(Framingham – August 5) Representative Jack Patrick Lewis joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in voting for legislation that would extend benefits for retired teachers who are then hired to work for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education (EOE) and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The bill would allow those employees to retain the status of “teacher” and remain in the Teachers’ Retirement System.
“For decades, Massachusetts has boasted exceptional results and ratings in public education, and that is the result of steadfast support for our teachers and administrative staff,” noted Rep. Jack Lewis (Framingham). “I thank Speaker Mariano, House leadership, and my colleagues for furthering this ironclad commitment as the federal government seeks to systematically dismantle our schools.”
The change that this bill makes applies to teachers who are vested in the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System, or in the Boston Retirement System, and are subsequently employed by EOE or DESE.
“As a former public school teacher, I know the incredible impact that teachers can have on our students’ lives, and the value that they can bring to administrative positions given their experience as educators. That’s why it’s so important that we ensure that former teachers who choose to serve in administrative roles at EOE and DESE remain in the Teachers’ Retirement System, ensuring that they do not experience an interruption in their membership or service,” noted House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (Quincy). “I want to thank Leader Peisch, Chairman Ryan, and Representative Consalvo for their work on this issue, as well as all my colleagues in the House for recognizing the importance of these reforms.”
Employees of EOE or DESE who are members of the state employees’ retirement system, and who are reinstated in the Teachers’ Retirement System or the Boston Retirement System because of the passage of this bill, would not be deemed to have had an interruption of membership or service. Upon reinstatement, the member must pay into the annuity savings fund of the Teachers’ Retirement System or the Boston Retirement System. The bill also mandates that a reinstated member be entered into the state employees’ retirement system as a Group 1 state employee upon retirement.
The bill passed today also establishes a new one-time opportunity to elect to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program for active or inactive members of the Teachers’ Retirement System who: are a teacher or school nurse; became eligible for membership before July 1, 2001; began contributing to the Teachers’ Retirement System before July 1, 2001; and did not provide a written election to participate or held a good faith belief that they elected to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program to the Teachers’ Retirement System before July 1, 2001 nor at any other time prior to September 1, 2025.
Having passed the House of Representatives 158-0 the bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
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