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SD 1193

An Act relative to the annual allowance for certain survivors of public retirees and employees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Cindy Friedman

Raises TRS/SERS survivor benefits to a minimum $750/month starting July 1, 2025; other systems may adopt the same via board vote and local approval.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 1193

Summary: Bill SD 1193 — An Act relative to the annual allowance for certain survivors of public retirees and employees

Overview

  • Bill Number: SD 1193
  • Title: An Act relative to the annual allowance for certain survivors of public retirees and employees
  • Status: House concurred
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Filed/Filed by: Modelled on Senate docket No. 1867; sponsored by Senator Cindy F. Friedman
  • Classification: Proposed bill (Public Service)

This bill focuses on increasing and standardizing the monthly survivor (beneficiary) allowances paid to spouses of deceased public retirees and employees covered by Massachusetts retirement systems, notably the state teachers’ retirement system (TRS) and the state employees’ retirement system (SERS). It also provides a mechanism for other retirement systems to adopt the same changes locally.

Key Provisions

Section 1

  • Change to option (d) of section 12, chapter 32 (General Laws):
    The bill removes the text “or $500” from the statutory language and replaces it with “, $500 or $750.”
    • This expands the set of possible monthly survivor benefit amounts referenced in that option, introducing a $750 figure as part of the option.

Section 2

  • Minimum survivor allowance for TRS/SERS spouses (effective July 1, 2025):
    Beginning July 1, 2025, the normal monthly member-survivor allowance provided under this option to a spouse of a deceased member shall not be less than $750 for members of the state teachers’ and state employees’ retirement system (TRS/SERS).
  • Adoption by other systems:
    For members in retirement systems other than TRS/SERS, the new minimum can take effect only if:
    • A majority vote of the board of the respective retirement system approves the change, and
    • The local legislative body approves (varies by system: town meeting for towns, city council for cities, county/regional/district governing bodies as applicable). Acceptance is deemed when a certification of such vote is filed with the commission.
  • Local definitions: Provides the definitions of “local legislative body” for various types of retirement systems (town meetings, city councils, county/regional/district authorities, etc.).

Affected Parties and Scope

  • Directly affected: Spouses of deceased members within TRS and SERS (state teacher and state employee retirement systems) who receive the member-survivor allowance.
  • Indirectly affected: Other political subdivision retirement systems that choose to adopt the same $750 minimum via board and local approvals.
  • Implementing bodies: Mass. retirement boards (TRS/SERS and other systems), and the commission that oversees retirement benefits.

Timing and Procedure

  • Effective date for TRS/SERS: July 1, 2025.
  • Adoption in other systems: Requires a two-step approval (board vote and local legislative body approval) and publicly certified filing with the commission to take effect.
  • Legislative actions noted: Referred to the Committee on Public Service on February 27, 2025; House concurrence recorded on February 27, 2025.

Notes

  • The bill’s fiscal impact is not detailed in the text provided; increased minimum benefits would imply higher outlays for the affected survivor benefits in TRS/SERS and any other systems that adopt the change.

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

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