Bill > H2260

This bill modifies the existing residency requirements for firefighters and police officers in Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill amends Section 99A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws to stipulate that any member of a city or town's regular police or fire department who was appointed after August 1, 1978, and is not subject to civil service regulations (chapter 31), must reside within 15 miles of the city or town's border limits. The distance is measured from the closest border of the employing municipality to the closest border of the municipality where the employee lives. Importantly, the bill allows for flexibility by permitting cities and towns to increase the 15-mile residency limit through collective bargaining agreements negotiated under chapter 150E, which governs labor relations for public employees. This change provides municipal governments with more discretion in setting residency requirements for their public safety personnel while maintaining a general proximity requirement to ensure local accessibility and community connection.

Government Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2260