WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 3155

An Act relative to creditable service for Vincent Provencher

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Peter Durant and 1 co-sponsor

The bill allows Vincent Provencher to purchase creditable service for June 1995–December 1999 from the Worcester Regional Retirement System.

Referred to the committee on Public Service
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 3155

Summary: Senate Bill SD 3155 – An Act relative to creditable service for Vincent Provencher

Overview

  • Bill Number: SD 3155
  • Title: An Act relative to creditable service for Vincent Provencher
  • Status: Referred to the Massachusetts Public Service Committee; Rules of the two branches referred concurrently earlier in the process.
  • Introduced / Filed: August 21–20, 2025 (introduced Aug 21, 2025; filed Aug 20, 2025)
  • Sponsor: Senator Peter J. Durant (Worcester and Hampshire District)

What the bill would do

  • The bill provides a targeted exception to existing law to allow an individual—Vincent Provencher—to purchase creditable service.
  • Specifically, it states: “Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Worcester Regional Retirement System shall allow Vincent Provencher to purchase creditable service for the service he rendered as an assessor on the Board of Assessors in the town of Oxford from June 1995 to December 1999.”
  • In practical terms, Provencher would be able to buy additional creditable service time for the period he served as an assessor (June 1995 – December 1999) within the Worcester Regional Retirement System, potentially increasing his pension eligibility or benefit accrual.

Affected parties and scope

  • Primary beneficiary: Vincent Provencher (the bill targets his creditable service purchase).
  • Administrative body: Worcester Regional Retirement System (WRRS), which would administer and approve the service purchase under the bill’s explicit authorization.
  • Geographic/institutional context: Oxford Town Board of Assessors (service period specified) and the WRRS that covers eligible public employees in the Worcester region.

Procedural and timeline context

  • Rules referral: Initially referred to Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently (August 21, 2025).
  • Committee action: Rules suspended (August 28, 2025); subsequently referred to the Committee on Public Service (August 28, 2025).
  • The bill is categorized as a proposed bill and is currently in the early stages of legislative consideration.

Key provisions and implementation notes

  • Section 1: The core provision authorizes the WRRS to allow the purchase of creditable service for the specified period (June 1995 – December 1999) for Provencher.
  • The text does not specify cost, actuarial valuation, payment method, or any thresholds/limits for the purchase; those specifics would likely be determined by WRRS rules and applicable pension statutes at the time of processing.
  • The bill does not create a general policy change; it is a targeted remedial measure for a single individual.

Potential impact

  • Affects retirement calculations for Vincent Provencher, potentially increasing future pension benefits depending on the purchase cost and actuarial assumptions.
  • Establishes a precedent for targeted creditable-service purchases, though this bill applies only to Provencher.
  • Administrative impact anticipated for WRRS in evaluating and processing the purchase request under this explicit authorization.

Next steps

  • If advanced, the Public Service Committee would review for content, fiscal impact, and compatibility with existing pension laws before consideration by the full General Court.

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

Sign in to ask a question.