Budget Amendment ID: FY2025-S4-134-R1

Redraft GOV 134

Post-Retiree Task Force

Messrs. Tarr and Fattman moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 106 the following section:-

“SECTION 106A. There shall be a task force to study post-retirement employment of public employees. The task force shall consist of: 1 member appointed by the president of the senate who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; the executive director of the public employee retirement administration commission or a designee; the executive director of the state retirement board or a designee; the executive director of the teachers’ retirement system or a designee; the inspector general or a designee; the commissioner of revenue or a designee; the president of the Retired State County & Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts; the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc.; the president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Inc.; and 2 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a member of a union representing state employees and 1 of whom shall be a member of a union representing municipal employees.

The task force shall evaluate the process, limits and controls for post-retirement employment of public employees subject to section 91 of chapter 32 of the General Laws. The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) an evaluation of proposed standards to track post-retirement earnings and hours; (ii) an evaluation of proposed disclosure and reporting requirements for public retirees and employers, including verification of potential employees’ status as a public retiree; (iii) an evaluation of a system for reporting such post-retirement status to an oversight agency; (iv) an examination of methods to simplify the post-retirement earnings cap; (v) an evaluation of the feasibility of the department of revenue to conduct an annual earnings match for all public retirees; (vi) an evaluation of the feasibility of creating a new agency tasked with enforcing post-retirement earnings limits or enhancing the enforcement authority of the public employee retirement administration commission; (vii) an examination of proposed financial penalties for public retirees who knowingly and willfully exceed their post-retirement earnings cap; (viii) an evaluation of the different ways a public retiree may work for another public entity including as contractors, part-time employees, staff augmentation resources or any other employment model, along with recommendations to provide guidance for the use or prohibition of such models; and (ix) any other information the task force deems relevant.

The task force shall submit a report of its study, findings and recommendations, together with any draft legislation necessary to effectuate such recommendations, by filing it with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives not later than June 30, 2025.”.