HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5040        FILED ON: 8/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4747

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Antonio F. D. Cabral

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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 the New Bedford Police Association.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5040        FILED ON: 8/14/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4747

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relative to the New Bedford Police Association.

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  Chapter 451 of the acts of 2016 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2.  (a) Subject to the approval of the board of directors of the New Bedford Police Association, and notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the association may pay:

     (i)  to beneficiaries named by a member of the association in good standing, a sum of $24,000, upon the death of that member, if the deceased was an active member of the New Bedford police department at the time of death;

     (ii)  to a member of the association in good standing, upon that member’s resignation or retirement from the New Bedford police department, if that member has been pensioned from the department due to an injury or disability, a sum equal to the greater of: (a) $150 for each year of membership in the association for a period of not more than 20 years; or (b) $1,000;

     (iii)  to a member of the association in good standing, who has been a member for at least 10 years or has paid membership dues to the association amounting to those membership dues that would have been paid to the association during the immediately preceding 10 years pursuant to the by-laws or who had been pensioned from the New Bedford police department for an injury or other illness or disability, the greater of: (a) $3,750; or (b) $375 for each full year of membership for a period of not more than 20 years, which amount shall reduce the benefit otherwise payable pursuant to clauses (iv) and (v);

     (iv)  a sum equal to the greater of : (a) $1,000; or (b) $150 for each year of membership in the association for a period of not more than 20 years, to a member upon that member’s resignation or retirement from the New Bedford police department, if that person was a member of the association in good standing and a member of the association for not less than 10 years;

     (v)  a sum of $12,000, less the sum of money paid pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iii), to any beneficiaries named by a member of the association upon that member's death if that member was a member of the association in good standing and a retired member of the New Bedford police department; and

     (b)  A sum equal to $3,000 shall be paid to a member of the association in good standing upon the death of the spouse of that member, subject to a vote of approval of the board of directors of the association.