By CHRIS COLLINS
(Image courtesy of massfiscal.org)
(Boston, MA) — A conservative fiscal watchdog group is taking issue with the state Senate’s decision to vote on a police reform bill without hearing from the public.
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released a statement late Thursday chastising the Senate for taking up the “Reform, Shift and Build Act,” without conducting a public hearing, which MFA Spokesman Paul D. Craney says is inappropriate, given the sweeping changes proposed in the legislation.
“There’s no doubt the bill could have been improved if it had been allowed a public hearing, but politicians will usually take the path of least resistance,” Craney said. “A public hearing allows the public to give input, and forces lawmakers to openly discuss controversial issues.”
The proposed legislation would add state greater oversight authority for police departments, ban racial profiling and eliminate the legal defense of qualified immunity for police officers. It would also do away with the current state law mandating that police officers be placed in public schools.
Read MFA’s full statement below
