Bill > H2916

This bill modifies Massachusetts state law to provide expanded survivor benefits for spouses of retired state troopers who have passed away. Specifically, if a retired state trooper who has been inactive due to retirement dies and leaves behind a spouse to whom they were married for at least one year (or who was living apart for justifiable reasons), that spouse will now receive a lifetime monthly allowance. The allowance will be calculated as if the deceased trooper had chosen option (c) of the retirement benefits, which provides the maximum survivor benefit, even if they originally selected a different retirement option. To account for any prior differences in retirement payments, the retirement board will withhold an equal amount from the first year of survivor payments. This new benefit replaces any other benefits the surviving spouse might have previously received from the state retirement board. The bill ensures that spouses of retired state troopers are provided financial support after their partner's death, regardless of the original retirement option selected.

Labor and Employment

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2916