[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5982070,"mediaKeyId","5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3","parentId",5808740,"title","Educators, unions press committee to raise pension COLA base and cap retiree health costs","audioSeconds",269,"startMs",3008000,"endMs",3277000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3&start=3008&end=3277","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3/thumbnail_3008000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5982070/Massachusetts/Educators-unions-press-committee-to-raise-pension-COLA-base-and-cap-retiree-health-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982070-4f7f4210d61f9ba34eca3d47aa440404/orig.mp4?Expires=1775178322&Signature=BnFb-WTFRLFdfAKGx-xkJ1Mv1QV2hEaDBd5m2-67vEQom3pzHsFdvEp9icseM6~Omop-iO0-hxMZ~9f4OpqG-bQX7Z-FtGTuqeSRMArzOt5USeACB4yztdx9UxDIdzTKXQ9ih5S~06eVdzxTONlTM4dytJbaXMN3x~TDK6~sbh2IxTDRCjYQJSedu5uNo6WQUEKqjblFQKWJwgxEh9EVA7qRluN8NNVbSE4EM~TXnauAgo3idQaJl-M89cpcCMk3VUoCRRqHsFzcrnlksbygz0z~In1ecEaG5QEQeu91WNc7T99uTA-~FJTG-SyQ1b7wJXi3jxpDrUZ7cojTcmXwhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","Educators, local union leaders and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts urged the Joint Committee on Public Service to advance House Bill 28‑12 (and its Senate companion, S 18‑17), which would raise the pension cost‑of‑living adjustment base from $13,000 to $18,000 and add protections for retiree health‑care costs.
Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, described the current COLA as applied only to the first $13,000 of a pension and said that over decades the COLA covers a much smaller share of retirees' total pension value. \"The promise the Commonwealth makes is that if you serve the public... you'll be able to retire in dignity,\" Page said, urging lawmakers to raise the base to $18,000 and to freeze retiree health‑insurance contribution percentages at the level in effect when a worker retires. Witnesses also asked for a cap on out‑of‑pocket costs for retirees not eligible for Medicare — proposal language discussed would limit costs to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families for retirees 65 and older who are not Medicare‑eligible.
Testimony included personal stories of retirees facing rising medical costs and of teachers who retired into lower benefits than those available earlier. Labor representatives argued the change would help recruitment and retention of public employees. Committee members asked clarifying questions but did not act on the bill during the hearing; witnesses offered to submit additional fiscal information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Public Service - 9-17-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Teachers, school‑district representatives and labor unions backed House Bill 28‑12 and Senate 18‑17 to raise the COLA base from $13,000 to $18,000, cap out‑of‑pocket costs for non‑Medicare retirees and freeze certain health insurance cost‑sharing percentages.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5982075,"Retirees and unions back easing post‑retirement earnings limits, cite staffing gaps",677,2488000,3165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3&start=2488&end=3165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3/thumbnail_2488000.jpg","/articles/5982075/Massachusetts/Retirees-and-unions-back-easing-postretirement-earnings-limits-cite-staffing-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982075-186d02d220933d47e9c2c235bf90eb3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775178322&Signature=fx2xjhy9be33d0SEdgZlFmqb9pLL4FcOKz8HISMbHK95TdiDmtPvOh6u4yvxcAIFaGPBpJUdfi9bQXGKi8ETVGWCdoEklMFUqKkgTHf0LiXVMDHPYCY11JiHvPmX2L8TYt~~Zj91rdGfqIMB0gAFubr0knTeHus9~bBZh3UrtEQBUwu1Ke7T6fzxxt0e2gelXtekIypHN9VACMEpawzY61YMRO1Xngu0GiuwJvdonnDV4Z23JJYvq~WdYjNQMY7g5Ele2od1Vqh6YyGGqEd3Or6x-EAV1gn~Ssdj1Vm3oBMHsYhJIGd8FHwOtbR~HrjoAo~MenRyo7mc0HCSp9JEqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Retirees, police and firefighter unions and retirement administrators urged the Joint Committee on Public Service to advance bills that would ease or clarify post‑retirement earnings and hours limits so retired professionals can return to municipal work without facing penalties.
Retirees from Foxborough told the committee they sought relief to support families and cover medical costs. \"This bill would be extremely beneficial... You could work as many hours as you wanted without any penalties,\" retired officer Edward McDonald said. Other retired officers and a retired police chief said the current rules are complicated and discourage experienced personnel from taking temporary municipal work.
