An Act relative to criminal justice training regarding autistic persons

Summary

This bill would require the Municipal Police Training Committee to develop and implement a curriculum for training police officers in appropriate interactions with persons on the autism spectrum, and develop guidelines for law enforcement response to such individuals. The course would include proper techniques for interviews, locating persons on the spectrum, identifying abusive situations, de-escalation with autistic individuals, and more. The bill would require the training for new recruits and allow the MPTC to include it periodically for in-service training.

An Act providing mental wellness training for police officers

Summary

This legislation requires the Municipal Police Training Commission to develop and implement a course for training the Commonwealth’s law enforcement officers on mental wellness and suicide prevention. The course shall be 2 hours of instruction, and incorporated into both the recruit basic training curriculum and the in-service training curriculum. The bill requires all officers certified by the MPTC to attend and complete the course annually. The bill also requires every State Police Trooper to complete a course that meets the standards established by the legislation.

An Act Relative to public safety on private college and university campuses

Summary

This legislation would allow for police officers employed by private colleges in universities to be eligible to obtain a Massachusetts Police Identification Card, which is currently used as a basic ID across law enforcement departments. This is especially important for a number of urban campus departments who regularly assist municipal departments for large scale events, including the Boston Marathon or various parades.  It would also allow such officers to carry a taser if (1) they hold a valid LTC authorized by their local authority, (2) are authorized to carry firearms as part of their duties and (3) the use of tasers is approved by the chief of their department.

An Act relative to line of duty benefits for police officers employed by private colleges and universities

Summary

This legislation would line of duty death benefits to sworn officers of private universities or colleges who meet the statutory requirements for a special state police officer. Special laws have been passed to extend these benefits to such officers in individual circumstances, and this bill mirrors that language.

An Act providing for an equitable Massachusetts teachers’ retirement system pension for Paul C. Norberg

Summary

This “by request” bill works to provide for an equitable rate of annuity, under the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System, for Paul C. Nordberg. Mr. Nordberg is a resident of Auburn, Massachusetts, a teacher working at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, and a member of the MTRS. According to this bill, Mr. Norberg would be entitled to either of the following options: (1) In the event that, at the time of his retirement from teaching with any school system that is a member of the MTRS, Mr. Nordberg’s then age and then years of membership and contribution to the MTRS add to at least eighty-five (85), Mr. Nordberg shall be entitled to a pension in the amount of seventy percent (70%) of the average of his three (3) highest paid years while working as a teacher contributing to the MRTS; or (2) In the event that, at the time of his retirement from teaching with any school system that is a member of the MTRS, Mr. Nordberg’s then age and then years of membership and contribution to the MTRS add to at least eighty-five (90), Mr. Nordberg shall be entitled to a pension in the amount of eighty percent (80%) of the average of his three (3) highest paid years while working as a teacher contributing to the MRTS.

An Act establishing EMAC exemption for human services nonprofits

Summary

This legislation exempts community-based human services organizations holding purchase-of-service contracts with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Executive Office of Elder Affairs, Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Housing and Community Development from paying the Employer Medical Assistance Contribution (EMAC) Supplement.

An Act establishing a board of hoisting machinery regulations

Summary

This bill would establish a board of regulations specific to hoisting machinery.  Hoisting licenses are the most common form of license provided by the department of public safety, and they cover an enormous range of machinery and skill levels.  Despite this, hoisting licenses are still overseen by the Construction Supervisor licensing process. This result is that both the testing for licenses, and the oversight of existing licenses or incidents is entirely unsuited for the realities of hoisting machinery.  

An Act relative to the definition of fraud in public construction bid laws

Summary

This legislation clarifies what constitutes fraud in the public bidding process.  Passage of this bill would improve the AG’s office ability to root out fraud and misrepresentation in the public bidding arena and ensure transparency and integrity. Our public construction bid laws do not define fraud.  The Supreme Judicial Court ruling in Fordyce v Town of Hanover narrowed the definition of fraud in the public bidding context so much that the only false statements that constitute fraud are those that cause actual harm to the awarding authority.  This bill addresses this by making it clear that contractors who intentionally attempt to deceive awarding authorities cannot be awarded contracts.