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Bill

HD 6227

An Act authorizing the town of Middleton to continue the employment of police officer Richard Kassiotis

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Brad Jones and 1 co-sponsor

Allows Middleton to extend police officer Richard Kassiotis’s service until age 67 with annual medical checks and retirement benefits adjusted to reflect continued service beyond 6

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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 6227

Overview

This bill would authorize the town of Middleton to extend the service of a specific police officer, Richard Kassiotis, beyond the typical retirement age, under certain conditions. It set a structured framework for continued employment, medical clearance, and retirement benefits.

Main purpose and intent

  • Allow Middleton to authorize Richard Kassiotis, a Middleton police officer, to continue serving until age 67, or until retirement or removal, whichever comes first.
  • Ensure the officer remains physically and mentally capable to perform duties, with annual medical examinations at the town’s expense if the select board requires them.
  • Provide a clear retirement framework that preserves certain pension benefits if extended service is approved.

Key provisions

  • Eligibility to continue service:
    • Kassiotis may continue as police officer until age 67, retirement, or removal, pending capability.
    • The continuation is contingent on the officer being mentally and physically capable of performing police duties.
  • Annual medical examinations:
    • The select board may require annual examinations by a physician designated by the select board.
    • The town must cover the cost of these annual medical evaluations.
  • Compensation and retirement protections:
    • No further deductions shall be made from Kassiotis’s regular compensation under Chapter 32 for service after age 65.
    • Upon retirement for superannuation, he shall receive a retirement allowance equal to what he would have received if he had retired at age 65.
  • Effective date:
    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who/what is affected

  • Primary: Richard Kassiotis, a police officer for the town of Middleton.
  • Secondary: Middleton’s town governance bodies (select board) and the town’s retirement/pension framework under Massachusetts General Laws (Chapter 32) insofar as it interacts with continued service and post-65 compensation.
  • Fiscal impact: The town would bear the cost of annual medical examinations if required; pension and retirement provisions are adjusted to align with continued service beyond 65.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: The bill is a proposed act filed in June 2026 (House Docket No. 6227) in the 194th General Court of Massachusetts.
  • Trigger: Takes effect upon passage (explicitly states “This act shall take effect upon its passage”).
  • Processed as a local authorization measure granting authority to the town to continue employment and modify retirement obligations for a specific officer, rather than a broad statutory change.

Notes

  • The bill is narrowly tailored to a single individual and a single town, focusing on extending service and aligning retirement benefits with service at age 65.
  • It includes a mechanism for ongoing fitness evaluation to ensure public safety and job performance standards are maintained during extended service.

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

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