Massachusetts Senate Bill S2574

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/24
• Refer: 1/29/24

Caption

Allowing Wayne Estes, a retired member of the Massachusetts DDS, an accidental disability retirement option

Impact

If enacted, S2574 would have a direct influence on the retirement laws applying to public service employees, particularly in modifying the standard for granting accidental disability retirement under Chapter 32 of the General Laws. This could set a precedent for similar future cases, providing a pathway for those who suffer from both physical injuries and accompanying psychological conditions to secure disability benefits. The requirement for medical panels to assess the legitimacy and permanence of claimed disabilities is also a notable aspect, ensuring that the criteria for receiving benefits are judiciously met.

Summary

Bill S2574 is a legislative act proposed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts aiming to allow Wayne Estes, a retired member of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the option to receive accidental disability retirement benefits. This bill arises from circumstances requiring the acknowledgment of significant impairments in health, including psychological conditions resulting from severe physical harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It serves to facilitate a specific retirement system adjustment under the state's existing laws and regulations.

Contention

While no explicit points of contention have emerged from the bill text or associated discussions, the implications of expanding disability retirement options may provoke debates around the responsibilities of the retirement board and the potential for increased expenditures within the state's budget. The decision-making power given to medical panels may also lead to varying interpretations of disability, depending on individual cases, which could meet some opposition from policymakers or organizations concerned about the pension system's sustainability.