Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H4436 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4921 FILED ON: 2/9/2024
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4436
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kenneth I. Gordon and Michael D. Brady
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to modernize civil service laws.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kenneth I. Gordon21st Middlesex2/9/2024Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/9/2024 1 of 16
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4921 FILED ON: 2/9/2024
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4436
18	18	By Representative Gordon of Bedford and Senator Brady, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule
19	19	12) of Kenneth I. Gordon and Michael D. Brady for legislation to modernize civil service laws to
20	20	assist in the recruiting and hiring of municipal public safety employees. Public Service.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to modernize civil service laws.
27	27	Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
28	28	assist in the recruiting and hiring of municipal public safety employees, therefore it is hereby
29	29	declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace
30	30	and safety.
31	31	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
32	32	of the same, as follows:
33	33	1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
34	34	2General Laws is hereby amended in line 70 by inserting after the phrase “in addition to” the
35	35	3further phrase “, where required by the rules of the administrator,”.Section 1 is further amended
36	36	4in line 94 to insert after the phrase “section six” the further phrase “, six D,”.
37	37	5 SECTION 2. Section 6 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
38	38	6General Laws is hereby amended by inserting in line 10 the phrase “six D,” between the words
39	39	7“sections” and “twenty-six”.
40	40	8 SECTION 3. Chapter 31 of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, after
41	41	9section 6C, a new section 6D, as follows: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or 2 of 16
42	42	10special law to the contrary, the administrator may approve the original appointments of a
43	43	11municipal appointing authority sanctioned by sections fifty-nine A, fifty-nine B, or fifty-nine C;
44	44	12provided that the administrator’s role in facilitating such alternative original appointments shall
45	45	13not serve as the predicate for any claim asserted against the administrator under chapter one-
46	46	14hundred-fifty-one B of the General Laws.”
47	47	15 SECTION 4. Section 59 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
48	48	16General Laws is hereby amended by inserting in line 6 the phrase “fifty-nine A or” before the
49	49	17word “sixty”.
50	50	18 SECTION 5. Chapter 31 of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, after
51	51	19section fifty-nine, a new section 59A, as follows:- “[1] Notwithstanding the provisions of any
52	52	20general or special law to the contrary, the administrator may authorize an appointing authority to
53	53	21create its own registers of entry-level municipal police and firefighter candidates after the
54	54	22appointing authority has entered into a written agreement with the administrator to adhere in the
55	55	23hiring process to basic merit principles, as defined in section one of this chapter; to commit to
56	56	24recruiting and considering candidates of diverse backgrounds; and upon submission of an anti-
57	57	25nepotism, anti-patronage, and anti-favoritism policy acceptable to the administrator.
58	58	26 [2] An appointing authority that has entered into a written agreement with the
59	59	27administrator referenced in Section fifty-nine A [1] may designate candidates to appear on a
60	60	28local public safety register from which candidates may be considered for original appointment to
61	61	29permanent police officer or firefighter. None of the provisions of sections twenty-six or twenty-
62	62	30seven of this chapter shall apply to those candidates designated by the appointing authority to be
63	63	31considered from the local public safety register. 3 of 16
64	64	32 [3] A candidate may be appointed as a permanent police officer from a local public safety
65	65	33register without having first passed the entry examination required by section six if they meet the
66	66	34minimum educational attainment and age requirements for appointment set forth in the second
67	67	35paragraph of section fifty-eight and the health and physical fitness standards set forth in section
68	68	36sixty-one A of this chapter, and also satisfy one of the following conditions:
69	69	37 [a] future successful completion of a prescribed course of study at a police academy
70	70	38approved by the municipal police training committee pursuant to section ninety-six B of chapter
71	71	39forty-one; or
72	72	40 [b] receipt of a passing mark, within the past five years, on: (i) a civil service examination
73	73	41for police officer administered by the administrator; or (ii) a qualifying examination administered
74	74	42by the appointing authority that has been validated by a test-development expert and that tests
75	75	43the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the primary or dominant duties of the position; or
76	76	44(iii) any other examination approved by the administrator in consultation with individuals
77	77	45deemed to be subject matter experts in the policing profession; or
78	78	46 [c] current service in Massachusetts as a salaried police officer certified by the peace
79	79	47officer standards and training commission; or
80	80	48 [d] graduation within the past five years from a police academy approved by the
81	81	49Massachusetts police training committee; or
82	82	50 [e] receipt of a waiver from the Massachusetts police training committee excusing the
83	83	51named candidate from further academy training. 4 of 16
84	84	52 [4] No individual appointed as a police officer may perform the duties of a sworn police
85	85	53officer prior to completion of the prescribed course of study approved by the Massachusetts
86	86	54police training committee pursuant to section ninety-six B of chapter forty-one or receipt of a
87	87	55waiver of such training requirement from said committee.
