Summary of Bill S 1921: An Act Relative to Retirement Equity for Parenting Teachers

Purpose and Intent

Bill S 1921 aims to enhance retirement equity for public school teachers in Massachusetts who have taken part-time employment while raising children. The bill seeks to allow these educators to receive creditable service towards their retirement benefits for their part-time teaching work, thereby promoting fairness in retirement planning for parenting teachers.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes the following amendments to the Massachusetts General Laws:

• Creditable Service for Part-Time Employment:

  • Public school teachers who are members of the teachers’ retirement system, regional retirement system, or Boston retirement system, and who have completed at least 20 years of service, may receive credit for part-time teaching.
  • This credit will be calculated on a proportionate basis upon their return to full-time service.
  • Teachers can receive credit for part-time service for a maximum of 5 years.

• Payment Requirement:

  • To qualify for this creditable service, teachers must pay an amount equivalent to what would have been deducted from their compensation had they been employed full-time. This payment can be made in a lump sum or in installments, as determined by the retirement board.

Who Would Be Affected

• Public School Teachers: The bill specifically targets public school teachers in Massachusetts who have taken time off or worked part-time due to parenting responsibilities.
• Retirement Systems: The bill impacts the teachers’ retirement system, regional retirement systems, and the Boston retirement system, affecting how these systems calculate retirement benefits for eligible teachers.

Procedural Aspects

• Introduced: The bill was introduced on February 27, 2025.
• Committee Referral: It has been referred to the committee on Public Service.
• Hearing Schedule: A hearing for the bill has been scheduled and subsequently rescheduled to July 9, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in room A-2.

Related Legislation

• The bill is associated with Senate Docket 1618, which it replaces.

Conclusion

Bill S 1921 represents a significant step towards recognizing the contributions of parenting teachers in Massachusetts by allowing them to accrue retirement benefits for part-time service. This legislative effort aims to provide greater equity in retirement planning for educators who balance their professional responsibilities with parenting.