Massachusetts House Bill H4686

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/28/24
• Refer: 5/28/24
• Refer: 7/3/24
• Engrossed: 8/12/24
• Engrossed: 9/30/24
• Enrolled: 10/3/24
• Chaptered: 10/9/24
• Passed: 10/9/24

Caption

Authorizing the town of Natick to continue the employment of police officer John Haswell

Impact

If passed, H4686 would directly affect the employment laws governing police officers in Massachusetts by providing a specific exemption for the town of Natick. This could set a precedent for similar requests from other towns seeking to retain older officers, influencing how age-related employment limitations are applied across the state. The bill ensures that if Officer Haswell surpasses the conventional retirement age without further deductions from his pay related to his continued service, he will still qualify for his full retirement benefits as if he had retired at 65.

Summary

House Bill H4686 seeks to authorize the town of Natick to continue the employment of police officer John Haswell beyond the standard age limits imposed by state law. The bill allows Officer Haswell to serve until he reaches the age of 68, contingent on his physical and mental fitness for duty. This measure comes in response to a vote by the town enabling the exception to the typical rules governing police officer retirement ages, thereby underscoring the community's support for retaining an experienced officer in their ranks.

Contention

The bill primarily addresses the balance between existing laws, which enforce maximum employment ages for police officers, and the needs and preferences of local communities. While it may garner support from those advocating for local control and flexibility in workforce management, it could also face scrutiny from advocates for stricter age enforcement in public safety roles, who might argue that these regulations are in place to ensure the physical and mental readiness of public servants.