Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S348 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 810 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 348
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michael F. Rush
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 relative to parental notification in public schools .
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael F. RushNorfolk and SuffolkPaul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/8/2023 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 810 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 348
18	18	By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 348) of Michael F. Rush and Paul
19	19	McMurtry for legislation relative to parental notification in public schools. Education.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
23	23	(2023-2024)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act relative to parental notification in public schools .
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended in Section 48A in line 1 by inserting
29	29	2before the word “School”, the following:- “(a)”
30	30	3 Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended in Section 48A by inserting in line 22
31	31	4after the word “section”, the following:-
32	32	5 (b) Parental Notification of Law Enforcement Action on School Grounds
33	33	6 Section 1. Definitions
34	34	7 For the purpose of this section the following words shall have the following meanings
35	35	8 "School grounds", the real property comprising an active and operational elementary or
36	36	9secondary school during the regular hours in which school is in session and when students are
37	37	10present.  2 of 3
38	38	11 ''School resource officer'', a duly sworn municipal police officer with all necessary
39	39	12training, up-to-date certificates, including special school resource officer certification as required
40	40	13by subsection (b) of section 3 of chapter 6E or a special officer appointed by the chief of police
41	41	14charged with: (i) providing law enforcement; (ii) promoting school safety and security services
42	42	15to elementary and secondary public schools; and (iii) maintaining a positive school climate for
43	43	16all students, families and staff.
44	44	17 Section 2.
45	45	18 If local or state law enforcement is called to school grounds to make arrests or engage in
46	46	19activity to ensure the safety of students or faculty beyond the regular duties undertaken by that
47	47	20school’s school resource officer, the principal of that school or superintendent of that school
48	48	21district or a designee of said principal or superintendent shall make a report by mail, electronic
49	49	22mail, or phone call of the incident to the parents of students who attend the school within twenty-
50	50	23four hours of the initial call to law enforcement. This report shall include the following
51	51	24information:
52	52	25 i.) The time at which law enforcement was called to the school.
53	53	26 ii.) The reason for which law enforcement was called, omitting any information which
54	54	27could be used to identify specific students or faculty.
55	55	28 iii.) The time at which law enforcement officers left school grounds.
56	56	29 The report shall not include any information which could be used to identify any specific
57	57	30student or faculty member of the school.
58	58	31 Section 3. 3 of 3
59	59	32 This Section shall not limit the authority of a law enforcement officer to make an arrest
60	60	33on school grounds. This Section shall not delay action by law enforcement officers in
61	61	34circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe that urgent and immediate action
62	62	35is necessary to do any of the following:
63	63	36 i.) Prevent bodily harm or injury to the student or any other person
64	64	37 ii.) Apprehend an armed or fleeing suspect
65	65	38 iii.) Prevent the destruction of evidence
66	66	39 iv.) Address an emergency or other dangerous situation
67	67	40 (c.) This Act shall take effect upon passage.