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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1156 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1919
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 retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter of the city of Westfield.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and Hampshire 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1156 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1919
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1919) of John C. Velis (with approval
of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to the retirement of Greg Heath, a former
firefighter of the city of Westfield. Public Service. [Local Approval Received.]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2369 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 retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter of the city of Westfield.
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. Notwithstanding chapter 32 of the General Laws or any other general or
2special law to the contrary the Westfield retirement board shall retire Greg Heath under section 7
3of chapter 32 based upon any condition of impairment of health caused by Parkinson's Disease
4which it determines was incurred as a result of his employment.
5 SECTION 2. The payments provided for in this act shall only be made after said member
6has been examined by a medical panel, pursuant to section 6 of chapter 32 of the General Laws,
7which has certified by a majority of the medical panel physicians that said member is mentally or
8physically incapacitated from further duty, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent, and
9that such incapacity is such as might be the natural and proximate result of Parkinson's Disease;
10provided, however, that the public employee retirement administration commission may, upon 2 of 2
11request, waive such medical panel examination if the member has previously been examined by
12a medical panel and is receiving a disability benefit as of the effective date of this act. The
13commission shall promptly notify the retirement system of such waiver.
14 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon September 26, 2020.