SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any person employed by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Department of Disability Determination Services as an in-house medical consultant shall be eligible for membership in the state retirement system pursuant to chapter 32 of the general laws and shall be considered an employee for purposes of eligibility for health insurance under chapter 32A of the General Laws, provided that they work a minimum of 18.75 hours per week.  These persons shall also be considered eligible for sick and vacation leave benefits.

SECTION 2.  Subdivision 1 of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding a new paragraph:-

Any person currently employed by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission department of disability determination services as an in-house medical consultant who prior to becoming a member of the state employees’ retirement system had been employed in a similar position on a contract basis shall be eligible to purchase up to four years of creditable service in the state retirement system for time spent as an in-house medical consultant prior to membership.  Before any retirement allowance becomes effective for the member, makeup payments of an amount equal to that which would have been withheld as regular deductions for the service had it been rendered as a state employee, and had the individual been a member of the state employees’ retirement system during the period, must be paid in a lump sum or in installments.  The sum to be paid shall include buyback interest on the amount and must adhere to the terms and conditions prescribed by the State Board of Retirement.  Eligible members who worked at least 18.75 hours per week as contract employees shall have their service credited in a proportional manner.