Amendment #1132 to H3900

Private College and University Campus Police Officer Identification

Mr. González of Springfield moves to amend the bill by adding the following 2 sections:

“SECTION XXXX. Chapter 147 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-

Section 63. Private College and University Police

(i) “Private college” or “private university”, under this section shall mean any campus or other property of an educational institution of higher learning within the commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding any public college or university as defined in Section 5 of Chapter 15A of the General Laws.

(ii) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, special state police officers appointed by any private college or private university covered by this section, in connection with the operation of any part of the college or university within the limits of the campuses, its other properties or the environs thereof, may perform police duties under the direction of the commanding officer or the person in charge of such campus or other property. While performing such duties within those limits, the special state police officers shall have the same authorities, including but not limited to the authority to use electronic weapons authorized under sections 121 and 123 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, immunities, and privileges, as duly appointed and qualified police officers acting elsewhere in the commonwealth.

SECTION XXXX. Section 63 of chapter 22C of the general laws, as so appearing, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, or their status as a special state police officer, qualified private university and college police officers shall be entitled to possession of a Massachusetts police identification card, as authorized by state and federal law, under the same terms and conditions as municipal police officers and University of Massachusetts police officers.”.