Bill > H4044

This bill allows veterans who retired before July 24, 1996, and who served in the U.S. armed forces, to receive credit for their active service towards their retirement benefits, even if they previously received credit for some of that service, as long as the total creditable service does not exceed eighty percent of the maximum allowed for retirement. It specifically includes Massachusetts National Guard and Active Reserve personnel, allowing five years of guard or active reserve service to substitute for each year of active service. For local retirement systems, this act takes effect upon a majority vote by the system's board and the local legislative body, which can be a town meeting, city council, county commissioners, district members, or an authority's governing body, with eligibility for affected members beginning the month after local acceptance.