HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1978        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2336

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kevin G. Honan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to treating veterans equally under the pension laws.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1978        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2336

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2358 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to treating veterans equally under the pension laws.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 1 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 121, the words “sections one to twenty-eight inclusive”, and inserting in place thereof the following words: - “this chapter”.

SECTION 2.  Said section 1 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 299, the words “sections one to twenty-eight, inclusive”, and inserting in place thereof the following words: -“this chapter”.      

SECTION 3.  Said section 1 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 306, the words “sections one to twenty-eight inclusive”, and inserting in place thereof the following words: -“this chapter”.   

SECTION 4.  Said section 1 is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 493 to 494, the words “sections one to twenty-eight, inclusive”, and inserting in place thereof the following words: -“this chapter”.         

SECTION 5.  Paragraph (h) of subdivision (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fourth paragraph, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph: -

            “Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, including the provisions of  sections 3 and 65D, or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a member in service of any retirement system governed by the provisions of this chapter who served honorably in the armed forces of the United States shall be entitled to credit for active service in the armed services of the United States; provided, however, that such active service shall not be credited until such member has paid into the annuity savings fund of such system, in one sum or in installments, upon such terms and conditions as the board may prescribe, makeup payments, for each year of creditable service sought, of an amount equal to the ten percent of the regular annual compensation of the member when said member entered the retirement system; and, provided further that such creditable service shall not be construed to include service for more than four years provided further, that such creditable service shall not be allowed for any period of active service for which said member has received credit pursuant to paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section 4 of chapter thirty-two of the General Laws or for which said member receives a federal military pension. This act shall apply to Massachusetts National Guard and Active Reserve personnel, both former and present. Creditable service time, both enlisted and commissioned may be applied toward retirement on a ratio of five years guard service or five years active reserve service substitutable for each year of active service.”

            SECTION 6. Section 3 of chapter 71 of the acts of 1996 is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph, as amended by section 2 of chapter 468 of the acts of 2002, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph: -

            Members in service of a retirement system eligible for said creditable service under this act shall make application for said creditable service not earlier than the date of becoming eligible and not later than 180 days after being notified by the retirement board of their eligibility after becoming vested in the retirement system, or for currently eligible members, within 180 days of the acceptance of this act by the local legislative body.