FILED ON: 12/21/2018

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 5016

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act increasing certain retirement benefits for firefighter Scott Holt of the town of Littleton.

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.  (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary and to promote the public good, the Middlesex county retirement board shall retire Scott Holt, a firefighter in the town of Littleton who was injured in the line of duty and, as a result, is totally and permanently incapacitated from performing the essential duties of a firefighter. The benefits shall be paid and administered in accordance with section 7 of chapter 32 of the General Laws; provided, however, that section 8 of said chapter 32 shall not apply.

(b) The amount of pension payable to Scott Holt shall be fixed annually at an amount equal to the rate of regular compensation which would have been payable to him had he continued in service as a firefighter at the grade held by him at the time of his retirement, which shall be the effective date of this act, and the annual amount of accidental disability retirement he would receive under Option A of the retirement allowances provided for in section 12 of said chapter 32 regardless of which retirement allowance option he chooses under said section 12. This increased accidental disability retirement allowance shall end on April 3, 2033, when Scott Holt turns 65, at which time his accidental disability retirement allowance shall revert to an amount equal to what he would be eligible to receive under section 7 of said chapter 32. All amounts paid under this act shall be nontaxable to the extent allowable pursuant to state and federal tax law. 

    (c)  If Scott Holt is married at the time of his retirement, and if the death of Scott Holt occurs prior to April 3, 2033, his surviving spouse shall continue to receive the increased accidental disability retirement until April 3, 2033, at which time she would be eligible to receive the retirement allowance provided for a surviving spouse pursuant to the provisions of said chapter 32. 

     SECTION 2.  The town of Littleton shall annually reimburse Scott Holt for the remainder of his life for his own out of pocket medical and drug costs up to a maximum annual amount of $6,450, adjusted for any applicable increases to the maximum annual amount that are provided for by the town’s health insurance plans.

    SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.