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HD 6038

An Act amending the sick leave bank for Matthew McRae, an employee of the department of state police

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Margaret Scarsdale

Establishes a dedicated sick leave bank for Matthew McRae to be funded by voluntary donations and allow him to use it without exhausting accrued time, with benefits continuing duri

Referred to the committee on House Rules
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Bill Summary · HD 6038

Bill Summary – HD 6038 (Massachusetts, 194th General Court)

Title

An Act amending the sick leave bank for Matthew McRae, an employee of the Department of State Police

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish and amend a dedicated sick leave bank for Matthew McRae, an employee of the Massachusetts Department of State Police.
  • Allow voluntary contributions of sick, personal, or vacation days to support McRae during illness or disability.
  • Ensure McRae can draw from the bank without being required to exhaust all accrued time first, and preserve accrued benefits during absences funded by the bank.
  • Provide a mechanism to transfer remaining hours to an extended illness leave bank if McRae terminates or retires.
  • Clarify that bank usage is limited to absences related to the illness or disability that necessitated the bank.

Key Provisions

  1. Establishment and Participation

    • The Department of State Police shall establish a sick leave bank specifically for Matthew McRae.
    • Department employees may voluntarily contribute days (sick, personal, or vacation) to McRae’s sick leave bank.

  2. Use and Benefits

    • McRae cannot be required to exhaust accrued sick, personal, or vacation time as a condition for drawing from the bank.
    • While using the bank, McRae continues to earn and accrue contractual sick time, personal time, pension benefits, post-employment benefits, and vacation time during periods of absence funded by the bank.
    • Donated hours are kept in a separate bank account, distinct from McRae’s own accrued time.

  3. Post-absence and Continuity

    • After McRae returns to active duty, any remaining hours in the sick leave bank remain available for continuing care related to the illness or disability that initiated the bank, as determined by the department.

  4. Termination or Retirement

    • If McRae terminates employment or retires, any remaining time in the sick leave bank is transferred to the extended illness leave bank.

  5. Limits on Use

    • Bank days are to be used only for absences related to the illness or disability that required the establishment of the bank.

  6. Accrual Credit and Backdating

    • The Department shall credit McRae with accrued sick, personal, vacation time and any pension or post-employment benefits that would have been earned during any period of absence beginning October 3, 2023, when the sick leave bank was utilized.
    • No duplication of accrued time for any period already credited.

Affected Parties

  • Primary beneficiary: Matthew McRae, employee of the Department of State Police.
  • Potential contributors: Other Department of State Police employees who choose to donate days to McRae’s sick leave bank.
  • Department of State Police: Responsible for administering the bank, tracking donations, usage, and applicability of benefits.

Timing and Legislative Details

  • Filed: April 9, 2026
  • Action: Referred to the Committee on House Rules (as of April 13, 2026)
  • Immediate effect: Section 1 becomes effective upon passage.
  • Retroactive effect: Section 2 (accrual credit for time during use of the bank beginning October 3, 2023) takes effect as of October 3, 2023.

Notable Context

  • The bill is introduced as an emergency measure to ensure the immediate preservation of public convenience.
  • It overrides general or special laws, rules, and collective bargaining provisions to permit the sick leave bank specifically for McRae.

If you’d like, I can provide a layperson-friendly example scenario showing how donations, bank usage, and the post-absence accrual would operate under this bill.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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