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H 5525

An Act relative to pension benefits for firefighter Leo J. Bracken

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rob Consalvo

authorize Boston Retirement Board to provide Leo J. Bracken a 100% disability pension for life (overriding standard benefits) plus related health, survivor, and payout provisions.

Referred to the committee on Public Service
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Bill Summary · H 5525

Overview

  • Bill: H 5525
  • Session: 194th (Massachusetts)
  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Title: An Act relative to pension benefits for firefighter Leo J. Bracken
  • Sponsor: Rep. Rob Consalvo (Boston); with mayor and city council approval noted
  • Purpose: To authorize the Boston Retirement Board to increase the disability pension of firefighter Leo J. Bracken and provide related benefits and protections stemming from injuries sustained in the line of duty on October 17, 2019.

Main purpose and intent

  • The bill seeks to grant a special, elevated disability pension for Leo J. Bracken, a Boston firefighter who was totally and permanently incapacitated in the line of duty on October 17, 2019.
  • It explicitly overrides certain General Laws by making an exception for Bracken to receive a pension amount equal to 100% of the regular rate of compensation he would have earned if he had continued in service at his current grade until death or mandatory retirement age.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 1(a)-(b): The Boston retirement board shall increase Bracken’s disability pension to 100% of his then-current firefighter salary for the remainder of his life or until he reaches mandatory retirement age, whichever occurs first. This is an explicit override of general pension law, allowing a higher disability benefit than normally permitted.
  • Section 1(c): Bracken’s annual earnings, when added to his retirement allowance, may exceed the standard limit by up to one-half of his retirement allowance without triggering refunds or penalties.
  • Section 1(d): The benefits are to be funded and administered by the Boston Retirement Board, in accordance with Chapter 32 of the General Laws.
  • Section 2: Bracken is entitled to indemnification for hospital, medical, and related expenses incurred after retirement due to the 2019 injury, under the provisions of sections 100 and 100B of Chapter 41.
  • Section 3: The Boston Retirement Board must immediately pay Bracken the accumulated total deductions in the Annuity Savings Fund as of the effective date of the act.
  • Section 4: If Bracken was married at retirement, and remains married to the same spouse at Bracken’s death, the surviving spouse would receive an annuity equal to 75% of the pension Bracken would have received, payable to the surviving spouse for life. This survivor benefit is subject to applicable sections of Chapter 32 (section 103) governing the pension.
  • Section 5: Effective upon passage (immediate effect).

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiary: Leo J. Bracken, a firefighter for the City of Boston, who sustained injuries in 2019.
  • Secondary effect: Bracken’s surviving spouse (if married at retirement and still married at Bracken’s death) would be eligible for a 75% survivor annuity of Bracken’s pension.
  • Funded and administered by: Boston Retirement Board, with overall alignment to the state pension framework (Chapter 32).

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Public Service (Action History shows 2026-06-22).
  • Effective date: To be in effect upon passage.
  • The bill includes explicit overrides of general laws (Chapter 32) for Bracken’s benefits, indicating a targeted, individualized pension adjustment rather than a broad statutory reform.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Financial impact: The city’s pension liabilities for Bracken would increase to 100% of his final or in-service salary for the disability pension, plus potential survivor benefits and enhanced earning limits, and immediate distribution of accumulated deductions. The exact fiscal impact would depend on Bracken’s salary at retirement and the duration of benefit payments.
  • Precedent considerations: The bill creates a targeted exception for a single individual, which may raise questions about uniform applicability versus discretionary adjustments for other service members with similar injuries.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a one-page briefing with a short summary, a bullet list of provisions, and a quick Q&A for readers.

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

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