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SD 2793

An Act establishing credible service for eligible police officers and firefighters

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Pavel Payano

Allows police/firefighters bypassed on an eligible Civil Service list to earn credible service credit for period until permanent appointment, with required annuity contributions.

Referred to the committee on Public Service
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Bill Summary · SD 2793

Summary: Senate Docket No. 2793 — An Act establishing credible service for eligible police officers and firefighters

Overview

  • Bill number/title: Senate Docket No. 2793, “An Act establishing credible service for eligible police officers and firefighters.”
  • Purpose: Create a new creditable service provision for police officers and firefighters who were bypassed on an eligible Civil Service hiring list. The bill would allow those members to receive credible service for the period they would have served between being bypassed and their first permanent appointment, provided they meet certain conditions and make required contributions.
  • Status and scheduling: Introduced March 31, 2025; initially referred to Rules (two-branches) and as of August 7, 2025, rules were suspended and the bill was referred to the Committee on Public Service.

Key Provisions

Creditable service for bypassed hires (new authorization)

  • Section 1: Amends Chapter 32, §4(2)(c) to include eligible police and fire department members in the contributory retirement system who could receive credible service for time they would have served but for being bypassed on an eligible Civil Service hiring list before initial appointment.

Eligibility criteria for the bypassed member (Section 2)

A member must meet all of the following:
- (a) Was on an eligible civil service hiring list for a police officer or firefighter position.
- (b) Was skipped/bypassed for a candidate with a lower rank on the municipal civil service list.
- (c) Was granted relief by an order or agreement approved by the Civil Service Commission (pursuant to relevant Massachusetts law) after a bypass appeal, placing the member back on the eligible hiring list.
- (d) Accepts the first available permanent appointment offered by the municipality.

Creditable service and funding (Section 3)

  • The bypassed member shall be credited with active full-time service from the bypass date to the date of the permanent appointment.
  • Funding requirement: The member must pay into the annuity savings fund an amount equal to the accumulated regular deductions the member would have paid, plus regular interest, calculated at the rate of compensation the member would have earned during the credible service period.

Effective date (Section 4)

  • The act would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Who is Affected

  • Members of the police and fire departments who are part of the Commonwealth’s contributory retirement system and who were bypassed on an eligible Civil Service hiring list before their initial appointment.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: March 31, 2025.
  • Initial referral: Rules of the two branches (March 31, 2025).
  • Subsequent status: As of August 7, 2025, rules were suspended and the bill was referred to the Committee on Public Service.
  • The bill qualifies as a proposed measure subject to committee study and potential amendment.

Potential Impacts

  • Retirement benefits: For bypassed officers and firefighters who qualify, credible service could increase credited service time, potentially affecting pension calculations and retirement eligibility.
  • Financial considerations: Eligible members must make contributions to the annuity savings fund reflecting what would have been paid, plus interest, for the credited period.
  • Administrative processes: Requires coordination among retirement systems, the Civil Service Commission, and municipal employers to determine bypass dates/eligibility and to manage crediting of service.

Note

The summary reflects the bill text and stated provisions. If enacted, implementing regulations and actuarial analyses would likely follow to address any fiscal impact and operational details.

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

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