Strengthens protections for patients regarding sexual misconduct by medical providers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Samra Brouk and 7 co-sponsors

Adds a clear ban on serving on a retirement board if the member receives pay or any financial benefit from the same board, to curb self-dealing and conflicts of interest.

REFERRED TO HEALTH

Purpose

Based on the bill text filed as Senate Docket No. 2098 (Senate No. 1855), the stated purpose is to clarify and tighten statutory language governing membership and conflicts of interest for retirement boards. The amendment makes explicit that a person may not serve in a capacity on a retirement board in which they "receive said remuneration, financial benefit or consideration of any kind."

Key provision(s)

Amends Subsection (47/8E) of Section 20 of Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws (as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition).

Inserts, after the fourth occurrence of the word “board,” the following qualifying phrase:

“in which he receives said remuneration, financial benefit or consideration of any kind;”

Effect: narrows or clarifies the types of relationships or positions that disqualify a person from participating in or holding membership on a retirement board because they would receive pay or other financial benefit tied to that board.

Who is affected

Members (current and prospective) of municipal and state retirement boards governed by Chapter 32.

Individuals who serve on a retirement board while also receiving remuneration or any financial benefit tied to the same board (e.g., employees, paid administrators, or beneficiaries whose compensation is linked to board decisions).

Municipalities and the Commonwealth agencies that oversee retirement systems may need to review and adjust board membership, appointment practices, and conflict-of-interest policies to comply with the clarified standard.

Potential impact

Clarifies conflict-of-interest rules to prevent individuals from participating in boards where they receive financial benefit, potentially reducing self-dealing or perceived impropriety.

May require resignations, reappointments, or policy updates where existing members fall within the newly-explicit prohibition.

Could increase administrative workload for boards to document eligibility and to update bylaws and disclosure procedures.

Legislative procedure / timeline (as provided)

Filed as Senate Docket No. 2098: 01/17/2025 (per bill header).

Introduced in Senate: 05/22/2025; read twice and referred to Committee on Finance (05/22/2025).

Hearing scheduled: 06/25/2025, 1:00–5:00 PM in A-1 (per listing).

Other entries in the provided record indicate multiple referrals to Health, passage in the Senate (04/01/2025), and delivery to the Assembly; these entries are inconsistent with other dates (see Notes).

Notes / Discrepancies

The metadata and sponsor lists attached to your file appear inconsistent with the bill text. The heading/title you supplied refers to protections for patients regarding sexual misconduct by medical providers, and lists a set of (mostly federal and out-of-state) sponsors; however, the text of the bill itself is a short amendment concerning retirement board membership introduced in the Massachusetts Senate by Paul R. Feeney (Bristol and Norfolk).

The procedural dates in the record are also inconsistent (some entries pre‑date introduction). Because of these contradictions, this summary focuses on the explicit statutory amendment language in the bill text. If you intended a different S.1855 (a bill addressing patient protections), please provide the correct bill text or clarify which jurisdiction’s bill you want summarized.

Bill