By Mr. Kaufman of Lexington (by request), petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2609) of Jerry Horgan for legislation to provide for retirement benefits earned by individuals employed for five years or longer in work shops for the training and employment of blind persons.  Public Service.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Jerry Horgan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to provide for retirement benefits earned by individuals employed for five years or longer in work shops for the training and employment of blind persons.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. St. 1957, c. 669, SS 1, 2 as amended is hereby further amended by inserting the following new S 3: -

Section 3.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, including the foregoing sections 1 and 2, any blind person who was or has been employed in a workshop for the training and employment of blind persons for five years or greater during any period of such person’s life and who, on or after January 1, 2000, attains age seventy, shall as of the date of attaining age seventy be entitled to the lifetime monthly grant established by and provided pursuant to Section 2 of this statute.  A person qualifying for this monthly grant who attained age seventy prior to the effective date of this Act shall receive the grant retroactive to the date such person attained age seventy.

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.