Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the position of regular or permanent members of the fire department in the town of Acushnet shall be subject to chapter 31 of the General Laws, and the tenure of any incumbent shall be unlimited, subject to said chapter 31.

SECTION 2. Firefighter personnel of the fire department of the town of Acushnet hired during the 6 month period preceding the effective date of this act shall be included as civil service employees under chapter 31 of the General Laws, subject to any applicable probationary period.

SECTION 3. Incumbents of the fire department of the town of Acushnet shall not be required to pass a qualifying examination for their current position, but shall be required to pass a competitive examination under chapter 31 of the General Laws to obtain a higher rank.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.