Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 31, § 58A (2026)

Municipal police officers and firefighters; maximum age restrictions

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 58A. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, in any city, town or district that accepts this section, no person shall be eligible to have his name certified for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer if such person has reached his thirty-second birthday on the date of the entrance examination. Any veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision of this section by the number of years served on active military duty, but in no case shall said candidate for appointment be credited more than four years of active military duty.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 2002–2018 · leading case: Donahue v. Boston, City Of, 304 F.3d 110 (1st Cir. 2002).

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Donahue v. Boston, City Of, 304 F.3d 110 (1st Cir. 2002). · cites it 3× “242 *115 (“Chapter 242”) (codified at Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 31, § 58A). On May 30, 2001, appellees moved for summary judgment on the ground that Donahue lacks constitutional standing to assert the claims set forth in his complaint.”

Donahue v. City of Boston, 371 F.3d 7 (1st Cir. 2004). “242 (codified at Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 31, § 58A) (§ 58A). Boston adopted the provisions of § 58A in December 2000.”

Goncalves v. City of Boston, 845 N.E.2d 1201 (Mass. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 4× “The plaintiffs filed this action seeking relief from the effects of G. L. c. 31, § 58A, which, upon adoption by the *181 city of Boston (city or Boston), established an age cap of thirty-two years for original appointments to the Boston police department (BPD).”

Bos. Chapter, Naacp, Inc. v. Beecher, 295 F. Supp. 3d 26 (D.D.C. 2018). “" Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 31, § 58A. Cities can also elect not to adopt this section and have higher age limits.”

Donahue v. City of Boston, 264 F. Supp. 2d 74 (D. Mass. 2003). · cites it 2× “36 He was, therefore, ineligible for hire to the BPD because of the passage of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 31 § 58A (“ § 58A”). Under § 58A, “no person shall be eligible to have his name certified for original appointment to the position of firefighter or police officer if such person…”

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