88	88	56 [5] A candidate may be appointed from a local public safety register as a permanent
89	89	57firefighter without having first passed the entry examination required by section six if they meet
90	90	58the minimum educational attainment and age requirements for appointment set forth in the
91	91	59second paragraph of section fifty-eight and the health and physical fitness standards set forth in
92	92	60section sixty-one A of this chapter, and also satisfy one of the following conditions:
93	93	61 [a] prior or proximately anticipated graduation from a fire academy, or anticipated
94	94	62completion within the next twelve months of another prescribed course of study culminating in
95	95	63certification, approved by the Massachusetts fire training council pursuant to section one
96	96	64hundred sixty-five of chapter six.
97	97	65 [b] receipt of a passing mark, within the past five years, on: (i) a civil service examination
98	98	66for firefighter administered by the administrator; or (ii) a qualifying examination administered
99	99	67by the appointing authority that has been validated by a test-development expert and that tests
100	100	68the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the primary or dominant duties of the position; or
101	101	69(iii) any other examination approved by the administrator in consultation with individuals
102	102	70deemed to be subject matter experts in the firefighting profession; or
103	103	71 [c] current service, for a minimum of six months, in Massachusetts as a salaried
104	104	72firefighter; or 5 of 16
105	105	73 [d] past service as a salaried firefighter in another jurisdiction together with certification
106	106	74acceptable to the Massachusetts fire training council.
107	107	75 [6] In each and every case, whether involving either police or fire position candidacies
108	108	76under this section, no appointment shall be deemed effectual for civil service purposes until
109	109	77notification of same to the administrator in a manner prescribed by the administrator. Nothing in
110	110	78this section regarding the appointment of candidates from a local public safety register shall be
111	111	79construed to apply to any municipal public safety personnel ranked above the entry-level
112	112	80position of police officer or firefighter.
113	113	81 [7] Upon investigation and substantiation by the commission of allegations that an
114	114	82appointing authority has violated material terms of the written agreement entered into with the
115	115	83administrator, the commission, in consultation with the administrator, may order modifications,
116	116	84suspension, or termination of the agreement.”
117	117	85 SECTION 6. Chapter 31 of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, after
118	118	86section fifty-nine, a new section 59B, as follows:- “Notwithstanding the provisions of any
119	119	87general or special law to the contrary, the administrator may authorize an appointing authority to
120	120	88establish an entry-level police cadet program leading to civil service tenure. The cadet program
121	121	89shall be established by the appointing authority, consonant with basic merit principles and the
122	122	90provisions of section twenty-one-A of chapter one hundred forty-seven, except that a person
123	123	91appointed as a police cadet need not reside in the municipality making the appointment and may
124	124	92be of any age once the person’s eighteenth birthday has transpired. Cadet program requirements
125	125	93shall be approved by both the administrator and the Massachusetts police training committee. 6 of 16
126	126	94 A cadet may be appointed to fill a vacancy in a position in the lowest grade of a
127	127	95municipal police force through a cadet appointment without certification from an eligible list. In
128	128	96order to maintain cadet-appointment status, the cadet must pass a qualifying exam and be a
129	129	97member in good standing in the appointing authority-sponsored cadet program for a time period
130	130	98specified by the administrator but not less than twelve months. Upon successful completion of
131	131	99the cadet program and contingent upon graduation from a police academy approved by the
132	132	100Massachusetts police training committee, the appointing authority may effectuate a civil service
133	133	101appointment of said cadet to the permanent police force via notification to the administrator.
