Bill > S1357

This bill establishes a special commission to study the impact of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) – federal laws that can reduce Social Security benefits for some public employees who also receive pensions from their government jobs – on Massachusetts public employees who are part of a state retirement system. The commission will explore ways to help these employees recover lost benefits, potentially by expanding the Massachusetts Deferred Compensation Save Money and Retire Tomorrow Plan or municipal savings plans. Additionally, the commission will create an educational program about these Social Security offset programs and their effects. The commission will be composed of legislative leaders, appointed members from both the Senate and House of Representatives (including minority party appointees), the Treasurer and Receiver General, and five governor-appointed members with revenue expertise. Within three months of the bill becoming law, appointments will be made, and the commission will have one year from its appointment to submit a report with its findings, recommendations, and legislative proposals to the Governor, legislative leaders, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, after which it will be dissolved.