Directing the city of Boston police department to waive the maximum age requirement for police officers for Jason DeLeon
Summary
This bill is a special, individual relief measure for Jason DeLeon. It directs the City of Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for original appointment as a police officer, notwithstanding any conflicting general or special law, including Chapter 43 of the Acts of 2007. If DeLeon meets all other Boston Police Department requirements, his name must be certified for original appointment to the police officer position.
The bill is narrowly tailored and does not change the age requirement for police appointments generally; it applies only to Jason DeLeon. It takes effect immediately upon passage. The measure was filed with local approval from the mayor and city council, indicating that Boston’s local government supported the exception.
Impact
The bill creates a one-person exception to Boston police hiring rules by overriding the maximum age requirement for original appointment for Jason DeLeon. It temporarily supersedes any inconsistent general or special law, including the cited 2007 act, but only for this applicant. The practical effect is to allow DeLeon to proceed in the hiring process if he satisfies all other department standards, without altering statewide police age rules for other applicants.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill is generally favorable and uncontroversial, at least at the local level, because it was filed with approval from the mayor and city council. There is no recorded committee debate, vote history, or opposition in the provided materials. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the measure is a routine local petition for individualized relief rather than a broader policy dispute.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the waiver of a statutory age limit for police appointment, which could raise fairness or precedent concerns if viewed as an exception to standard hiring rules. However, the bill is narrowly limited to one named individual, and the provided materials do not show any organized opposition or debate. Any concern would likely center on whether granting a personal exemption is appropriate rather than on the underlying police hiring standards themselves.