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Feeney files bill allowing Massachusetts cities, towns to upgrade employee retirement classifications
Summary
Sen. Paul R. Feeney filed legislation on Jan. 17, 2025, that would give municipalities and public authorities a local option to move groups of employees into higher retirement classification groups, subject to local approval procedures and a prohibition on reducing benefits.
BOSTON — Sen. Paul R. Feeney filed legislation Jan. 17, 2025, that would permit Massachusetts cities, towns and public authorities to elect to improve the retirement group classification for any group of their employees, provided the change is accepted through specified local approval procedures.
The bill, Senate No. 1854, which was submitted to the Senate docket as No. 2097 and referred to the Public Service committee, would insert a new paragraph in paragraph (g) of subdivision (2) of section 3 of chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws to authorize the local option.
Under the proposed language, acceptance procedures would differ by municipal form: in cities with a Plan D or Plan E charter the change would require a majority vote of the city council and approval by the city manager; in other cities it would require majority council vote and mayoral approval; in towns it would require a vote of the board of selectmen; and in public authorities it would require a majority vote of the authority’s governing board.
The legislation explicitly states that nothing in the measure is to be construed as authorization to diminish retirement benefits by placing any group of employees in a lower classification. The bill does not specify implementation timelines, fiscal impacts or which employee groups would be affected; those details would be determined if and when municipalities exercise the local option.
The filing repeats an item title that appeared in the previous legislative session (see Senate No. 1670 of 2023–2024). The bill as filed is now in the jurisdiction of the Senate Public Service committee, which would consider hearings, amendments and any subsequent recommendation to the full chamber.
