HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2814        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Todd M. Smola

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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 providing the next of kin of a state police officer killed in the line of duty with a flag during the memorial service.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2814        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2664 OF 2023-2024.]

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 providing the next of kin of a state police officer killed in the line of duty with a flag during the memorial service.

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

SECTION 1Section 89 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

"If an officer of the department of state police is killed, or dies from injuries received or dies as a natural and proximate result of undergoing a hazard peculiar to the officer's employment, while in the performance of the officer’s duty, the officer’s next of kin shall receive from the department a flag of the commonwealth during the memorial service.  For purposes of this paragraph, next of kin shall mean a person who is a surviving spouse, partner, parent or close family member of the deceased."