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S 1786

Requires the department of health to publish a report on the incidence of tick-borne illnesses annually on the department's website

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pam Helming and 5 co-sponsors

The bill reclassifies certain Commonwealth employees who face hazardous environments or emergencies into Group 2 for retirement and benefits.

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Bill Summary · S 1786

Summary — S.1786 (2025)

Title shown on bill cover: An Act relative to employees of the Commonwealth who are required to respond to emergencies or work in hazardous environments.

Note: The bill metadata provided to the analyst includes an inconsistent alternate title (requiring the Department of Public Health to publish an annual report on tick‑borne illnesses). The actual bill text supplied amends Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws and addresses classification of certain state employees. This summary describes the bill text as supplied.

Purpose

To amend Chapter 32, Section 3(2)(g) by expanding the list of state employees included in “Group 2” to explicitly include employees whose duties expose them to hazardous environments, emergency response, hazardous materials, certain laboratory or field hazards, and homeland security/ emergency management activities.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new opening paragraph to Chapter 32, §3(2)(g) placing the following classes of Commonwealth employees into Group 2:
    • Employees required to respond to emergencies or work in hazardous environments.
    • Employees who respond to or inspect hazardous material spills, or who must be present where hazardous materials (including asbestos and radioactive materials) are stored, used, emitted, manufactured, or where contamination has occurred.
    • Employees who work in laboratories handling biological or other dangerous materials associated with blood‑borne, viral, or other potentially communicable/dangerous substances.
    • Employees whose duties include the use of scuba diving equipment.
    • Employees who serve as aerial foresters or crewmen.
    • State employees engaged in homeland security duties, MEMA duties, and emergency response actions tied to public safety, environmental protection, and public health.

Who is affected

  • The amendment applies to Commonwealth (state) employees whose duties fit the enumerated descriptions across state agencies — including public safety, environmental protection, public health, emergency management (MEMA), laboratory personnel, hazardous‑materials inspectors/response teams, certain field crews (scuba, aerial forestry), and homeland security personnel.
  • By placing these employees into “Group 2,” the bill changes their statutory classification under Chapter 32 (Massachusetts public employee statutes). Group assignments under Chapter 32 generally determine retirement classification and related benefits, contribution rates, and service/age rules; therefore affected employees would see changes tied to whatever Group 2 confers under existing law.

Potential impacts

  • Administrative: state human resources, retirement boards, and affected agencies will need to identify covered positions and apply Group 2 rules to them.
  • Fiscal: depending on the retirement and benefit differences tied to Group 2, there may be actuarial and budgetary implications for pension contributions and retiree obligations.
  • Worker protections/benefits: employees in hazardous or emergency roles could gain access to Group 2 retirement provisions (the bill text itself does not change benefit amounts but changes classification).

Legislative status & timeline (from supplied record)

  • Filed/introduced: January 7, 2025 (docket shows S.1786); another metadata entry shows introduced May 15, 2025.
  • Passed Senate: March 11, 2025.
  • Delivered to House/Assembly and referred to Health (January–March 2025 entries).
  • Passed Assembly (substituted for companion A6047): June 4, 2025; returned to Senate; ordered to third reading.
  • Current status in record provided: RETURNED TO SENATE.
  • A hearing was scheduled for October 8, 2025 (per record).

Notes and discrepancies

  • The initial one‑line bill descriptor about an annual tick‑borne illness report does not match the full bill text. This summary follows the full statutory amendment text supplied (relating to Chapter 32 and employee classification).
  • Sponsor and related‑bill metadata in the provided packet appear inconsistent (some names and references possibly from other jurisdictions or sessions). For official status, text, and fiscal notes, consult the Massachusetts Legislature’s official website or the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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