Session Laws

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Chapter 868 of the acts of 1973 is hereby amended by adding the following five sections:-

Section 2. The Saugus Firefighter's Relief Association, Inc. is hereby authorized to adopt the following purposes:

(a) To pay a benefit upon the death of a member not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.

(b) At the election of a member separating from the Saugus fire department upon completion of service qualifying that member for pensioned, retired or disabled separation, however such separation may then be called, to make a payment to the member in lieu of death benefit in an amount equal to the death benefit applicable at the time the election is made, and if a member so elects, to allow that member to continue as an associate member without right to payment of benefit upon the death of that member and with such further restrictions as the association may provide in its by-laws.

(c) At the election of a member separating from the Saugus fire department upon completion of service qualifying that member for pensioned, retired or disabled separation, however such separation may then be called, to make a payment to the member in an amount equal to seventy-five percent of the death benefit applicable at the time the election is made, in lieu of payment of that proportion of the death benefit at the time the member so electing dies, and if a member so elects, to allow that member to continue as a member with right to payment to beneficiaries upon the death of that member of a sum equal to twenty-five percent of the regular death benefit applicable at the date of death of that member, and with such further restrictions as the association may provide in its by-laws.

(d) To pay a benefit not to exceed one hundred dollars per week during the temporary total disability of members who have not separated from the Saugus fire department.

(e) To provide to its members any benefit which may be provided by a fraternal benefit society chartered under chapter one hundred and seventy-six of the General Laws.

(f) To pay not more than one thousand dollars in a twelve month period for the relief of a member or the spouse or children of a deceased member suffering from extraordinary hardship.

(g) To promote the awareness of public safety issues and support the advancement of worthy causes within the town of Saugus.

(h) To honor and memorialize the service of active, separated and deceased members of the public safety services.

(i) To improve the amenities available to members of the association during association and public safety service duty performance.

Section 3. In addition to the investments permitted to fraternal benefit societies pursuant to chapter one hundred and seventy-six of the General Laws, The Saugus Firefighter's Relief Association, Inc. may invest its funds in:

(a) Any security in the list of legal investments pursuant to section fifteen A of chapter one hundred and sixty-seven of the General Laws as published and from time to time amended by the commissioner of banks. Officers and directors of the association may rely upon the legal list to the same extent and with the same consequences as officers and members of a board of a bank.

(b) Any security or contract in which the funds of retirement systems of counties, cities, towns, etc., may be invested pursuant to subdivision (2) of section twenty-three of chapter thirty-two of the General Laws or any successor statute.

Section 4. The Saugus Firefighter's Relief Association, Inc. may provide for indemnification of directors, officers, employees and other agents and persons who serve at its request to the extent specified in a by-law adopted for that purpose by the members of the association.

Section 5. The Saugus Firefighter's Relief Association, Inc. may provide for the payment of any part or all of the benefits payable to its members by contracting with one or more insurance companies qualified to provide policies of the appropriate nature in the commonwealth.

Section 6. The Saugus Firefighter's Relief Association, Inc. shall be subject to section forty-nine of chapter one hundred and seventy-six of the General Laws.