Massachusetts 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1522 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/16/2023

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1096       FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1522
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Paul R. Feeney
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff on the campuses of state colleges, 
community colleges and state universities.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Paul R. FeeneyBristol and Norfolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1096       FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1522
By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1522) of Paul R. Feeney for 
legislation to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff on the campuses of state colleges, 
community colleges and state universities.  Public Safety and Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1588 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff on the campuses of state colleges, 
community colleges and state universities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 9 of Chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by 
2adding the following new subsection after subsection (gg):-
3 (hh) In order to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff on college campuses, the 
4council shall have the power to require the issuance of firearms and any other safety equipment it 
5deems necessary to campus police officers employed by the commonwealth and working on the 
6campuses of state colleges, community colleges and universities. The decision to issue firearms 
7and other safety equipment shall be binding regardless of any past or future vote to the contrary 
8by a board of trustees.  2 of 2
9 SECTION 2. Chapter 15A is further amended in Section 22 by inserting the following in 
10the first sentence after the word authority:- "except in matters related to public safety on campus 
11pursuant to subsection (hh) in Section 9 of this chapter".