An Act to include teachers from the Springfield Empowerment Zone in the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Alice Peisch and 1 co-sponsor

Extends Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System membership and creditable service to Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership teachers meeting at least half-time eligibility.

Hearing rescheduled to 07/14/2026 from 11:00 AM-11:20 AM in A-1 Hearing updated to New End Time

Summary of Bill: H.5499 (194th Massachusetts General Court)

Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to authorize teachers employed by the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, Inc. to become members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS).

It aims to treat these Springfield Empowerment Zone (EZ) teachers as if their service were creditable under the state system, aligning their eligibility and retirement credit with that of public school teachers.

Key Provisions

Amends Subsection (i) of section 1J of chapter 69 of the General Laws (as of the 2024 Official Edition) by adding two sentences that explicitly include EZ teachers.

Specifically:

Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, Inc. teachers shall be members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System pursuant to chapter 32.
A teacher’s service for the Springfield EZ Partnership shall be creditable service under chapter 32.

Definitions for “teacher”:

For purposes of this subsection, “teacher” means a person who works on a basis of not less than half-time service in a position that would make them eligible to be a member of the MTRS if their position were performed in a public school.

Who Is Affected

Teachers employed by the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, Inc. (the Springfield EZ).

The change extends to employees whose duties amount to at least half-time and would qualify for MTRS membership if they were in a traditional public school role.

Administrative and Procedural Details

The bill is presented as an amendment to existing law, with the practical effect of enabling EZ teachers to enroll in MTRS and have their service creditable under the retirement system.

Pending actions in the legislative process:

The House and Senate must approve the amendment.
The bill has seen committee activity and leadership scheduling, including hearings and prior referrals (as of the action history).

Timeline and Process Context

Filed: May 28, 2026.

Action history indicates:

Referred to House Rules; subsequently reported and suspended for Joint Rules, then referred to Public Service.
Senate action includes concurrence (as of June 11, 2026).
A hearing was scheduled for July 14, 2026.

If enacted, the provisions would take effect according to the timing set by the general effective-date rules of the statute (the bill text does not specify an alternative effective date, so the standard effective date would apply).

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Financial/Cost Implications:

Expands MTRS membership to EZ teachers, which could affect employer contributions, member contributions, and retirement liabilities for the state and participating districts.

Equity and Access:

Provides retirement system participation and service credit to EZ teachers, recognizing their employment as dedicated public education service.

Implementation:

Requires coordination between EZ payrolls and the MTRS to establish membership status and to credit service time properly.
Administrative steps to categorize EZ positions within the MTRS framework.

Notes for Readers

The bill focuses narrowly on eligibility for MTRS membership and creditable service for Springfield EZ teachers, without creating new benefits or altering existing benefit formulas beyond extending retirement system access.

The definition of “teacher” for eligibility purpose ensures quasi-public or partnership positions that operate at least half-time and resemble public-school roles are covered.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language FAQ or a comparison of current vs. proposed retirement eligibility for EZ teachers.