Massachusetts Senate Bill S1572

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/16/23
• Refer: 5/30/24

Caption

Relative to emergency response in an active shooter or hostile event situation

Impact

One of the key provisions of the bill is the adoption of the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 3000 as the standard guideline for responding to active shooter or hostile events. This sets forth a clear framework that emergency services must adhere to, thereby elevating the standards of training and preparedness in the state. Furthermore, through this bill, the Department of Public Safety will coordinate necessary training programs, which will be mandatory for all involved law enforcement and emergency personnel, establishing consistent preparedness measures across the Commonwealth.

Summary

Bill S1572, known as the Act relative to emergency response in an active shooter or hostile event situation, introduces significant measures aimed at improving the preparedness and response capabilities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the face of potential active shooter incidents. The legislation establishes an Active Shooter/Hostile Events Response (ASHER) Program, which advocates for a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders, including public and private entities, emergency response teams, and the medical community. This community-based model seeks to enhance the integration of efforts across different sectors to effectively mitigate and respond to such critical incidents.

Contention

The establishment of the ASHER Executive Council, which comprises representatives from various emergency response agencies, aims to ensure ongoing collaboration and communication among critical stakeholders. Meetings will occur at least quarterly, ensuring that strategies and responses are continually refined based on recent developments and learnings. However, the bill could potentially face scrutiny regarding resource allocation and the effectiveness of such a broad directive, as critics may raise concerns about whether adequate funding and training can be guaranteed to implement these standards uniformly across diverse local jurisdictions.