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H4214 • 2025

An Act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River

An Act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Fiola, Carole A.
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
Signed by the Governor, Chapter 10 of the Acts of 2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River

An Act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 4214) of Carole A.
  • Fiola (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River.
  • Public Service.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 Executive

    Signed by the Governor, Chapter 10 of the Acts of 2026

  2. 2026-01-20 House

    Enacted

  3. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Enacted and laid before the Governor

  4. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Taken out of the Orders of the Day

  5. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Read third (title changed) and passed to be engrossed

  6. 2025-12-22 Senate

    Read, rules suspended, read second and ordered to a third reading

  7. 2025-12-18 House

    Read third and passed to be engrossed

  8. 2025-11-24 House

    Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting

  9. 2025-11-24 House

    Rules suspended

  10. 2025-11-24 House

    Read second and ordered to a third reading

  11. 2025-11-19 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling

  12. 2025-09-17 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 09/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:00 PM in B-2 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time

  13. 2025-09-05 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 09/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2

  14. 2025-06-12 Senate

    Senate concurred

  15. 2025-06-09 House

    Referred to the committee on Public Service

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River
By Representative Fiola of Fall River and Senator Rodrigues, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4214) of Carole A. Fiola (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River. Public Service. [Local Approval Received.]

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.4214

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the position of Police Chief in the City of Fall River shall, upon the effective date of this Act, be subject to the provisions of Chapter 31 of the Massachusetts General Laws and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder governing civil service.

SECTION 2. The Mayor of the City of Fall River shall remain the appointing authority for the Police Chief and the terms and conditions of the Police Chief's employment contract shall be subject to Section 1080 of General Laws Chapter 41, for a period not to exceed three (3) years.

SECTION 3. The Police Chief shall be the head of the Fall River Police Department, shall be responsible for the management and operation of said police department, and shall be the "Appointing Authority" for all employees of the police department in accordance with Section of General Laws Chapter 31, with all the rights, duties and privileges appurtenant thereto and as contained in subsequent sections of Chapter 31 and any other general or special law applicable to chiefs of departments.

SECTION 4. This Act shall apply to any vacancy in the position of Police Chief occurring on or after the effective date of this Act. Nothing in this Act shall affect the civil service status, seniority, or rights of any person employed in the Fall River Police Department as of the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.

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