Relates to the licensing of landscape architects

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Monica Martinez

Adds licensed drinking water operators to a retirement classification in Chapter 32, Sec. 3, potentially changing their retirement rules, ages, vesting, and contributions.

PRINT NUMBER 1834A

Summary — S.1834 (2025): Retirement classification of licensed drinking water operators

Status: Committed to Rules (6/13/2025)
Filed: 1/13/2025; Introduced in Senate: 5/21/2025
Primary sponsor(s) in file: Sen. Peter J. Durant (and others)

Note on inconsistencies in source: The bill header references “landscape architects” and an out‑of‑state list of sponsors; the operative bill text and title line presented here clearly address the retirement classification of licensed drinking water operators. This summary follows the bill text.

Purpose

To amend Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 32 (the public employee retirement law), Section 3, by adding licensed drinking water operators to a listed retirement classification. The intent is to explicitly include those licensed by the Board of Certification of Drinking Water Supply Facilities (under Chapter 112, §87CCCC) within the specified retirement category in Section 3.

Key provision

Amends Section 3 of Chapter 32 by inserting, immediately after the word “hospital,” the phrase: "drinking water operators licensed by the Board of Certification of Drinking Water Supply Facilities pursuant to Chapter 112, Section 87CCCC".

The amendment is very narrow and textual: it adds that class of licensed drinking water operators to the enumerated retirement classification(s) appearing in Section 3.

Who is affected

Drinking water operators who hold licenses issued by the Board of Certification of Drinking Water Supply Facilities under Chapter 112, §87CCCC.

State and local retirement systems administering benefits under Chapter 32 (including PERAC and applicable public pension boards).

Employers of licensed drinking water operators (municipal water departments, regional water districts, and possibly certain state entities) — potentially affects employer contribution obligations, classification of employees for retirement formula and vesting rules.

The bill does not itself change benefit formulas, contribution rates, ages, or vesting periods; it changes statutory classification which may alter which retirement rules apply to those employees.

Potential impacts and considerations

Being placed in a particular Section 3 classification can change the retirement benefit calculation, normal retirement age, vesting, or contribution requirements for affected employees — the exact fiscal and benefit impact would require an actuarial/fiscal note from PERAC or the retirement boards.

Administrative steps: retirement systems would need to implement the classification change, and employers might need payroll/contribution adjustments.

Legislative history / timeline highlights

Filed in Senate: 1/13/2025; introduced and read twice: 5/21/2025; referred to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: 5/21/2025.

Advanced to third reading and subsequently committed to rules (multiple entries 4/30–6/13/2025).

Several related and prior actions (hearings, referrals, reporting extensions) are recorded in 2023–2025, indicating prior consideration of related measures.

Bill