Bill > H4626

This bill amends the Massachusetts General Laws to provide disability pensions for public safety personnel, including firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians, who sustain a "violent act injury" while on duty. The key provisions include: 1. Defining a "violent act injury" as a catastrophic, life-threatening, and/or life-altering bodily injury sustained during a violent attack using a dangerous weapon. 2. Allowing public safety personnel who suffer a "violent act injury" to receive a disability pension equal to 100% of their regular compensation, including benefits and stipends, until they reach mandatory retirement age. 3. Providing a survivor's benefit of 75% of the pension for the member's spouse, and a proportional pension for any unmarried children under 18 (or under 22 if full-time students) or incapacitated. 4. Requiring participation in critical incident stress management debriefing after traumatic events, with the option for a confidential behavioral health consultation. 5. Allowing members receiving a "violent act injury" pension to earn up to 50% of their pension through other public sector employment without penalty.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Public Service (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4626