Relates to the reimbursement of certain certification examination fees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 2 co-sponsors

Reallocates transfers so 10% funds the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund annually, while reducing Stabilization Fund to 70% and boosting retiree/pension funds to 10% each.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Summary — S.1936 (Senate Docket No. 1012) — An Act maintaining the state disaster relief and resiliency trust fund

Note on sources: the materials provided contain mixed metadata (different bill titles and sponsor lists). This summary is based on the bill text filed as Senate No. 1936 (filed 1/15/2025) presented by Senator Joanne M. Comerford, which amends Section 5G of Chapter 29 of the Massachusetts General Laws to change fund transfer percentages and to direct a share to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund.

Main purpose

To reallocate portions of certain state transfers so that a recurring 10% share is dedicated to the Commonwealth’s Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund, and to adjust the shares going to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund, and the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund.

Key provisions

Amends Section 5G of Chapter 29 of the General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition).

Replaces the prior transfer scheme:

Formerly: (i) 90% to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund; (ii) 5% to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund; (iii) 5% to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund.

New transfer scheme (as inserted by this Act):

(i) 70% to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund (section 2H);
(ii) 10% to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund (section 24 of chapter 32A);
(iii) 10% to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund (subsection (e) of subdivision 8 of section 22 of chapter 32);
(iv) 10% to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund (section 2HHHHHH of chapter 29, created by section 58 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024).

Who/what is affected

Commonwealth Stabilization Fund: share reduced from 90% to 70%.

State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund: share increased from 5% to 10%.

Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund: share increased from 5% to 10%.

Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund: newly receives 10% of these transfers, providing an ongoing revenue stream for disaster relief and resiliency projects.

State budgeting and reserve allocations generally: shifting the distribution of transferred amounts alters the composition of available reserves and dedicated funds.

Potential impact

Provides a stable, dedicated funding source (10%) to the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund, likely supporting preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency investments.

Reduces the annual inflow to the Stabilization (“rainy day”) Fund by 20 percentage points, which could affect statewide fiscal flexibility during general revenue shortfalls.

Increases funding directed at retiree benefits and pension liability funds, which may help long‑term pension/retiree liability management.

Net fiscal effects depend on total dollar amount of the base transfers subject to Section 5G.

Legislative status and timeline (selected actions)

Filed in Senate: 1/15/2025 (Senate Docket No. 1012), presented by Joanne M. Comerford.

Referred to Revenue committee: 2/27/2025.

Read twice and referred to Committee on Finance: 6/03/2025.

Hearing(s) scheduled/rescheduled in 2025 (e.g., hearings listed for 10/07/2025).

Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways and Means: 11/20/2025.

If you want, I can:
- Provide a short fiscal note-style estimate of likely dollar impacts if you supply recent annual amounts transferred under Section 5G; or
- Compare this bill to Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024 (which created the Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund) to explain how the funds would be used.