AN ACT REGULATING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE POLICE CHIEF IN THE CITY OF FALL RIVER
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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the position of police chief in the city of Fall River shall, upon the effective date of this act, be subject to chapter 31 of the General Laws and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder governing civil service.
SECTION 2. The mayor of the city of Fall River shall remain the appointing authority for the police chief and the terms and conditions of the police chief's employment contract shall be subject to section 108O of chapter 41 of the General Laws for a period of not more than 3 years.
SECTION 3. The police chief shall be the head of the Fall River police department, shall be responsible for the management and operation of the police department and shall be the appointing authority for all employees of the police department, as that term is defined in section 1 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, with all the rights, duties and privileges appurtenant thereto and as contained in said chapter 31 and any other general or special law applicable to chiefs of departments.
SECTION 4. This act shall apply to any vacancy in the position of police chief occurring on or after the effective date of this act. Nothing in this act shall affect the civil service status, seniority or rights of any person employed in the Fall River police department as of the effective date of this act.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, January 29, 2026.