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H 2831

An Act establishing a credible service commission

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Frost

Creates a one-year joint legislative commission to study if EMT, call firefighter, and police-dispatcher time can count as creditable retirement service, with no immediate changes.

Hearing scheduled for 09/15/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
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Bill Summary · H 2831

Summary: An Act establishing a credible service commission (H.2831)

Overview

H.2831, introduced February 27, 2025, would create a special legislative commission to study whether time served as an emergency medical technician (EMT), call firefighter, and police dispatcher should count as creditable service for retirement. The bill does not itself change retirement law but initiates a study to assess costs and feasibility and potential implications.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a dedicated, time-limited body to evaluate whether and how service time in certain emergency response roles could be credited toward retirement eligibility or benefits.
  • Explore the fiscal and logistical feasibility of such creditable service changes, including potential costs to the state and to local retirement systems.

Key provisions

  • SECTION 1: Creates a special legislative commission to study the costs and feasibility of allowing time served as an EMT, call firefighter, and police dispatcher to count for creditable service.

  • SECTION 2: Commission composition

    • Co-chairs: The chairs of the joint committee on public service (serving as co-chairs of the commission).
    • Additional members: 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House; 1 member appointed by the President of the Senate; 1 member appointed by the House minority leader; 1 member appointed by the Senate minority leader; the Secretary of Administration and Finance or designee; the President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts or designee; the President of the Police Chiefs Association of Massachusetts or designee.

  • SECTION 3: Deliverable

    • The commission must submit its report and any recommendations to the clerks of the House and Senate no later than one year after passage.

  • SECTION 4: Effective date

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Hearing: Scheduled for September 15, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Committee Room A-1.
  • Legislative status: Referred to the Committee on Public Service on February 27, 2025; Senate concurred on the same date.
  • Related measure: HD 4183 (the House version) replaces or accompanies this bill in the legislative process, with the same core purpose.

Fiscal and policy impact

  • Fiscal: The bill directs a study; it does not authorize funding or create an immediate expenditure. The economic impact would depend on the commission’s findings and any subsequent legislative changes recommended.
  • Policy: If the commission finds feasible and cost-effective creditable service changes, future legislation could alter retirement eligibility or benefit calculations for EMTs, call firefighters, and police dispatchers, affecting municipalities and retirement systems.

Who would be affected

  • Potentially affected: Emergency medical technicians, call firefighters, and police dispatchers whose service time might be credited toward retirement.
  • Broader effects: Municipal and state retirement systems, local governments, and fire/police departments could be impacted depending on any subsequent policy changes adopted after the commission’s report.

Bottom line

H.2831 creates a one-year, joint-legislative study to assess the costs and feasibility of creditable retirement service for specific emergency personnel roles, with a detailed commission structure and a firm reporting deadline. It signals consideration of retirement reform without immediate policy changes.

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

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