134	134	102Such appointee shall then serve the probationary period specified in section sixty-one of this
135	135	103chapter before gaining tenure status. The appointing authority shall report in writing to the
136	136	104administrator any such permanent original appointment.”
137	137	105 SECTION 7. Chapter 31 of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, after
138	138	106section fifty-nine, a new section 59C, as follows: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any
139	139	107general or special law to the contrary, any person who has completed not less than two years of
140	140	108service as a fire cadet may, subject to a program established by the head of the fire department,
141	141	109as defined in section one of chapter one hundred forty-eight, on behalf of a municipality
142	142	110accepting of the provisions of this chapter, which program has been approved by both the
143	143	111administrator and the Massachusetts fire training council, be appointed to fill a vacancy in a
144	144	112position in the lowest grade in the civil service fire force of said city or town without
145	145	113certification from an eligible list prepared under this chapter; provided, however, that such
146	146	114person is either on a fire entrance eligible list prepared under this chapter or passes another
147	147	115qualifying examination approved by the administrator.” 7 of 16
148	148	116 SECTION 8. Chapter 31 of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, after
149	149	117section 59, a new section 59D, as follows:- “The percentage of candidates appointed to a
150	150	118permanent position from a local public safety service register or a cadet program, pursuant to
151	151	119sections fifty-nine A through fifty-nine C of this chapter, inclusive, shall not exceed, in the
152	152	120aggregate, more than fifty percent of the appointing authority’s overall appointments to the
153	153	121entry-level police and firefighter ranks during the time period established by the written
154	154	122agreement consummated between the administrator and the appointing authority that authorizes
155	155	123the alternative appointment methodologies permitted by this chapter.”
156	156	124 SECTION 9. Chapter 31 of the General Laws is further amended by inserting, after
157	157	125section 59, a new section 59E, as follows:- “Sections six D, fifty-nine A, fifty-nine C, and fifty-
158	158	126nine D of chapter thirty-one of the General Laws shall be in effect until January 1, 2035, and
159	159	127shall expire on that date.”
160	160	128 SECTION 10. Section 20 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
161	161	129General Laws is hereby amended by striking all text after the first sentence.
162	162	130 SECTION 11. Section 21 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
163	163	131General Laws is hereby amended by striking the last sentence (lines 35 to 38) and substituting
164	164	132therefor the following:- “The administrator shall notify the Massachusetts commission against
165	165	133discrimination when it issues a certification with this limitation.” Section 21 is further amended
166	166	134by inserting the following final paragraph:- “The administrator may limit eligibility to appear on
167	167	135a certification for an original appointment to persons who are fluent in a specified foreign
168	168	136language commonly spoken among the constituency to be served if the appointing authority
169	169	137requests such limitation in its requisition. For public safety departments that have entered into an 8 of 16
170	170	138agreement with the administrator to facilitate alternative pathway appointments under section
171	171	139fifty-nine A of this chapter, at the end of the hiring cycle defined by such agreement, any
172	172	140appointment to a municipal public safety position that resulted in the non-selection of another
173	173	141candidate entitled to a preference under section twenty-six of this chapter, provided that such
174	174	142other candidate would have been appointed but for the limitation of the special certification
175	175	143requiring foreign language fluency, shall be deemed by the local appointing authority to be an
176	176	144appointment pursuant to sections fifty-nine A and fifty-nine D of this chapter if said restriction
177	177	145on the basis of foreign language fluency yielded an appointment of a candidate not entitled to
178	178	146any statutory preference.”
179	179	147 SECTION 12. Section 24 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
180	180	148General Laws is hereby amended by striking the phrase “, within thirty days,” in line 14 and
181	181	149substituting therefor the phrase “shall forthwith”.
182	182	150 SECTION 13. Section 25 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
183	183	151General Laws is hereby amended by striking the word “shall” in line 51 and substituting therefor
184	184	152the phrase “may, in the administrator’s discretion,”; and inserting before the final period in line
185	185	15351 the following proviso:- “; provided, however, that the name of a person whose name has been
186	186	154certified to an appointing authority for an entry-level position and is under consideration for
187	187	155appointment shall remain in effect until the hiring process is completed by the appointing
188	188	156authority and any notice of appointment submitted to the administrator.”
