An Act expanding access to the civil service examination
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/30/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5312↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 9/17/2025 | 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 |
| 9/5/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 09/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on Public Service |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J23 | Accompanied | — |
Clause (n) of section 5 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the administrator shall waive all costs and fees associated with taking a civil service examination for all persons 18 years of age or younger.
Section 58 of said chapter 31, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- No person shall be certified for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer in a city or town which has not accepted sections 61A and 61B if that person has reached 32 years of age on or before the final date for the filing of applications, as stated in the examination notice, for the examination used to establish the eligible list from which the certification is to be made. No person shall be eligible to take an examination for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer in a city or town if: (i) the applicant will not have reached 17 years of age on or before the final date for the filing of applications for the examination, as so stated; and (ii) the applicant will not have reached 18 years of age on or before the date of the examination. No person shall be eligible for original appointment to the position of police officer in a city or town until that person has reached the age of 21.
SECTION 1. Clause (n) of section 5 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the administrator shall waive all costs and fees associated with taking a civil service examination for all persons 18 years of age or younger. SECTION 2. Section 58 of said chapter 31, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- No person shall be certified for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer in a city or town which has not accepted sections 61A and 61B if that person has reached 32 years of age on or before the final date for the filing of applications, as stated in the examination notice, for the examination used to establish the eligible list from which the certification is to be made. No person shall be eligible to take an examination for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer in a city or town if: (i) the applicant will not have reached 17 years of age on or before the final date for the filing of applications for the examination, as so stated; and (ii) the applicant will not have reached 18 years of age on or before the date of the examination. No person shall be eligible for original appointment to the position of police officer in a city or town until that person has reached the age of 21.