SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3826        FILED ON: 4/2/2026

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Cronin, (BY REQUEST)

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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 increasing pre-employment requirements for appointment as a Massachusetts police officer.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3826        FILED ON: 4/2/2026

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act increasing pre-employment requirements for appointment as a Massachusetts police officer.

 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. The first paragraph of section 96 of chapter 41 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the words “Chapter 6E” the following words:- “or who has not completed 60 college semester credits at an accredited college, junior or state community college or university in Criminal Justice or Police Science or a related field, or in a related field of study approved by The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standard and Training Commission,”

 SECTION 2. Section 58 of chapter 31 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the paragraph 4 (lines 53 to 59) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

 “As a prerequisite to appointment to the position of regular police officer in a city, or in a town where the civil service law and rules are applicable to such position, a person shall have completed 60 college semester credits at an accredited college, junior or community college or university in Criminal Justice, Police Science or a related field or in any related field of study approved by The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standard and Training Commission.”

 SECTION 3. Section 4(f)(1) of chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

 “(f)(1) The division of police certification and the municipal police training committee established in section 116 of chapter 6 shall jointly establish minimum certification standards for all officers that shall include, but not limited to: (i) attaining the age of 21; (ii) the attainment of 60 credits from an accredited institution of higher education in a field of study approved by the POST Commission; (iii) successful completion of the basic training program approved by the municipal police training committee; (iv) successful completion of a physical and psychological fitness evaluation approved by the commission; (v) successful completion of a state and national background check, including, but not limited to, fingerprinting and a full employment history; provided, that if the applicant has been previously employed in law enforcement in any state or United States territory or by the federal government, the applicant's full employment record, including complaints and discipline, shall be evaluated in the background check; (vi) passage of an examination approved by the commission; (vii) possession of current first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificates or equivalent, as determined by the commission; (viii) successful completion of an oral interview administered by the commission; and (ix) being of good moral character and fit for employment in law enforcement, as determined by the commission.