Amendment #502 to H4000

School Safety and Security Amendment

Representatives Lombardo of Billerica, Dooley of Norfolk, Jones of North Reading and Mirra of West Newbury moves to amend bill by adding the following new section:

SECTION 1. Paragraph (a) of Part B of section 3 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 62 of chapter 68 of the acts of 2011, is hereby further amended by adding the following subparagraph:-

(17) In the case of a police officer who serves a school district pursuant to section 37P of chapter 71, an amount equal to the lesser of the officer’s total earned credit or $8,000.  For purposes of this subparagraph, “earned credit” shall mean the number of hours served in a given school pursuant to section 37P of chapter 71 multiplied by the police detail rate of the municipality in which the school resides. The amount of hours served shall be verified in a writing signed by the municipality’s chief of police or his or her designee and the district’s superintendent or his or her designee during each week the officer serves. The commissioner shall adopt any necessary regulations for the implementation of this subparagraph.

SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 37O the following section:-

Section 37P.  (a) For purposes of this section, “police officer” shall mean a duly sworn municipal, state or special state police officer, including a part-time or retired officer, provided that the officer has the necessary training, up-to-date certificates and a license to carry a firearm.

(b) A school district may supplement its staff with volunteer police officers to serve the safety and security of its schools. Officers that volunteer to serve a school district under this section shall not be paid by the district, municipality or any other person.