Bill
S 1899
Directs MTRS to credit Ann Marie O’Keeffe with 32 years of credible service and confirm eligibility for a superannuation retirement, contingent on required contributions.
Status: SIGNED — Chapter 350 (enacted 2025-08-22)
Filed/Introduced (docket): Senate No. 1899 (filed 01/14/2025) — Presented by Senator Michael F. Rush
Note on metadata: the bill text enacted is a private/personal pension bill for Ann Marie O’Keeffe. Some metadata provided (title referencing a highway dedication, sponsor names, and certain dates) conflict with the bill text and legislative docket; this summary is based on the official bill text (Senate No. 1899) and recorded legislative actions showing enactment as Ch.350.
Purpose
- To authorize the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS) to credit Ann Marie O’Keeffe with 32 years of credible service and to confirm her eligibility for a superannuation (service) retirement allowance under Section 5 of Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Key provisions
- Service credit: Directs MTRS to credit Ann Marie O’Keeffe with 32 years of “credible service as a professional status teacher.”
- Eligibility confirmation: Confirms her eligibility for a superannuation pension under Section 5, Chapter 32 (the statutory provision governing service retirement for teachers).
- Contributions requirement: Before any Teachers’ Alternate Retirement Program (TARP) or superannuation allowance affects her pension benefit, O’Keeffe must make required contributions to MTRS (either lump sum or in installments) in accordance with Chapter 32 (2022 ed.) so she may fully qualify for RetirementPlus benefits described in that chapter.
- Non‑delay provision: States that neither any court order nor any administrative hearing shall delay the retirement process; directs RetirementPlus to become effective December 31, 2025 and directs that the TARP pension benefit be paid monthly with an “initial payment date of January 1st of 2025.” (The bill text contains an apparent timing inconsistency between the effective date and the initial payment date — noted below.)
- Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.
Who is affected
- Directly: Ann Marie O’Keeffe — her pension status, eligibility and required contributions.
- Administratively: Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (obligated to credit service and process the retirement) and any payroll/benefit units administering RetirementPlus/TARP.
- Potentially: State pension accounting and actuarial reporting (any change to credited service can alter liabilities), though the bill requires O’Keeffe to make requisite contributions to qualify, potentially reducing net fiscal impact.
Procedural/timeline highlights
- Reported, passed both chambers, delivered to governor, and signed into law as Chapter 350 on 2025-08-22.
- The text sets December 31, 2025 as the date RetirementPlus becomes effective for O’Keeffe; yet it also specifies an “initial payment date of January 1st of 2025,” a chronological inconsistency that may require administrative interpretation.
Observations/implications
- This is a private/personal bill directing a retirement board to grant service credit and confirm eligibility — a common legislative vehicle for resolving individual pension matters when statutory or administrative remedies are insufficient.
- Because the bill requires the retiree to make required contributions to secure full RetirementPlus benefits, the immediate fiscal cost to the retirement system may be limited; however, any actuarial effect depends on timing and whether full contributions are made.
- The provision barring delays from courts or hearings is unusual and could raise procedural or legal questions if disputes arise; the inconsistent dates in the enacted text should be clarified administratively.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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