Bill
S 1833
Expands Peace Corps creditable service eligibility for Massachusetts public retirement to all qualified commonwealth employees, not just teachers or counselors.
Important note about source material
- The provided metadata is inconsistent (titles referencing a "Harmful Algal Bloom" Act and a "Leadership in Critical and Emerging Technologies Act"; sponsor lists that mix federal legislators). This summary focuses on the actual bill text filed as Massachusetts Senate No. 1833 / SD 414, titled in the text "An Act relative to Peace Corps creditable service," which is the clear substantive content of the bill.
Purpose
- To amend Massachusetts retirement law to broaden which types of Commonwealth employment may receive credit for prior Peace Corps service when computing public retirement benefits.
Key provision (exact statutory change)
- Amends subsection (r) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
- Strikes the phrase "as a public school teacher or public school guidance counselor" and replaces it with "as a qualified commonwealth employee."
What the change means
- Current language limits Peace Corps creditable service to persons employed specifically "as a public school teacher or public school guidance counselor."
- The amendment would expand eligibility to any employee classified as a "qualified commonwealth employee" (as defined elsewhere in chapter 32), allowing those Commonwealth employees who previously served in the Peace Corps to purchase or receive credit toward their Massachusetts public retirement under the terms that apply to qualified commonwealth employees.
Who would be affected
- Commonwealth employees (state employees) who served in the Peace Corps and who meet the statute’s definition of "qualified commonwealth employee."
- The public pension system (state retirement system) — potential actuarial and fiscal effects depend on how many employees take advantage of the expanded credit, and whether the statute requires purchase of such service or grants it without contribution.
Potential impacts
- Administrative: The Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (or appropriate retirement administrator) would need to apply the revised eligibility rules and process applications.
- Fiscal: Expansion could modestly increase retirement liabilities if additional employees receive retirement credit; the magnitude depends on uptake and whether contributions are required to establish creditable service. No dollar amounts, contribution rules, or sunset dates are specified in the provided text.
Legislative status / timeline (from provided actions)
- Filed: 01/13/2025 (Senate Docket No. 414 / S.1833).
- Committee referrals: Referred to various committees per log (Environmental Conservation, Public Service, Finance); printed as 1833A and amended and recommitted to Finance.
- Senate action: Reported/committed and later PASSED SENATE (dates in May–June 2025 per the log).
- Delivered to the House/Assembly and referred to committee; hearing listed for 09/15/2025 (A‑1).
- Because the provided action history contains duplicates and conflicts, consult the official Massachusetts legislature website or the Senate Clerk for the final status and committee assignments.
Sponsors and filing
- The bill text identifies petitioners/presenters Peter J. Durant and Bruce E. Tarr (Massachusetts legislators). Other sponsor lists in the provided material appear to mix unrelated federal names and should be treated as erroneous.
Recommendation
- For confirmation of legislative status, fiscal notes, and the precise definition of "qualified commonwealth employee," consult the official printed bill 1833A, the Senate Clerk’s docket, and any fiscal or committee reports produced by the House or Senate committees handling the bill.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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