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Bill

HD 2976

An Act providing for a fair and equitable Group 4 retirement benefit for POST-certified police officers working on Massachusetts public higher education campuses

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Carol Doherty and 4 co-sponsors

Elevates Massachusetts campus police officers to Group 4 retirement benefits matching municipal police, increasing institutional pension costs but reducing salary disparity with equivalent law enforcement roles.

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Bill Summary · HD 2976

Legislative bill overview

HD 2976 seeks to establish a "Group 4" retirement classification for POST-certified (Peace Officer Standards and Training) police officers employed by Massachusetts public higher education institutions. This classification would entitle campus police to enhanced retirement benefits comparable to those available to municipal and state police officers, rather than their current status under standard employee pension plans.

Why is this important

Campus police officers currently receive lower pension benefits than their counterparts in municipal and state law enforcement despite performing similar public safety duties and meeting identical POST certification standards. This creates a significant disparity in compensation and retirement security for officers doing equivalent work, potentially affecting recruitment and retention of qualified personnel at public universities and colleges.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Upgrading campus police to Group 4 benefits would increase pension liabilities for Massachusetts public higher education institutions, raising questions about funding sources and impact on institutional budgets
  • Scope and consistency: The bill may create pressure to extend similar benefits to other campus safety personnel or raise questions about why campus officers warrant different treatment than other university employees
  • Actuarial fairness: Questions may arise about whether uniform Group 4 classification is appropriate across all campus police positions, given variations in duties, experience levels, and institutional sizes

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

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