Amendment #699 to H4000

Veteran Judges Creditable Service

Mr. McMurtry of Dedham moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION XXXX. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a member in service in good standing of a retirement system as defined in section 65A through 65J, inclusive, of Chapter 32 of the General Laws and in Part II, c. 3, art. 1 as amended by art. 98 of the Amendments of the Constitution, shall be provided written notice by the retirement board upon entry into service that if they qualify as a veteran who served in the armed forces of the United States, they 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, prior to or within 1 year of vesting pursuant to this chapter, has paid into the annuity savings fund of such system, in 1 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 10 per cent of the regular annual compensation of the member when said member entered the retirement system; provided further, that such creditable service shall not be construed to include service for more than 4 years; and provided further, that such creditable service shall not be allowed for any period of active service for which said veteran has received credit pursuant to this paragraph. This paragraph shall apply to 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 5 years of national guard service or 5 years of active reserve service substitutable for each year of active service. National guard and active reserve personnel shall not be precluded from making said purchase if they qualify as a veteran after vesting or if they reach the maximum of 4 years of eligible service purchase after vesting and qualifying as a veteran; provided, however, that they enter into a purchase agreement within 5 years of the last occurring event. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to judges with pending decisions before the state retirement board as of the date of this act and those judges eligible for retirement as of August 8, 2024. Any judge denied creditable service for military service, as provided for in this paragraph, between August 8, 2024, and the effective date of this act shall not be denied the right to re-apply for this benefit or to appeal any decisions made by the state retirement board or any appellate body thereof. The provisions of this paragraph shall take effect upon passage.”