Bill
S 1827
Adds public safety dispatchers, supervisors, and operations managers to Group 2 retirement under MA GL Chapter 32, changing their pension rules, benefits, and employer costs.
Status: Referred to Finance (filed 01/17/2025; introduced in Senate 05/21/2025).
Sponsor / Petitioner: William J. Driscoll, Jr. (Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol)
Note on source material: The bill text and docket provided address Massachusetts General Laws (Chapter 32) and a petition by Senator Driscoll concerning public safety dispatchers. Some metadata in the materials (sponsor lists and an alternate bill title) appears inconsistent with the Massachusetts text; this summary relies on the enacted bill language shown in the docket.
Purpose and intent
- The bill’s sole substantive purpose is to change retirement classification under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 32, by explicitly including certain public safety communications personnel in Group 2. The intent is to place “public safety communications dispatchers, supervisors or operations managers” within the Group 2 membership classification for state/local retirement benefits.
Key provision (textual change)
- Amends Chapter 32, Section 3, subsection (2)(g) by inserting, after the words “signal maintenance repairmen,” the phrase:
- “public safety communications dispatchers, supervisors or operations managers”
- In short: those specific public safety communications roles are added to Group 2.
What this means (practical effect)
- Group 2 is one of the statutory membership groups under Chapter 32 that governs public employee retirement eligibility, benefit formulas, retirement age, disability and vesting rules. By placing these dispatch-related positions into Group 2, affected employees would receive retirement coverage, rules, and benefit calculations that apply to Group 2 members rather than to whatever group they are currently in (or to no explicit special classification).
- This change typically affects:
- Current and future public safety communications dispatchers, dispatch supervisors, and operations managers employed by municipalities, state agencies, or other public employers in Massachusetts.
- Municipal and state retirement systems and employers, which may see changes in pension accruals, contributions, and actuarial liabilities.
Who is affected
- Directly: public safety communications dispatchers, dispatch supervisors, and operations managers as defined/employed under applicable public service classifications.
- Indirectly: municipal and state retirement systems (and local budgets) that bear employer pension contributions; taxpayers to the extent employer contribution requirements change.
Procedural and fiscal notes
- Legislative actions in the docket show filing and referrals (filed 01/17/2025; introduced/read twice and referred to committee 05/21/2025; referred to Finance and Public Service at varying times). A hearing was scheduled for 10/08/2025 (per docket). Records show multiple referrals; interested parties should consult the official legislative website for the most current status.
- The bill text contains no fiscal note or actuarial estimate. Shifts of employee groups between retirement classifications can have measurable fiscal impact (increased or decreased long‑term pension liabilities and employer contribution rates). A formal cost estimate from the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) or an actuarial analysis would typically be requested by committees considering the bill.
Related/Previous measures
- Docket references list related and prior-session bills (e.g., SD 2513, S 8371, S 2553, S 4388) and a House companion (A 4844). Those filings suggest this proposal has been considered in prior sessions or has companion legislation.
Next steps for watchers
- Monitor committee hearings (Finance/Public Service), any issued fiscal/actuarial notes, and amendments that may define which employers or appointment categories are included. Local retirement boards may also issue analyses.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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