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Labor and Personnel Gov. files bill to help Quinn communities
Gov. Deval Patrick has made good on a promise to try to help communities deal with the near-elimination of the state’s share of the police career incentive pay program, the so-called Quinn Bill.
The governor has filed legislation that would protect Quinn Bill communities that are not bound by contract language to fully fund the benefit regardless of what the state contributes. The bill would clarify that these cities and towns are not obligated to make up any shortfall in the state’s reimbursement to cities and towns for the Quinn Bill.
Absent this language, a 1994 Supreme Judicial Court ruling would indicate that cities and towns would be obligated to pay the state’s share.
The MMA is calling for swift action by the Legislature on this matter to eliminate what is in essence an unfunded mandate.
The governor’s legislation was filed as an outside section to a supplemental appropriations bill (H. 4444).
Police unions, meanwhile, are mobilizing to protect the full reach of the Quinn benefit. On Feb. 16, the Scituate police union filed a lawsuit demanding that the town make up the state shortfall even though the union had freely negotiated a contract that held that the town is not liable. Interestingly, while unions hold collective bargaining as sacrosanct, in this case they are saying that state law should supercede a union contract.
Labor and Personnel Gov. files bill to help Quinn communities
Gov. files bill to help Quinn communities
Gov. Deval Patrick has made good on a promise to try to help communities deal with the near-elimination of the state’s share of the police career incentive pay program, the so-called Quinn Bill.
The governor has filed legislation that would protect Quinn Bill communities that are not bound by contract language to fully fund the benefit regardless of what the state contributes. The bill would clarify that these cities and towns are not obligated to make up any shortfall in the state’s reimbursement to cities and towns for the Quinn Bill.
Absent this language, a 1994 Supreme Judicial Court ruling would indicate that cities and towns would be obligated to pay the state’s share.
The MMA is calling for swift action by the Legislature on this matter to eliminate what is in essence an unfunded mandate.
The governor’s legislation was filed as an outside section to a supplemental appropriations bill (H. 4444).
Police unions, meanwhile, are mobilizing to protect the full reach of the Quinn benefit. On Feb. 16, the Scituate police union filed a lawsuit demanding that the town make up the state shortfall even though the union had freely negotiated a contract that held that the town is not liable. Interestingly, while unions hold collective bargaining as sacrosanct, in this case they are saying that state law should supercede a union contract.
Written by MMA Legislative Director David Baier