189	189	157 SECTION 14. Section 27 of chapter 31 is hereby amended by inserting a new first
190	190	158 sentence in the first paragraph:-
191	191	159 “If the administrator or an appointing authority delegated by the administrator, applying 9 of 16
192	192	160 the formula for original appointments set out in the rules of the administrator, certifies
193	193	161from an eligible list the names of persons who are qualified, and willing to accept, an original
194	194	162appointment, the appointing authority, pursuant to the civil service law and rules, may appoint
195	195	163only from among such persons; provided, however, for each such person, if any, who is
196	196	164bypassed, rejected as not being in compliance with applicable entrance requirements, or
197	197	165withdraws from the application process, the appointing authority may appoint from among a
198	198	166group that includes the next highest-ranked person on the certification; and provided further, that
199	199	167the administrator or an appointing authority delegated by the administrator, shall not include the
200	200	168 name of any person who has been so bypassed or rejected on any future certification from
201	201	169the same original appointment eligible list unless directed to do so by the commission.”
202	202	170 SECTION 15. Section 58 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
203	203	171General Laws is hereby, but with an effective date one year after enactment, amended by striking
204	204	172the third paragraph of this section and substituting therefor the following four new paragraphs:-
205	205	173 “[1] No applicant for examination for original appointment to the police force or fire
206	206	174force of a city or town shall be required by rule or otherwise to be a resident of such city or town
207	207	175at the time of filing application for such examination.
208	208	176 [2] If any person who has resided in a city or town for one year immediately prior to the
209	209	177date of examination for original appointment to the police force or fire force of said city or town
210	210	178has the same standing on the eligible list established as the result of such examination as another
211	211	179person who has not so resided in said city or town, the administrator, when certifying names to
212	212	180the appointing authority for the police force or the fire force of said city or town, shall place the
213	213	181name of the person who has so resided ahead of the name of the person who has not so resided; 10 of 16
214	214	182provided, that upon written request of the appointing authority to the administrator, the
215	215	183administrator shall, when certifying names from said eligible list for original appointment to the
216	216	184police force or fire force of a city or town, place the names of all persons who have resided in
217	217	185said city or town for one year immediately prior to the date of examination ahead of the name of
218	218	186any person who has not so resided; provided further that, any applicant who earned a high school
219	219	187diploma from a public school located within the geographical confines of said city or town or so
220	220	188resided in said city or town when they received a public high school diploma shall have the same
221	221	189claim to preferential placement on the certification as those persons who have resided in said city
222	222	190or town for one year immediately prior to the date of examination.
223	223	191 [3] In the case of a municipality with a population of less than seventy-five thousand
224	224	192inhabitants seeking to draw from a regional pool of candidates, the administrator may, upon
225	225	193written request of the hiring authority, when certifying names from said eligible list for original
226	226	194appointment, place the names of all persons who have resided in another municipality within ten
227	227	195miles of the perimeter of the requisitioning municipality ahead of the name of any person who
228	228	196has not so resided in or adjacent to the requisitioning municipality. In the case of a municipality
229	229	197with a population of greater than seventy-five thousand inhabitants, a public safety department
230	230	198appointing authority from that city and its counterpart from any other municipality may jointly
231	231	199petition the administrator to include on the portion of the eligible list of individuals seeking
232	232	200original appointment that are preferred on the basis of residency the names of candidates residing
233	233	201in those specifically-identified municipalities if the city appointing authority is so authorized to
234	234	202petition for expansion of the residency preference by a vote of the legislative body of the hiring
235	235	203municipality. Whenever the residency preference to be applied to eligible lists extends beyond
236	236	204the perimeter of the requisitioning municipality, the administrator shall specify the contours of 11 of 16
237	237	205the preference-eligible geographical zone on the administrator’s website. Thereafter, upon
238	238	206written request of the appointing authority to the administrator, the administrator shall, when
239	239	207certifying names from an eligible list for original appointment to the police or fire force of said
240	240	208municipality, place the names of all persons who satisfy the published criteria for residency
241	241	209preference ahead of the name of any person who does not satisfy said criteria.
