Bill
SD 551
Private bill credits Ann Marie O'Keeffe with 32 years in the MTRS, grants RetirementPlus/pension eligibility, requires pre-retirement contributions, and takes effect upon passage.
Purpose and intent
- This is a private (named‑beneficiary) bill granting retirement-related benefits specifically to Ann Marie O’Keeffe.
- The bill seeks to credit Ms. O’Keeffe with 32 years of credible service as a professional status teacher within the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS) and to confirm her eligibility for superannuation under the pension program established in Chapter 32, Section 5 of the Massachusetts General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 edition), including RetirementPlus benefits.
Key provisions
- Section 1:
- The MTRS shall credit Ann Marie O’Keeffe with 32 years of credible service as a professional status teacher.
- The bill confirms her eligibility for the superannuation/pension benefits described in Chapter 32, §5 (as amended/appearing in 2022 edition).
- Before any RetirementPlus or superannuation allowance affects her pension, she must make contributions to the MTRS (lump sum or installments) in accordance with Chapter 32 (as appearing in the 2022 edition) to fully qualify for RetirementPlus benefits.
- The bill states that no court order or administrative hearing shall delay the retirement process under RetirementPlus or prevent Ms. O’Keeffe from qualifying for the superannuation/TARP benefits. RetirementPlus is to become effective on December 31, 2025, and the pension benefit would be paid monthly, with the initial payment date on January 1, 2025.
- Section 2:
- The act takes effect upon passage.
Who this affects
- Primary beneficiary: Ann Marie O’Keeffe.
- Affects: Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS) administration and the process by which RetirementPlus/superannuation benefits are granted for this individual.
- This is a targeted, private bill rather than a broad, general reform.
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Introduced: February 27, 2025.
- Legislative actions: Referred to the Committee on Public Service (2025-02-27); House concurred (same date).
- Effective date: Upon passage of the act (Sec. 2).
Context and notes
- The bill references a similar matter previously filed in a prior session (Senate No. 2577, 2023-2024), indicating a long-standing private‑sector retirement request for Ms. O’Keeffe.
- As a private bill, its applicability is limited to the named individual and does not establish a general policy change for other teachers or retirees.
Overall impact
- If enacted, the bill would finalize 32 years of service credit, authorize RetirementPlus-based pension eligibility, require pre-retirement contributions to qualify, accelerate or streamline access to monthly pension benefits for Ms. O’Keeffe, and set a retirement benefit start date aligned with the stated timeline.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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