Bill
S 2712
Reclassifies Town of Yarmouth Natural Resources Division certified police officers to Group 4 for retirement, retroactively crediting prior service under that group.
Note on source materials
- The materials provided for S.2712 include mixed and partly inconsistent content (duplicate/foreign bill text, references to other bills and states). This summary focuses on the clear, operative Massachusetts bill text submitted to the One Hundred and Ninety‑Fourth General Court (2025–2026), which concerns retirement classification for Town of Yarmouth Natural Resources Division employees.
Purpose and intent
- To change the retirement classification (Group assignment) for certain Town of Yarmouth Natural Resources Division employees who are certified police officers, and to treat all prior credible service they rendered as service under that higher classification. The intent is to ensure these employees receive retirement credit and benefits consistent with the Group 4 classification under Massachusetts law.
Key provisions
- Section 1: Classification
- States that, in the Town of Yarmouth, Natural Resources Division employees who are certified police officers pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6E shall be Group 4 employees under M.G.L. c. 32, § 3(2)(g).
- Provides that, notwithstanding any contrary provision of M.G.L. c. 32, §§ 1–28, all prior credible service rendered by these Natural Resources Division employees before the act’s effective date will be treated as Group 4 service.
- Section 2: Effective date
- The act takes effect upon its passage.
Statutes referenced
- M.G.L. c. 6E — (certification of police officers)
- M.G.L. c. 32 — (state retirement law); specifically § 3(2)(g) and related provisions on Group classifications and service credit
Who would be affected
- Primary: Natural Resources Division employees of the Town of Yarmouth who are certified police officers under M.G.L. c. 6E.
- Secondary: Town of Yarmouth (as the employer), the Massachusetts State Retirement Board, and potentially state/local retirement system finances and actuarial liabilities (because reclassification and retroactive credit can alter pension benefit amounts and employer/state contribution obligations).
- The change applies only to the Town of Yarmouth (a local, special‑law change), not to other Massachusetts municipalities.
Potential impacts
- Retirement benefits and eligibility for affected employees would be calculated under Group 4 rules (which generally govern certain police/fire and similar positions), and prior service would be credited under Group 4, potentially increasing pension benefits or affecting retirement age/credit.
- There may be fiscal impacts: higher pension liabilities, increased employer contributions, or changes to the State Retirement System’s actuarial obligations. The bill text does not include a fiscal note; any precise cost would require an actuarial estimate.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Sponsor/petition: Filed and presented by Senator Julian Cyr (petition by town; co‑sponsored by Kip A. Diggs per docket). The bill indicates local approval was received.
- Docketing: Appears on the Senate docket for the 194th General Court; bill text filed 11/6/2025 per the provided docket entry.
- Committee/action status: The provided record lists the bill as "DEFEATED IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION" (action dated 2025‑05‑13 in the supplied metadata). The docket also shows referrals to committees (Public Service, Finance) and other procedural entries; however, the metadata contains inconsistencies and references to unrelated measures. The bill’s operative text indicates it would take effect upon passage if enacted.
Bottom line
- S.2712 is a local, targeted retirement‑classification bill that would reclassify Yarmouth Natural Resources Division certified police officers as Group 4 employees under Massachusetts retirement law and retroactively credit prior service as Group 4. That reclassification could increase pension benefits and employer/state pension costs. According to the provided status, the measure was defeated in committee (Environmental Conservation) during its legislative consideration.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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