MassachusettsNatick law lets police chief serve until age 67
Natick’s law lets Police Chief James Hicks serve until age 67 if he remains able to do the job, while keeping his retirement allowance tied to age 65.
What it does
James Hicks may continue as Natick’s police chief until age 67, retirement, or the Select Board relieves him of his duties, whichever comes first. He must remain able to do the job.
After age 65, no more retirement deductions come from Hicks’s regular pay for his service. His allowance when he retires based on age is set at the amount he would have received by retiring at 65.
Argument forKeeping Hicks in the role could help Natick maintain steady police leadership while he remains able to do the job.
Argument againstIf the Select Board requires yearly medical exams, Natick could have to pay for them.
More detail
The law allows James Hicks to remain Natick’s police chief until age 67, retirement, or the Select Board relieves him of his duties, whichever comes first. This applies only to James Hicks as Natick’s police chief. Hicks must be mentally and physically able to perform the job. The Select Board may require an annual exam by a physician it chooses, at the town’s expense.
The law bars further retirement deductions from Hicks’s regular pay for service after age 65 and sets his retirement allowance at the amount he would have received by retiring at 65. These terms apply to James Hicks and his regular compensation as Natick’s police chief. The allowance described is for retirement based on age. The deduction rule applies to service after Hicks reaches age 65; the allowance is set when he retires based on age.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 1Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 230 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Sep 24Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Sep 24EnactedBecame Law
- Sep 21Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Sep 21Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Sep 14Read, rules suspended, read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Sep 10Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 1st Chamber
- Aug 17Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Aug 17Rules suspended
- Aug 17Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Jul 27Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Jun 3Hearing rescheduled to 06/03/2026 from 11:00 AM-11:45 AM in B-2 Hearing updated to New End Time
- May 22Hearing scheduled for 06/03/2026 from 11:00 AM-04:00 PM in B-2
- May 18Senate concurred
- May 14Referred to the committee on Public ServiceIntroduced
Public Safety