Pensions & retirement

Senator Friedman has sponsored the following bill relative to pensions and retirement in the 2017-2018 legislative session:

S2209 An Act relative to the Massachusetts teachers retirement system

  • Summary: Would automatically enroll teachers who transfer into the Teachers’ Retirement system into the alternative superannuation program after January 1, 2018. Members would be given a one-time opportunity to elect out of the alternative superannuation program. Current members who transferred into the Teachers’ Retirement System would be given a new one-time opportunity to elect into the program.

Senator Friedman is taking the lead on the following bills that were originally filed by the late Senator Ken Donnelly at the start of the 2017-2018 legislative session:

S1400 An Act relative to the annual allowance for certain survivors of public retirees and employees

  • Summary: This bill would increase minimum Option (d) survivor pensions from $500 to $750, with a local option.

S1401 An Act relative to Option (d) beneficiaries

  • Summary: This bill would allow state retirement members to identify more than one beneficiary for Option (d) benefits.

S1402 An Act relative to the contribution for insurance premiums of certain retired employees

  • Summary: This bill would cap the premium contribution of a retiree at the level that she or he paid upon retirement.

S1403 An Act relative to line of duty death benefits

  • Summary: This bill would add suicide as a result of active duty service to the list of “killed in the line of duty” death benefits given to the families of deceased public safety employees.

S1404 An Act relative to pension forfeiture

  • Summary: This bill would: (1) modify section 15 of General Laws Chapter 32 to clarify the laws related to pension forfeiture; and (2) provide protection for surviving spouses and other innocent beneficiaries of state retirement members who lose their pensions because of a member’s misdeeds or criminal acts.

S1405 An Act relative to disability pensions for violent crimes

  • Summary: This bill would increase accidental disability retirement benefits from 72% to 100% for certain severely injured public safety officers.

S1406 An Act regarding the group insurance commission

  • Summary: This bill would modify Group Insurance Commission (GIC) member make-up so that labor members are chosen by the governor from a list of 3 organizations, presented by the appropriate union.

S1407 An Act relative to Group Insurance Commission premium contributions

  • Summary: This bill would change the premium splits for all active and retired state employees from 75-25 to 80-20 to defray certain costs to employees, including the continual increase in co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

S1408 An Act relative to retirement options for retirees

  • Summary: This bill would make certain adjustments to certain retiree provisions.

S1514 An Act relative to taxes due upon the death of active duty personnel and the elderly

  • Summary: This bill would extend the time period of the deferred property tax rate to 1 year after the death of an active duty or elderly property owner receiving the deferment in order to allow for probate and the settling of any will.

Senator Friedman has co-sponsored the following bill relative to pensions and retirement in the 2017-2018 legislative session:

S1474 An Act relative to group insurance costs for certain public retirees

  • Summary: For families enrolled in Group Insurance Commission (GIC) health insurance plans, this bill would cap annual out-of-pocket healthcare expenses at $2,500 for individuals and at $5,000 for families.