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SD 1156

An Act relative to the retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter of the city of Westfield

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Velis

Authorizes Greg Heath's disability retirement for Parkinson's linked to firefighting service, requires medical panel proof of permanent incapacity, retroactive to 2020.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 1156

Summary: An Act relative to the retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter of the city of Westfield (Senate Docket No. 1156)

Overview

  • Purpose: To authorize the retirement of Greg Heath, a former Westfield firefighter, under the state retirement system due to health impairment caused by Parkinson’s Disease that is connected to his employment.
  • Status: House concurred. Local approval received. Introduced in the 2025-2026 session; Senate petition No. 1919 (Senate Docket No. 1156).
  • Effective date: The act purports to take effect retroactively on September 26, 2020.

What the bill would do

  • Section 1: Overrides general retirement law to authorize the Westfield retirement board to retire Greg Heath under Chapter 32, Section 7, based on impairment of health caused by Parkinson’s Disease incurred as a result of his employment.
  • Section 2: Payment of benefits would occur only after Heath is examined by a medical panel under Chapter 32, Section 6, which must certify by a majority that he is mentally or physically incapacitated from further duty, that the incapacity is likely permanent, and that it is a natural and proximate result of Parkinson’s Disease. The Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) may waive the medical panel requirement if Heath has previously been examined and is receiving a disability benefit as of the act’s effective date; PERAC must promptly notify the retirement system of such a waiver.
  • Section 3: Specifies the act’s effective date as September 26, 2020.

Key provisions and requirements

  • Eligibility basis: Parkinson’s Disease linked to Heath’s employment as a Westfield firefighter.
  • Disability determination: Requires a medical panel’s certification (majority) of permanent incapacity connected to Parkinson’s.
  • Waiver option: PERAC may waive the panel requirement if Heath has prior examinations and ongoing disability benefits as of the act’s effective date.
  • Administrative flow: Westfield retirement board would implement the retirement; PERAC/retirement system coordination required for certification and payment.

Who would be affected

  • Greg Heath: Eligible for a disability retirement under the specified conditions.
  • Westfield Retirement Board: Responsible for implementing the retirement under the act.
  • Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC): May waive the medical panel requirement and must notify the retirement system if such a waiver is granted.
  • Municipal retirement system stakeholders: Potentially affected by retroactive benefit determination and related funding implications.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced and filed in early 2025, with local approval indicated.
  • Legislative actions show referral to the Public Service committee and House concurrence on or about February 27, 2025.
  • Retroactive effective date (2020) suggests potential retroactive eligibility considerations.

Potential impact

  • Provides a pathway for a disability retirement for Heath tied to employment-related Parkinson’s Disease.
  • Creates a retroactive eligibility framework, subject to medical certification and waiver provisions.
  • Could have financial implications for the Westfield retirement system and PERAC, depending on any retroactive benefits awarded.

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

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