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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 861 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1841
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Ryan C. Fattman
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act regarding the disability pension for Michael Palmer.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Ryan C. FattmanWorcester and HampdenPaul K. Frost7th WorcesterJoseph D. McKenna18th WorcesterSteven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/16/2025 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 861 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1841
By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1841) of Ryan C. Fattman, Paul K.
Frost, Joseph D. McKenna and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation regarding the disability
pension for Michael Palmer. Public Service.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3539 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act regarding the disability pension for Michael Palmer.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the
2Massachusetts state retirement board shall increase the accidental disability retirement allowance
3payable to Michael Palmer, a retired officer of the Massachusetts state police who, as a result of
4injuries sustained while in the performance of his duties on December 31, 2020, is totally and
5permanently incapacitated from performing the essential duties of a police officer.
6 (b) The annual amount of pension payable to Michael Palmer shall be equal to the
7regular rate of compensation which would have been paid had he continued in service as a police
8officer of the Massachusetts state police at the grade held by him at the time of his retirement
9until his death or reaching mandatory retirement age, whichever comes first. All amounts paid
10under this act shall be non-taxable to the extent allowable under state and federal law. 2 of 3
11 (c) Notwithstanding section 91A of chapter 32 of the General Laws or any other
12general or special law to the contrary, Michael Palmer’s annual earnings from employment in the
13service of the commonwealth or a county, city, town, district or authority, including as a
14consultant or independent contractor or as a person whose regular duties require that his time be
15devoted to the service of the commonwealth, county, city, town, district or authority during
16regular business hours, may equal up to ½ the amount of his retirement allowance without refund
17penalty. Michael Palmer may be employed by a private entity or in the private sector without
18refund penalty while receiving his pension benefits in subsection (b).
19 (d) Upon attaining the mandatory retirement age for a police officer of the
20Massachusetts state police, Michael Palmer shall receive a pension pursuant to section 7 of said
21chapter 32, a yearly amount of pension equal to 80 per cent of the annual rate of the
22compensation he was receiving on the day before he reaches the mandatory retirement age for a
23police officer in the Massachusetts state police.
24 (e) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the benefits granted
25herein shall be funded and administered by the Massachusetts state retirement board, consistent
26with and subject to chapter 32 of the General Laws.
27 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, Michael Palmer
28shall be entitled to receive indemnification for all hospital, medical and related expenses that
29have been or may be incurred after the date of his retirement as a result of the injuries sustained
30by him while in the performance of his duties on December 31, 2020, in accordance with
31sections 100 and 100B of chapter 41 of the General Laws. 3 of 3
32 SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the
33Massachusetts state retirement board shall forthwith pay to said Michael Palmer the amount
34credited to him as accumulated total deductions in the annuity savings fund of the Massachusetts
35state retirement board as of the effective date of this act.
36 SECTION 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, if Michael
37Palmer was married upon retirement then, upon his death, if he is still married to the spouse he
38was married to upon retirement then, should his spouse to whom he was married on the date
39upon retirement survive him, the Massachusetts state retirement board shall pay to the spouse an
40annuity in the amount of 75 per cent of the amount of the pension which otherwise would have
41been payable to Michael Palmer until the spouse’s death. The pension benefits provided for in
42this section and section 1 shall be subject to section 103 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
43 SECTION 5. In the event that both Michael Palmer and his spouse to whom he was
44married on the date upon retirement die before their children reach the age of 18 the payments
45that would otherwise have been made to Michael Palmer’s spouse shall be payable, per stirpes,
46to each surviving children under the age of 18; provided, however, that payments shall continue
47for the benefit of a surviving child 18 years or older who, on or before the date of death of
48Michael Palmer or his spouse to whom he was married on the date upon retirement, whichever is
49later, had been medically determined to be permanently physically or mentally incapacitated
50from earning or for the benefit of a child under the age of 22 who is enrolled as a full-time
51student as determined by the criteria of the educational institution.
52 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect no later than 60 days after its passage.