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H 2948

An Act regarding retirement of public authority law enforcement employee groups

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dave Robertson

The bill allows the MPA board to upgrade retirement classifications for its law enforcement members without reducing any benefits.

Accompanied a study order, see H5356 (under House Rule 27)
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Bill Summary · H 2948

Summary of House Bill H.2948: An Act regarding retirement of public authority law enforcement employee groups

Overview

H.2948, introduced February 27, 2025 by Representative David Allen Robertson, proposes a targeted amendment to the General Laws governing public retirement classifications. The bill would give the Massachusetts Port Authority (MPA) the option to upgrade the retirement group classification for groups of law enforcement employees who are members of the MPA Retirement System. The change is limited to improving classifications and cannot be used to diminish retirement benefits.

Key provisions

  • Amends: Paragraph (g) of subdivision (2) of section 3 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
  • New authority: The Massachusetts Port Authority may elect to improve the retirement group classification for any group of law enforcement employees who are members of the Massachusetts Port Authority Retirement System.
  • Mechanism: Upgrades would require a majority vote of the MPA governing board.
  • Protections: The bill explicitly states that nothing in the act should be construed as authorizing a diminution of retirement benefits by placing any group in a lower classification.

Parties affected

  • Primary: Massachusetts Port Authority and its law enforcement employees who are members of the MPA Retirement System.
  • Administrative/Legal: The full scope of impact would be within MPA governance and the retirement system’s classification structure, subject to board action.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Status: Hearing scheduled for October 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Room B-2.
  • Introduction and referrals: Introduced/Filed January 16, 2025; House Docket No. 3063; Referred to the Committee on Public Service on February 27, 2025.
  • Legislative history: The bill appears in the 2025-2026 session (One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court). Related actions note that a similar matter was filed in prior sessions (e.g., House No. 2645 of 2023-2024) and that HD 3063 is a related filing/replacement.
  • Summary of format: The text is a targeted statutory change, inserted as a new paragraph at the end of the existing paragraph (g) in subdivision (2) of section 3 of chapter 32.

Potential impact and considerations

  • By empowering the MPA Board to vote to upgrade retirement classifications for qualifying groups, the bill could improve retirement benefits for eligible law enforcement personnel within the MPA system, subject to majority approval.
  • The protection against benefit diminishment ensures that upgrades do not translate into reduced earned benefits for any employee.
  • The practical effect on costs, actuarial liabilities, and long-term funding would depend on how often upgrades are pursued and the size of affected groups; these details would emerge through board actions and any accompanying actuarial analyses during implementation.

For readers seeking fuller context, the bill text specifies the exact statutory location and language of the proposed amendment, and the related HD 3063 and prior-session filings provide historical context for this measure.

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

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