WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SD 3845

An Act to ensure fairness in retirement benefits for certain employees of the Department of Correction

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 4 co-sponsors

The bill extends fair retirement treatment under Chapter 32 for long-serving correctional program officers (10+ years in specified roles).

Referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 3845

Bill Summary: An Act to ensure fairness in retirement benefits for certain employees of the Department of Correction

Jurisdiction: Massachusetts Senate, 194th General Court (Session 2025-2026)

Bill Number: SD 3845

Sponsor: Senator Paul R. Feeney (with co-sponsor)

Petition filed: April 9, 2026

Status: Referred to the Senate Rules Committee (as of April 13, 2026)

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks to ensure fairness in retirement benefits for a specific subset of Department of Correction (DOC) employees.
  • It addresses disparities related to retirement eligibility and benefits for certain job titles within the DOC.

2) Key Provisions

  • Amendment to General Laws, Chapter 32 (the state retirement system).
  • Specifically inserts text into Section 3, line 325 (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition), adding a definition/eligibility criterion:
    • The amendment would apply to individuals who hold the roles of “correctional program officer A/B, C, D, or equivalent, or successive titles,” and who have been employed in such capacities or other Group 4 titles for 10 years or more.
  • In effect, these long-tenured employees in specified correctional program officer roles would be recognized or treated in a manner that is more favorable or fair within the retirement benefits framework (the precise nature of the “fairness” would be defined by how benefits or eligibility are adjusted under current law, which is not detailed in the brief text provided).

3) Who Would Be Affected

  • Department of Correction employees who:
    • Hold one of the listed titles: correctional program officer A, B, C, D, or an equivalent or successive titles.
    • Have been employed in those capacities (or equivalent Group 4 titles) for 10 years or more.
  • These employees would be eligible for the amended retirement provisions once the bill is enacted, assuming they meet the tenure and title criteria.

4) Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • The bill was filed and introduced in April 2026.
  • It has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee (joint referral to the two branches, per the action history entry on April 13, 2026).
  • No further committee delays, amendments, or enacted timelines are specified in the provided text.
  • As an amendment to Chapter 32, the bill would become law via standard legislative process and potential gubernatorial approval, after passing both Houses.

5) Practical Implications

  • For affected employees: potential improvement or clarification of retirement benefits tied to long-term service in specified DOC roles.
  • For the Massachusetts Retirement Systems: the bill could require administrative adjustments to recognize tenure in the listed positions for benefits computation or eligibility.
  • For the DOC workforce: could influence retention by ensuring fair retirement treatment for long-serving program officers.

6) Notes for Readers

  • The exact monetary impact (dollar amounts, benefit formulas) is not specified in the summary text.
  • The bill’s specific mechanics—such as how benefits would be calculated, impacted benefit tiers, or retroactive applicability—would be clarified in the full text and any subsequent fiscal notes or committee reports.

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

Sign in to ask a question.