of the device by first responders and public employees; and (6) standards for annual inspections to ensure proper use and operation. Temporary door locking devices, as defined in this section, shall not be proscribed by any ordinance that prohibits a building from installing a barricade device.

For the purposes of this section, temporary door locking device shall mean, a device that prevents a door from opening, provided that the device (1) can be engaged or removed without opening the door; (2) can be engaged and removed from the egress side of the door without the use of a key, special knowledge or effort and removed from the ingress side of the door by appropriate personnel with the use of a key or other credential; (3) does not modify the door closer, panic hardware, or fire exit hardware; (4) is not permanently mounted to the door, although individual parts of the device assembly, including bolts, stops, brackets, and pins that do not prevent normal function of the door may be permanently mounted; (5) does not affect the fire rating of the door and complies with National Fire Protection Association fire rating standards; and (6) can be removed with a single operation once engaged, unless the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system, in which case two operations may be permitted.