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H 3924

An Act expanding the definition of dependent for the purposes of municipal employee benefits as to the city of Cambridge

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Connolly and 2 co-sponsors

Cambridge expands GIC benefits by recognizing domestic partners as dependents (spouse rights) and granting 12-month dependent status for surrogacy for city employees.

Read second and ordered to a third reading
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Bill Summary · H 3924

Summary: H.3924 – An Act expanding the definition of dependent for municipal employee benefits (City of Cambridge)

Overview

H.3924 is a local-state bill proposed for the City of Cambridge to broaden who is eligible as a dependent for municipal employee benefits administered through the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC) under General Laws Chapter 32B. The bill is a local approval measure filed by Cambridge Representative Marjorie C. Decker and has received local approval. It was introduced on March 20, 2025 and referred to the Public Service Committee.

What the bill would do

  • Expand the definition of “dependent” for Cambridge municipal employee benefits to include more categories of individuals connected to City of Cambridge employees, as managed by the GIC.
  • Specifically grant domestic partners in registered domestic partnerships the same eligibility and rights as dependents for GIC-covered benefits, and treat such partners as “spouses” for purposes of spousal rights under Massachusetts law.
  • Create a provision for surrogacy: a surrogate bearing a child for a city employee, or for the employee’s spouse or domestic partner, would be considered a dependent for 12 months from the start of the pregnancy.
  • The act states that these changes apply notwithstanding any contrary general or special law, but only within the City of Cambridge’s context for GIC coverage purposes.

Key provisions (sections)

  1. Section 1: In Cambridge, for GIC coverage purposes (G.L. Chapter 32B), a domestic partner in a registered domestic partnership with a city employee shall be a dependent and may participate in the election of coverages and benefits provided by the GIC to Cambridge employees.
  2. Section 2: A member of a registered domestic partnership with Cambridge city employees shall be considered a “spouse” for all spousal rights established by Massachusetts law.
  3. Section 3: A surrogate bearing a child in surrogacy for a city employee, or for the employee’s spouse or domestic partner, shall be considered a dependent for 12 months from the start of the pregnancy.
  4. Section 4: The act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected

  • City of Cambridge employees and their families.
  • Registered domestic partners of Cambridge employees.
  • Surrogates who carry a child for Cambridge employees, or for the employee’s spouse or domestic partner.
  • Cambridge human resources and benefits administrators, and the GIC framework as it applies to Cambridge.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Status: Referred to the Massachusetts House Public Service Committee on March 20, 2025.
  • Local approval: The petition indicates local approval has been received for this local bill.
  • Effective date: Upon passage of the act (no separate implementation delay specified).

Additional context

  • This is a local bill focusing on Cambridge’s benefits framework and does not appear to alter statewide law beyond the Cambridge-specific application of GIC coverage rules.
  • No fiscal amounts are provided in the text; potential cost implications would likely be assessed in a fiscal note during committee review.

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

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