An Act designating certain Unit 9 employees of the Massachusetts Department of Correction to be in Group 2 of the contributory retirement system.

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Patrick O'Connor and 3 co-sponsors

Reclassifies Unit 9 DOC staff who oversee facility projects into Group 2 of the state retirement system, aligning duties with benefits and contributions.

Accompanied a study order, see H5356 (under House Rule 27)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to reclassify certain Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) employees, specifically those in Unit 9 whose regular duties include overseeing, managing, inspecting, or directing construction, maintenance, repair, or other operational projects within correctional facilities, so that they are designated as Group 2 members of the state’s contributory retirement system.

The change aims to align retirement system classification with the actual duties performed by these employees.

Key provisions

Section 1 (amendment to Chapter 32, General Laws): Adds a specification to Group 2 that includes DOC Unit 9 employees whose positions involve overseeing, managing, inspecting, or directing construction, maintenance, repair, or other operational projects within correctional facilities. The insertion is placed after the phrase describing “wayward children and employees of the Cushing Hospital.”

Section 2 (effective date): The act takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

Employees of the Massachusetts Department of Correction classified in Unit 9 whose regular duties involve overseeing, managing, inspecting, or directing construction, maintenance, repair, or other operational projects within correctional facilities.

These employees would move from their current retirement classification into Group 2 of the contributory retirement system.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Petition/Designation: Sponsored by Rep. Michael J. Soter (and co-petitioners listed), referred to the Public Service Committee.

Legislative actions:

February 27, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Public Service in the House; Senate concurrence recorded on the same date.
January 17, 2025 – House Docket No. 3623 (House No. 2972) filed; presented by Rep. Soter (accompanied by bill text).
Hearing scheduled: October 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, in Room B-2.

Related bill: HD 3623 (House Document 3623) is noted as a related or replacing measure.

Potential fiscal and operational impact

The bill would change retirement system group designation for affected employees, which could alter:

Employee contribution requirements (Group 2 vs. other groups)
Benefit calculations and retirement eligibility timelines
Actuarial liabilities for the Contributory Retirement System

The precise fiscal impact would depend on actuarial analyses of the shift in membership category, the number of employees affected, and any downstream changes to contribution rates or benefit multipliers. No dollar amounts or specific fiscal estimates are provided in the bill text.

Additional context

The bill explicitly affects only those Unit 9 DOC positions whose duties involve oversight and management of facility-related projects, ensuring alignment of job duties with retirement program classification.

The act would take effect immediately upon passage.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison to current Group 2 criteria or summarize anticipated impacts if actuarial data becomes available.

Bill