SENATE, No. 2035

April 21, 2005

The committee on Public Service to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.1584) relative to disability retirement benefits for veterans, reported, recommeding that the same ought to pass, with an amendment substituting a new draft and referred to the committe on Senate Ways and Means (Senate, No. 2035).

Stephen J. Buoniconti,
For the committee.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Five.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR VETERANS

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.  Subdivision (2) of section 7 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following new paragraph:-

      (e) Any member of Group 1 or Group 2 or Group 4, who is a veteran as defined in section one, shall receive an additional yearly retirement allowance of fifteen dollars for each year of creditable service or fraction thereof; provided, that the total amount of said additional retirement allowance shall not exceed $300 in any case.

            SECTION 2. Subdivision (4) of section 26 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- 

Any member of Group 3, to whom the provisions of subdivision (2) of this section are applicable and who is a veteran as defined in section one, shall receive an additional yearly retirement allowance of fifteen dollars for each year of creditable service or fraction thereof; provided, that the total amount of said additional retirement allowance shall not exceed $300 in any case.

            SECTION 3.  An additional yearly retirement allowance which would have been payable under section one of this act, if such provision had been in effect and for which a member in service would have been eligible at the time of his retirement, shall be paid retroactively to the date of each such veteran’s retirement.  A veteran shall be eligible for payment of a retroactive additional yearly retirement allowance under this section only upon filing an application no later than 120 days from the effective date of this act, in a form that the appropriate retirement board, as defined in chapter 32 of the General Laws, shall prescribe.  Payment under this section shall be made in a lump sum or in installments and shall be made in full within one year of the receipt of a completed and satisfactory application by the board.  No payment shall be made under this act with respect to a person who is deceased.  The appropriate retirement board shall provide reasonable notice to eligible retirees about the application process prescribed by this section.