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2023 SESSION

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HB 2144 Law-enforcement officers; minimum qualifications, citizenship.

Introduced by: Elizabeth R. Guzman | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Minimum qualifications for law-enforcement officers; citizenship; waiver. Allows individuals who are lawfully admitted for permanent residence who have resided in the United States and who are eligible for United States citizenship or individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to qualify for the positions of chief of police and all police officers of any locality, all deputy sheriffs and jail officers in the Commonwealth, and all law-enforcement officers. The bill allows any agency or department employing law-enforcement officers to hire, recruit, or refer an individual who is a citizen of the United States over another individual who meets such qualifications if such individuals are equally qualified. Current law allows only citizens of the United States to qualify for the named positions; the citizenship requirement can be waived only by the Department of Criminal Justice Services for good cause shown, upon the request of a sheriff or chief of police or the director or chief executive of any agency or department employing law-enforcement officers.


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