An Act authorizing the State Board of Retirement to grant creditable service to Roberta Wollons

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Keenan

Grants Roberta Wollons creditable service for Indiana University Northwest (1995–2006) to raise her pension, repaying the amount that would have been deducted, plus interest.

House concurred

Status and Legislative History

Status: House concurred

Introduced: March 24, 2025

Filed: Senate Docket No. 2768 (Senate No. 2518), filed March 20, 2025

Key actions:

Referred to Rules of the two branches (March 24, 2025)
Referred to the committee on Public Service (April 24, 2025)
Rules suspended (April 24, 2025)
House concurred (May 15, 2025)

Purpose and Intent

The bill authorizes the Massachusetts state employees’ retirement system to grant creditable service to a named individual, Roberta Wollons, for service performed at Indiana University Northwest from January 1, 1995 to August 1, 2006. The intended outcome is to use that creditable service in determining her superannuation retirement allowance under the state retirement system.

Key Provisions

SECTION 1: Creditable service credit

The Massachusetts state employees’ retirement system shall credit Roberta Wollons with creditable service for the period of January 1, 1995 through August 1, 2006 (Indiana University Northwest), specifically for purposes of calculating her retirement allowance under paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 5 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
Payment requirement: Before any retirement allowance becomes effective, Wollons must deposit into the Annuity Savings Fund an amount equal to:
What would have been withheld as regular deductions from her compensation during the applicable period, calculated at the annual rate of regular compensation for such prior service, plus
Buyback interest.
Payment may be made in a single sum or installments, under terms and conditions prescribed by the State Board of Retirement.

SECTION 2: Effective date

The act takes effect upon passage.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Primary beneficiary: Roberta Wollons, a member of the state employees’ retirement system.

Impact on retirement calculation: The credited service from 1995–2006 could increase Wollons’ superannuation retirement allowance by increasing the service credit base.

Financial mechanics: Wollons must fund the creditable service credit by repaying into the Annuity Savings Fund the amount that would have been deducted during the prior period, plus the buyback interest, subject to Board terms. The exact amount depends on Wollons’ prior compensation levels and the applicable buyback rate.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

This is a private or quasi-private bill directed at authorizing creditable service for a specific individual.

The act is to become law upon passage (no separate effective date beyond “upon passage”).

Given the House concurred status, final enactment would typically follow standard gubernatorial approval processes after concurrent passage in both chambers.

How to Read This Bill

Substantive aim: Allow a specific former out-of-state service period to count toward MA retirement benefits.

Conditional mechanism: Requires a pre-retirement payment to the state retirement system equal to what would have been deducted, plus interest, prior to the grant of credit.

Scope is narrowly targeted to Roberta Wollons and does not establish a general policy for others.

Bill