242	242	210 [4] Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, any
243	243	211person who receives an appointment to the police force or fire force of a city or town shall within
244	244	212nine months after his appointment establish his residence within such city or town or at any other
245	245	213place in the commonwealth that is within ten miles of the perimeter of such city or town;
246	246	214provided, however, that a city or town may increase the ten-mile residency limit under a
247	247	215collective bargaining agreement negotiated under chapter one hundred fifty E.”
248	248	216 SECTION 16. Section 59 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
249	249	217General Laws is hereby amended by replacing the word “four” in lines 12 and 14 with the word
250	250	218“two”. Section 59 is further amended by striking the word “certification” in line 18 and inserting
251	251	219the phrase “appointment and performed the job duties”.
252	252	220 SECTION 17. Section 61 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
253	253	221General Laws is hereby amended by inserting a new final sentence stating:-
254	254	222 “Unless otherwise provided by civil service rule, and with appropriate adjustments to the
255	255	223timing of performance evaluations called for therein, the second paragraph of section thirty-four
256	256	224of this chapter shall apply to persons covered by this section.” 12 of 16
257	257	225 SECTION 18. Section 65 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
258	258	226General Laws is hereby amended by replacing the word “four” in lines 8 and 10 with the word
259	259	227“two”. Section 65 is further amended by inserting a new seventh and final paragraph stating:-
260	260	228 “Unless otherwise provided by civil service rule, and with appropriate adjustments to the
261	261	229timing of performance evaluations called for therein, the second paragraph of section thirty-four
262	262	230of this chapter shall apply to persons covered by this section.”
263	263	231 SECTION 19. Section 67 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
264	264	232General Laws is hereby amended by striking the word “and” between the word “employee” and
265	265	233the phrase “the seniority” in line 6 and substituting a comma therefor; then inserting at the end of
266	266	234that sentence the phrase “and available demographic data, in aggregate form, regarding the
267	267	235complement of civil service employees in each department.” Section 67 is further amended by
268	268	236inserting the phrase “commission or” before the phrase “attorney general” in line 21. Section 67
269	269	237is further amended by striking the word “one” in line 23 and substituting therefor the word
270	270	238“five”.
271	271	239 SECTION 20. Section 75 of chapter 31 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the
272	272	240General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end of the first sentence, in line 10, the
273	273	241phrase “, or to furnish information to, or cooperate with, law enforcement authorities.”
274	274	242 SECTION 21. Chapter 3 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the General Laws is
275	275	243hereby amended by inserting the following new section after Section 75:-
276	276	244 “Section 76. Commission on Recruitment, Hiring and Retention of Municipal Police
277	277	245Officers and Firefighters in Massachusetts. 13 of 16
278	278	246 (a) There shall be a permanent commission on recruitment, hiring and retention of
279	279	247municipal police officers and firefighters in Massachusetts to be chaired by the house and senate
280	280	248chairs of the joint committee on public service, and consisting of the following members or their
281	281	249designees: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public safety and homeland
282	282	250security; the Secretary of Administration and Finance; the Chief Human Resources Officer for
283	283	251the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; the Chair of the Civil Service Commission; the Attorney
284	284	252General; the Secretary of Public Safety and Security; the Chair of the Massachusetts Peace
285	285	253Officer Standards and Training Commission; the Executive Director of the Municipal Police
286	286	254Training Committee; the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association; the
287	287	255President of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police; the Chair of the Massachusetts Law
288	288	256Enforcement Policy Group; a representative of police officers selected by the Co-Chairs from
289	289	257candidates recommended from a major federation of police officers’ union in Massachusetts; the
290	290	258President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers; the President
291	291	259of the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement; the Chair of the
292	292	260Massachusetts Fire Training Council; the State Fire Marshal; the President of the Fire Chiefs
293	293	261Association of Massachusetts; the President of the Professional Firefighters Association of
294	294	262Massachusetts; the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; the President of the Massachusetts Veteran
295	295	263Service Agents; the Commander of the Disabled Veterans of Massachusetts; the Executive
296	296	264Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association; the President of the Massachusetts
297	297	265Mayors’ Association; the Chair of the Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources Association;
298	298	266the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Chapter of the ACLU; the President of the Boston
299	299	267Chapter of the NAACP’s New England Conference; and the Chair of the Massachusetts
300	300	268Commission Against Discrimination. 14 of 16
301	301	269 (b) The work of the commission shall be directed by a steering committee to be chaired
302	302	270by the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public service; and consisting of the
303	303	271following members or their designees: the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on
304	304	272public safety and homeland security; the Secretary of Administration and Finance; the Secretary
305	305	273of Public Safety and Security; the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Commonwealth of
306	306	274Massachusetts; and the Chair of the Civil Service Commission. The chair or co-chairs may
307	307	275appoint subcommittees to carry out the mandate of the commission. Members of the commission
308	308	276shall be subject to the provisions of chapter two hundred sixty-eight A as they apply to special
309	309	277state employees and shall receive no compensation for their services.
