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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1088 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1917
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John C. Velis
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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 relative to the definition of veteran for public retirees.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1088 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1917
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1917) of John C. Velis for legislation
relative to the definition of Veteran for public retirees. Public Service.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1752 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 relative to the definition of veteran for public retirees.
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. Paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of section 5 of chapter 32 of the General
2Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new sentences:-
3 Upon acceptance of this provision by a retirement system, any member who is a veteran,
4as defined by clause forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as amended by
5chapter 116 of the acts of 2004, and who retired under the provisions of sections 5, 10 (1) and 26
6(3) of this chapter, before the effective date of said chapter 116, without receiving the additional
7yearly allowance as a veteran provided therein, shall receive such additional yearly allowance as
8a veteran under paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of section 5 or paragraph (c) of subdivision (3)
9of section 26 of this chapter, whichever is applicable. Acceptance of this pro-vision by a
10retirement system shall be by a majority vote of the board of each such system, subject to the 2 of 2
11approval of the legislative body. For the purposes herein, “legislative body” shall mean, in the
12case of a city, the city council in accordance with its charter, in the case of a town, the town
13meeting, in the case of a county, the county retirement board advisory council, in the case of a
14region, the regional retirement board advisory council, in the case of a district, the district
15members, and, in the case of an authority, the governing body. Acceptance shall be deemed to
16have occurred upon the filing of a certification of such votes with the commission. For purposes
17herein, the state teachers’ and state employees’ retirement systems shall be deemed to have
18accepted this provision.
19 SECTION 2. The provisions of this act shall be prospective from the date of acceptance
20of this act and shall not entitle a member, who is entitled to benefits under section 1 of this act, to
21any retroactive benefits.