An Act relative to credible service for school nurses

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady

Allows active school nurses to buy up to 3 years of creditable service for nursing work toward retirement, with required payments and deadlines.

House concurred

Overview

This bill proposes to add a creditable-service option for school nurses who are members of a retirement system (teacher’s retirement system, municipal or City of Boston retirement system, or state retirement system) and who are employed in a Department of Education–approved school. The aim is to allow these nurses to purchase creditable service for nursing work experience, effectively counting part of their nursing employment toward retirement benefits.

Bill: SD 63 / Senate No. 1787

Title: An Act relative to credible service for school nurses

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Status: House concurred

Committee: Public Service (referenced from the introduction)

Legislative action: Filed 1/7/2025; referred to Public Service on 2/27/2025; House concurred on 2/27/2025

Key Provisions

Adds new paragraph (h ¾) to subsection (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.

Eligibility: A school nurse who is in service of a retirement system and employed in a DOE‑approved school may receive creditable service for periods of work experience in the nursing field.

Payment requirements:

Before any retirement allowance becomes effective, the member must pay into the Annuity Savings Fund (AS Fund) in full or in installments.
Makeup payments must equal 10% of the member’s regular annual compensation at the time they entered the retirement system for each year of service purchased, plus buy-back interest.

Eligibility conditions:

No credit may be earned until the member has completed at least 10 years of membership service.
The maximum creditable service obtainable under this provision is 3 years.

Application window:

Members eligible under the act must apply within 90 days of notification by the retirement board of eligibility after vesting.
Currently eligible members must apply within 90 days of the act’s effective date.

Administrative authority: The retirement board may prescribe terms for payment and administration.

Affected Parties

Primary beneficiaries: School nurses who are active members of a retirement system and employed in DOE‑approved schools.

Retirement systems affected: Teacher’s Retirement System; municipal or city of Boston retirement system; state retirement system.

Impacts on the retirement system: Potentially more creditable service credits and associated funding implications due to purchase of nursing-service years.

Financial and Timeline Implications

Financial: Purchase requires significant contributions to the Annuity Savings Fund, including a principal makeup payment (10% of starting annual compensation per year of service purchased) plus interest. The maximum addition is 3 years of creditable service.

Timing: For new eligibility, 90-day application windows after eligibility notification; for current eligible members, 90 days after the act’s effective date. The act’s effective date is not specified in the text provided.

Practical Impact

Enables school nurses to accelerate retirement benefits by purchasing up to 3 years of creditable service for nursing experience, subject to full funding, eligibility, and timely application.

Creates a defined process and deadlines for opting into the credit, with specific financial terms set by retirement boards.

Bill