Boston Police detail bill moving again after override vote

The House on Wednesday overrode a veto from Gov. Charlie Baker on a bill that would allow retired Boston police officers to serve on details within the city, after legislators found a solution to the governor's concerns.

Baker last month vetoed a home rule petition filed by Rep. Daniel Hunt (H 2339), writing in a message to legislators that the U.S. Department of Labor warned his office that the measure would knock Massachusetts out of line with federal unemployment law standards.

Baker wrote that he strongly supports the legislation's goals and believes it would enhance public safety in Boston. He encouraged lawmakers to support a revised bill, if the city petitioned for one.

Instead, the House added a provision addressing the unemployment insurance issue to a budget bill they approved last week. A section of the bill stipulates that retired police officers appointed as special officers, in municipalities with laws allowing such appointments, will be subject to state unemployment insurance laws.

The Senate's version of the budget bill does not include language on unemployment insurance, though Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry has filed an amendment seeking to add it. The Senate is set to take up its spending bill on Thursday.

"Then we should be in good shape and agreement," Hunt said. "Two hundred other communities have similar details, or the ability for retired police to serve details for special events or things of that nature. Boston obviously is a larger force, and at the same time the need is that much greater."

Around 50,000 detail requests went unfilled last year, Hunt said. He said the bill would provide relief to the department's staff while also allowing its retirees to supplement their incomes.

The House voted 121 to 33 to override Baker's veto. A two thirds margin of approval is required in the Senate as well to complete an override.

Hunt's bill, cosponsored by Forry and fellow Boston lawmakers Reps. Daniel Ryan, Nick Collins and Russell Holmes, would authorize the Boston police commissioner to appoint retired city police officers as special police officers, enabling them to perform detail work as needed.

The original Boston City Council petition, offered in July 2014 by Councilor Michael Flaherty, notes that the police department has seen its ranks decrease while detail requests have increased, leaving the city unable to fulfill all requests. The petition describes retired officers as well-suited to serve on details because of their training and institutional knowledge.

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