Organized labor and advocacy groups also testified. Paul Jacques and representatives of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts said they support multiple bills including House Bills 2,791 and 2,959 and Senate measures addressing civil‑service exemptions. Michael O'Reilly of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS) told the committee he supports House Bill 2,755, which would exempt retired members returning to do professional actuarial, auditing, accounting and legal services for retirement boards from hours and earnings limits. Jim Machado of the Massachusetts Police Association described the existing system as \"complicated, convoluted, and difficult to understand\" and proposed a simpler earnings threshold that retirees and regulators could use consistently.
Witnesses tied the policy to service gaps: speakers cited municipal road and sewer projects, traffic control shortages and other local staffing needs, saying allowing retirees to work more would help fill urgent roles. No formal legislative action was taken at the hearing; witnesses urged the committee to consolidate and move forward with reforms.","Multiple retired public‑safety workers, associations and retirement system representatives urged the committee to ease or clarify post‑retirement earnings and hours limits so experienced retirees can return to work without penalties amid persistent municipal staffing shortages.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5982079,"Witnesses back raising maximum age to expand police recruitment in Boston and other cities",1774,1233000,3007000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3&start=1233&end=3007","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3/thumbnail_1233000.jpg","/articles/5982079/Massachusetts/Witnesses-back-raising-maximum-age-to-expand-police-recruitment-in-Boston-and-other-cities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982079-cb8cc6af4d7e28976d57d166c8f6ac51/orig.mp4?Expires=1775178322&Signature=d3kJTMD65CJ0FV2WrTBpBoalZOkrho1zLopG0~SFocw8O3Ca15G1mx1-juY40spfBGbjmCOg6R~Ht88o7zi1zHqaxbcTGI4vdXhPD3Pnc~iF19grhZBd1teggTJm3GTrqYoIdz~47oe6fqfvXAXvDKJfEhkzhtb4BTUhBVSaG~ToH-abc1UQX~gAjt1dUKa4NC5WPseS6VOdwi9JJ8pei5o-8YvP4t0Bwbszmva7xLYcRZJRQgh~BBQji3m2epYe~gZCiPh3u5u8YKRctCha-Nc-YVOZ91m3zoSI7x~7~Agq1WcuuDOk8ra7sUzuDr7N5HvfgrZvO0BI2sWPrXgEyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials and rank‑and‑file officers told the Joint Committee on Public Service they support bills that would raise maximum age limits for police academy entry in Boston and other municipalities. Councilor Gabriela Coletta and supporters asked the committee to back House Bill 4,093 to raise Boston's maximum age for police academy entry from 39 to 45. Officer Casey Onivo of the Worcester Police Department requested increasing his department's age cutoff from 32 to 39 to help recruit officers from BIPOC communities.
\"Individuals slightly over the age of 39, many of whom are capable, willing, and deeply committed to Boston residents, are automatically excluded from service despite their ability to meet every other requirement,\" Councilor Gabriela Coletta read on behalf of herself and co‑sponsors. She said the current process forces councils to file home‑rule petitions repeatedly to waive the limit for individual applicants.
Committee members questioned how later entry affects pension and retirement timelines; witnesses said entrants who join later will simply have fewer years of service before retirement and may have different retirement outcomes, but that remains a personal decision. The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association said it was neutral on H 4,093 and expressed concern about retirement impacts. No committee vote or formal action was taken during the hearing.","City councilors, officers and advocates urged the committee to lift or raise maximum age limits for police academy entry — including a bill to raise Boston's limit from 39 to 45 and requests to harmonize other city limits — arguing the change would expand the pool of qualified local applicants and boost diversity.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5982084,"Boston lawmakers and advocates press to shorten cadet wait for firefighter appointment",448,373000,821000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3&start=373&end=821","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3/thumbnail_373000.jpg","/articles/5982084/Massachusetts/Boston-lawmakers-and-advocates-press-to-shorten-cadet-wait-for-firefighter-appointment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982084-3762b0ec6e3e1dbb3c00c12f8da926d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775178322&Signature=G-FMweGweXM5Em8luQFHchOWuZe-t9RnipelX2n-uJbbq6gNLX-YR4qf35lrUniwUPnxaM5U3GR-zDpVNGDdX0JtC1VPzWjT55arR727SYXJF3bxcvBBtm7VRE3tYKe3SsItZrctZSxN63V6sxnmCQ-jyE2I5g5PvNDgEtx5lp~7ooEPOSchLrv9IYZBEOhWvX5ty8Efy0bP9~dIoWEAuDatlvZLeAcNb~5DmAQzDifgn5~Z8otACEni0BITY~tgBXDMq3bgUG244GtEBNmBpfGwK4IRiqSjfrTsy4kJAmN9f6es8EVDWKW9iXu6oQeubVzC4oheMFegy-M5Q~LsOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston lawmakers, a city councilor and program advocates asked the Joint Committee on Public Service to approve a change that would allow Boston Fire Department cadets to seek appointment after one year in the program instead of the current two. Representative Christopher Worrell and Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell said the change in House Bill 29‑95 would reduce a barrier they said disproportionately affects cadets from Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and Hyde Park.
