MassachusettsSomerville mayor could appoint special police for housing authority sites
If passed, Somerville’s mayor could appoint special police officers to help protect residents, and those officers could make arrests on certain housing authority property if they meet training requirements.
What it does
Somerville’s mayor could appoint special police officers when the mayor considers them necessary for residents’ safety. The city council must confirm each appointment.
On Somerville Housing Authority property used or occupied by residents and staff, special officers could make arrests and perform the duties of reserve and intermittent officers. They must meet applicable training requirements.
The police chief could set rules for all or some special officers, including rules about training and firearms. The officers would be exempt from three listed state laws on civil service, police matters, and collective bargaining.
Argument forSpecial officers could help protect Somerville Housing Authority residents and staff by making arrests and handling police duties on authority property.
Argument againstOfficers could have fewer protections under state civil service and collective bargaining laws because the bill would exempt them from those laws.
More detail
The mayor may appoint special police officers for Somerville. The appointments are for the city of Somerville. The mayor may appoint officers as the mayor deems necessary for residents’ safety and protection. The city council must confirm each appointment. The mayor sets each officer’s term and may remove an officer on the police chief’s recommendation. The bill says it would take effect upon passage.
Special police officers may make arrests and perform police duties on certain Somerville Housing Authority property. Their powers match those of reserve and intermittent police officers on or in lands or buildings owned, used, or occupied by Somerville Housing Authority residents and staff, and cover police duties arising from those places. Officers must meet applicable training requirements set by the municipal police training committee and the city. The bill says it would take effect upon passage.
The police chief may set rules for some or all special police officers, and the officers would be exempt from three listed state laws. The police chief may set rules for all special police officers or only certain officers. The listed exemptions are from state civil service law, a provision of state police law, and state collective bargaining law. Rules may cover medical checks, training, firearms licenses and qualifications, how officers perform their duties, and uniforms and equipment. The bill says it would take effect upon passage.
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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 26Read second and ordered to a third readingLatest
- Oct 26Rules suspended
- Oct 26Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Sep 28Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Sep 9Hearing rescheduled to 09/09/2026 from 11:00 AM-04:00 PM in A-1 Hearing updated to New End Time
- Sep 9Hearing rescheduled to 09/09/2026 from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM in A-1 Hearing updated to New End Time
- Aug 26Hearing scheduled for 09/09/2026 from 11:00 AM-04:00 PM in A-1
- Jul 29Senate concurred
- Jul 27Referred to the committee on Public ServiceIntroduced
Public SafetyHousingCriminal Justice