Sen. Finegold files bill to create Massachusetts emergency management agency

Senator Barry R. Finegold filed legislation on Jan. 17, 2025, to create a Massachusetts emergency management agency that would centralize planning, coordination and statewide response for disasters and other emergencies. The bill (Senate No. 541, filed as Senate Docket No. 2390) would insert a new Chapter 22F into the General Laws establishing the agency, a director, an advisory council, regional emergency operations centers and a State Emergency Operations Center. The bill would also require a comprehensive all‑hazards State Emergency Management Plan and create an all‑hazards incident management assistance team. Why it matters: the proposal consolidates and formalizes roles, regional coordination and a single state hub for emergency decision‑making and resource allocation, which would change how the commonwealth prepares for and responds to natural, technological and human‑caused incidents. Under the bill, the governor — acting through the director and the secretary of public safety and security — would have a designated, full‑time official to coordinate federal, state, local, volunteer and private resources and to maintain liaison with other states and the federal government. The director would be appointed by the governor on the secretary’s recommendation and must be qualified by training and experience in emergency management; the director would serve as the executive and administrative head of the agency and as the governor’s principal assistant for directing and coordinating emergency management activities. The director may appoint experts and assistants, accept gifts and grants with the secretary’s approval, and organize the agency into divisions or departments as necessary. The bill would establish a Massachusetts Emergency Management Advisory Council composed of the director and at least eight experienced emergency management professionals, including at least four local emergency management directors, one representative from a non‑profit emergency services organization and one private‑sector emergency management representative. Members would be appointed by the governor for three‑year terms, limited to two consecutive terms, serve without compensation, meet at least twice annually and file an annual report to the governor. To improve regional coordination, the bill would require the agency to establish regional emergency operations centers and designate regional coordinators to act as liaisons with political subdivisions; those centers must operate in alignment with the state’s comprehensive emergency management plan. The measure would create a State Emergency Operations Center as the primary coordination hub for state‑level decision‑making, resource allocation and operational coordination. State agencies designated as emergency response agencies would be required to assign a minimum of two qualified liaison personnel to the center. The director would publish and maintain a comprehensive, all‑hazards State Emergency Management Plan, assigning functional responsibilities across executive offices, state agencies, private sector groups and volunteer organizations; the plan must define concepts of operations, inter‑agency coordination mechanisms, evacuation and sheltering coordination, and assessments of likely emergency levels and corresponding response actions. The bill would also create the Massachusetts all‑hazards incident management assistance team to provide technical support to local and state incident commanders, assist resource coordination and facilitate inter‑agency communication. The team would draw members from state agencies, political subdivisions, private organizations and non‑profits, be selected by the director, meet training and qualification standards, and — while activated — be compensated and considered employees of the commonwealth solely for emergency duties. The proposal is a legislative filing and has not been enacted into law; it would require further legislative action and appropriation where noted before the agency and positions take effect.