Bill > H19

This bill makes significant changes to pension forfeiture laws in Massachusetts, specifically focusing on procedures for revoking or reducing retirement benefits for public employees convicted of certain criminal offenses. The bill provides a comprehensive framework for how retirement boards should handle pension forfeiture, establishing detailed guidelines for initiating proceedings, determining the extent of forfeiture, and handling different scenarios based on the nature of the criminal conviction and the member's years of service. For members with ten or more years of creditable service convicted of a felony involving their official duties, the retirement board can reduce their pension by one-third to two-thirds, reduce it to a minimum allowance, or forfeit it entirely, considering factors such as the severity of the crime, financial losses, violation of public trust, and recommendations from prosecutors. Members with less than ten years of service who are convicted will forfeit all rights to their retirement allowance and receive only their accumulated total deductions without interest. The bill also includes provisions for notifying relevant authorities about convictions, requiring repayment of excess benefits, addressing misreported salary, and establishing an appeals process through the superior court. Additionally, the bill prohibits forfeited members from rejoining any retirement system or increasing their forfeited allowance, except through cost of living adjustments.

Budget and Finance, Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H19