Massachusetts Senate Bill S1749

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/16/23

Caption

Relative to accidental disability retirement for police officers and firefighters

Impact

The implications of S1749 are significant for public service personnel facing disability retirement. This bill clarifies administrative processes regarding how absences related to accidental disability will be treated in terms of employment records and compensatory measures. It is aimed at providing current and future officers and firefighters with a clearer path for retroactive leave approval, directly impacting their financial stability and benefits derived from their employment during disability. By streamlining this process, the bill underscores the state's commitment to supporting public safety personnel.

Summary

Bill S1749, presented by Senator John C. Velis, addresses the accidental disability retirement for police officers and firefighters in Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill seeks to amend Section 111F of Chapter 41 of the General Laws by providing that any absence from duty for a police officer or firefighter who is granted an accidental disability retirement—which is not based on specific presumptions—should be recognized as leave. This includes a provision for retroactive consideration of such leave if the officer or firefighter had not been previously granted it. The intention behind this amendment is to ensure that those injured in the line of duty receive appropriate support without hindrance in their employment status.

Contention

While the bill has generally received support due to its focus on protecting firefighters and police officers, potential areas of contention may arise if there are discussions about how this impacts departmental budgets or if the guidelines lead to varying interpretations by different municipalities. The need for extensive training and communication among government departments to ensure consistent implementation of the revised leave provisions could be another point of concern. However, it is anticipated that the overall benefactors will outweigh any administrative difficulties that may arise.