June 30, 2021 Meeting Summary: Approval of guidance pursuant to Section 119: “Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than June 30, 2021, the Massachusetts peace
officer standards and training commission established in section 2 of chapter 6E shall issue guidance on developmentally appropriate de-escalation and disengagement tactics, techniques and procedures and other alternatives to the use of force for minor children that may take into account contextual factors
including, but not limited to, the person’s age, disability status, developmental status, mental health, linguistic limitations or other mental or physical condition.” Discussion of Statutory Responsibility Under Section 15(d): “The commission and the municipal police training committee established pursuant to section 116 of chapter 6 shall jointly promulgate rules and regulations for the use of force by
law enforcement officers consistent with this section and section 14; provided, however, that such regulations may authorize the use of necessary, proportionate and non-deadly force for purposes not explicitly specified in this chapter where de-escalation tactics have been attempted and failed or are not feasible based on the totality of the circumstances.”