310	310	278 (c) The commission shall be a resource to the Commonwealth and municipalities on
311	311	279issues related to the recruitment, hiring and retention of highly qualified candidates of diverse
312	312	280backgrounds for municipal police officer and firefighter positions across Massachusetts. In
313	313	281support of this objective, the Commission may: (1) obtain, interpret, and apply current research
314	314	282and evaluation data, including information reported pursuant to section sixty-seven of chapter
315	315	283thirty-one of the General Laws, to program initiatives and policy development and identify and
316	316	284advocate for solutions to address gaps in strategies for employment of highly qualified and
317	317	285diverse municipal public safety personnel; and (2) recommend measures to increase, where
318	318	286appropriate, representation within municipal public safety departments of historically under-
319	319	287represented populations, including females and persons of color, and monitor the compliance by
320	320	288municipal public safety departments with any commitments they may have entered into to
321	321	289diversify their workforces.
322	322	290 (d) The commission shall be empowered to examine and evaluate the implementation of
323	323	291all reforms related to the recruitment, hiring and retention of municipal police officers and 15 of 16
324	324	292firefighters in Massachusetts made by the Special Legislative Commission to Study and Examine
325	325	293the Civil Service Law, , Hiring Procedures and By-Laws for Municipalities not Subject to the
326	326	294Civil Service Law and State Police Hiring Practices by: (1) studying, reviewing and reporting
327	327	295on: (a) the hiring outcomes of any civil service appointments facilitated by sections fifty-nine A
328	328	296through fifty-nine C of chapter thirty-one; (b) the hiring outcomes of reforms made to civil
329	329	297service residency preference provisions of section fifty-eight of chapter thirty-one; (c) the hiring
330	330	298outcomes of any other civil service reforms implemented including, but not limited to, the
331	331	299increased frequency of civil service examinations and the lowering of examination fees; and (2)
332	332	300making recommendations: (a) to ensure that adopted reforms are being implemented consistent
333	333	301with the intent of the Special Legislative Commission; and (b) for further legislation in
334	334	302furtherance of the commission’s mandate.
335	335	303 (e) The commission shall also be empowered to examine and evaluate all aspects of the
336	336	304recruitment, hiring and retention of municipal police officers and firefighters in all municipalities
337	337	305in Massachusetts and make pertinent recommendations to agencies and officers of the
338	338	306commonwealth and local subdivisions of government not governed by chapter thirty-one that
339	339	307advance basic merit principles in the recruitment, hiring and retention of highly qualified police
340	340	308officers and firefighters of diverse backgrounds across Massachusetts.(f) The commission may
341	341	309obtain from all state agencies and municipalities such information and assistance as the
342	342	310commission may require.(g) The commission shall submit a report on its activities and findings,
343	343	311including any recommendations, to the governor, the clerks of the house of representatives and
344	344	312the senate, and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public service and joint
345	345	313committee on public safety and homeland security, and shall file at least one report annually.” 16 of 16
346	346	314 SECTION 22. Chapter 7 as it appears in the 2020 Official Edition of the General Laws is
347	347	315hereby amended by inserting the following new section 4T after section 4S:- “A position will be
348	348	316established at the Manager level under the supervision of the Director of Diversity and Equal
349	349	317Opportunity with the responsibility to promote diversity and equal opportunity in civil service
350	350	318employment throughout the Commonwealth. The Manager of Civil Service Diversity, Equity
351	351	319and Inclusion will be responsible for overseeing initiatives and address issues involving
352	352	320Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in public safety employment, with a particular focus on civil
353	353	321service municipalities and municipalities that have left the civil service system.”