The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill exempting future members of the Adams, Massachusetts police force from having to take the state’s civil service test.
State Senator Adams Hinds, a Pittsfield Democrat, says the civil service exams are only offered a few times a year and can take up to six months to process, making the hiring process costly and time-consuming.
“There are a number of policies across the commonwealth that really, we find that our smaller towns have trouble – they impede our ability to do work,” Hinds says.
The House will take up the legislation in the new year. If the bill is approved, Adams would be able to offer its own exams and will receive test scores within a week.
The bill is supported by the Joint Committee on Public Service.