Budget Amendment ID: FY2024-S3-904

EPS 904

Police Officer Recruitment and Retention Study

Messrs. Tarr and O'Connor moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ____ the following section: -

"Section _____. (a) There shall be a commission to study the current status of police officer retention and recruitment in the commonwealth and issues relating to maintaining a sufficient, qualified and diverse policing workforce that is reflective of the commonwealth’s population. The commission shall consist of: the chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, who shall serve as co-chairs; the chairs of the joint committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion; the secretary of public safety and security or a designee; the secretary of labor and workforce development or a designee; the executive director of the municipal police training committee; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 3 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a police officer below the rank of sergeant, 1 of whom shall be a police officer at or above the rank of lieutenant with experience in personnel issues and 1 of whom shall be a retired judge who has served in the commonwealth; 3 members appointed by the attorney general, 1 of whom shall be an attorney with experience in in law enforcement related matters, 1 of whom shall be an attorney with experience in civil rights and 1 of whom shall be from a community-based organization; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts peace officer standards and training commission; 1 member appointed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Inc., who shall be a police chief in the commonwealth; 1 member appointed by the co-chairs who shall have expertise in psychology; 1 member appointed by the co-chairs who shall have expertise is sociology; 1 member appointed by the secretary of education, who shall have experience in the education of those pursuing careers in law enforcement; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, Inc.; 1 representative of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform Coalition; and 1 representative of the ACLU Foundation of Massachusetts, Inc..

(b) The study shall include an examination of factors that may affect recruitment and retention including, but not limited to: (i) the rigors of the job; (ii) the suitability of training; (iii) psychological barriers; (iv) any obstacles to the recruitment and retention of police officers who belong to historically underrepresented communities or demographics; and (v) any social, economic or other factors.

(c) The committee shall conduct not less than 3 public hearings at geographically diverse locations across the commonwealth and shall accept written testimony.

(d) Not later than April 2, 2024, the committee shall file a report on its findings,  including any legislative recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on public safety and homeland security, the joint committee on the judiciary, the joint committee on labor and workforce development, the joint committee on racial equity, civil rights, and inclusion and the senate and house committees on ways and means."