Summary of Bill S 1917: An Act Relative to the Definition of Veteran for Public Retirees

Overview

Bill S 1917, introduced by Senator John C. Velis on February 27, 2025, aims to amend the definition of "veteran" as it pertains to public retirees in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The bill seeks to provide additional benefits to certain veterans who retired before the enactment of a previous law.

Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of this legislation is to ensure that veterans who retired under specific provisions of Massachusetts General Laws and did not receive an additional yearly allowance as veterans are granted this allowance retroactively. This amendment aims to rectify a gap in benefits for veterans who may have been overlooked due to the timing of their retirement.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Chapter 32: The bill proposes an amendment to paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of section 5 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
• Eligibility for Additional Allowance:
  • Veterans, as defined by clause forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4, who retired under sections 5, 10 (1), and 26 (3) before the effective date of chapter 116 (2004) and did not receive the additional yearly allowance, will now be eligible for this allowance.
  • The acceptance of this provision by a retirement system requires a majority vote from the board of each system, subject to approval by the respective legislative body (e.g., city council, town meeting).
• Prospective Application: The provisions of this act will be prospective from the date of acceptance and will not entitle members to any retroactive benefits.

Affected Parties

• Public Retirees: The bill specifically impacts public retirees who are veterans and retired under the specified sections of the law prior to the enactment of chapter 116.
• Retirement Systems: Various public retirement systems will need to vote on the acceptance of this provision, which may involve administrative changes.

Legislative Process and Timeline

• Introduced: February 27, 2025
• Referred to Committee: Initially referred to the committee on Public Service.
• Hearing Scheduled: A hearing was scheduled for July 9, 2025.
• Committee Action: On November 13, 2025, the bill was reported favorably by the committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means.

Conclusion

Bill S 1917 seeks to enhance the benefits available to certain public retirees who are veterans, ensuring they receive the additional yearly allowance that may have been missed due to the timing of their retirement. By addressing this issue, the bill aims to provide fair treatment for veterans within the public retirement system in Massachusetts.