\"This is not about lowering standards,\" Representative Christopher Worrell said. \"Every cadet will go through the fire academy training, the same training every firefighter in Boston has to complete. What changes is removing an unnecessary barrier of disproportionately hurting young people of color.\" He added that many cadets earn roughly $32,000 a year and that the two‑year wait can push them out of the program.
Both Representative Worrell and Councilor Brian Worrell described the proposal as a minor statutory change — replacing \"two years\" with \"one year\" — intended to improve local recruitment and diversity. They said the fire commissioner, Paul Burke, has voiced support and that the cadet program was designed so that one‑third of each fire academy class can come from Boston cadets. Committee members asked about demographic numbers; the witnesses said they did not have the detailed breakdown at the hearing but offered to submit it afterward. The committee did not take formal action during the testimony.","Representatives and city councilors urged the committee to report House Bill 29‑95 favorably so Boston Fire Department cadets can be considered for appointment after one year instead of two, arguing the change would expand access for local and minority applicants.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5982088,"Lawmakers hear push to make DOC industrial instructors permanent staff",142,203000,345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3&start=203&end=345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5808740-0d7b5efc4fa1cae5853622715e681fb3/thumbnail_203000.jpg","/articles/5982088/Massachusetts/Lawmakers-hear-push-to-make-DOC-industrial-instructors-permanent-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982088-2d4ad8f83b2872a5420167a2a18e1baf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775178322&Signature=Hv4v8WkUacrwdItJxDuLm3IV4yCPkndIfiMU1tf6eMXNL8w9QGgrgOUWcqBUn-si6UbPA8f~YzuwdIUmftDpUKpPXYJ-sGfqzqaNo7Ayal278OGys1DneGZMlwdNBJVtmMwvg9B6tYKkbu8F6anneYwzleklsmn3Tl3LBhT-zRaN9yXGbCAedc8ahkXimmmKy1Y2nq7v5CGMf0w1JZGCSybAFSukNRl2wdfmdvp4cEvns5rrN3emCVaVe9M30l4za0zdrru3KpD2q-BYGAe6UPQMKL5Q5nQybAi3RCO4~cJFzQk--AQ5GmDh0weXv-HZRGhndHfq3oO8AqAxorx0aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supporters urged the Joint Committee on Public Service on Wednesday to back House Bill 28‑59, which would establish a path to permanent employment for industrial instructors who maintain Massachusetts Department of Correction facilities. Kevin Flanagan, legislative representative for the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, told the committee the issue stems from civil‑service testing that the union says has not been administered for about 16 years.
The bill would allow industrial instructors who have worked full time and who hold specialized trade skills to obtain permanent status rather than remain in provisional appointments, advocates said. \"I'm here in strong support of House Bill 28‑59,\" Flanagan said, adding that \"more than 1,000 industrial instructors have remained in provisional status despite many having served faithfully and full time for well over a decade.\" He said the department's jobs have become specialized in ways that a single civil‑service exam cannot fairly evaluate.
Proponents framed the change as a personnel and equity fix, not a pay increase. They asked the committee to report the bill favorably. Committee members asked no substantive questions during the testimony. The panel did not take a vote on the bill at the hearing.
The testimony made several factual points: the union said it represents about 3,000 state and county correctional employees; it also said roughly 16 years have passed since a relevant civil‑service industrial‑instructor exam was last administered and that more than 1,000 instructors remain provisional. The bill's text and any implementing regulations were not discussed in detail during the hearing. Committee staff and members did not indicate a formal action beyond receiving testimony.","Union and advocates urged the Joint Committee on Public Service to report House Bill 28‑59 favorably, saying thousands of industrial instructors at Massachusetts correctional facilities remain in provisional status because civil‑service tests have not been administered.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Educators, unions press committee to raise pension COLA base and cap retiree health costs

Retirees and unions back easing post‑retirement earnings limits, cite staffing gaps

Witnesses back raising maximum age to expand police recruitment in Boston and other cities

Boston lawmakers and advocates press to shorten cadet wait for firefighter appointment

Lawmakers hear push to make DOC industrial instructors permanent staff