Amendment #21 to S2509

Creditable Service Before 1996

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Hill of Ipswich, Poirier of North Attleborough, Gifford of Wareham, Frost of Auburn and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

“SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of veterans’ services, in consultation with the public employee retirement administration commission, shall conduct a study on the feasibility and cost to the commonwealth of allowing a member of a retirement system who: (i) is a veteran, as defined under section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws; and (ii) served in the armed forces of the United States, to receive credit for active service in the armed services of the United States; provided, however, that such creditable service shall not include service for more than 4 years; provided further, that such creditable service shall not be allowed for any period of active service for which the veteran has received credit pursuant to paragraph (h) of subdivision (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws; and provided further, that the amount shall not exceed the 80 per cent allowed to retire. Creditable service time, both enlisted and commissioned, may be applied toward retirement on a ratio of 5 years guard service or 5 years active reserve service substitutable for each year of active service.

The department shall also examine the feasibility of including members of the nurse cadet core in the definition of “veteran” under said section 7 of said chapter 4.

The study, along with any recommendations, shall be submitted to the clerks of the house and senate, the joint committee on public service, the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs and the house and senate committees on ways and means by December 31, 2018.”.