Mr. Sannicandro of Ashland moves to amend the bill by adding at the end thereof the following section:

“SECTION    .   Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the Department of Public Safety shall reimburse police departments for no less than 50 percent of the cost for purchasing new bulletproof vests for any of their auxiliary, reserve or part time police officers. Said reimbursement shall apply only to vests purchased to replace vests that are 5 years old or older, or for a first time purchase of vests. Said reimbursement shall be provided only after the police department has applied for federal reimbursement funds.”