Representative Steven S. Howitt supports legislation to provide enhanced superannuation* benefits for teachers

Bill will also protect retirement status of teachers who go to work at EOE, DESE

Boston – State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk) recently supported legislation that will allow qualifying teachers to participate in an alternative superannuation retirement program, while also protecting the retirement status of teachers who leave the profession to work at the Executive Office of Education (EOE) or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

House Bill 4361, An Act relative to benefits for teachers, was given preliminary approval by the House of Representatives on July 30, when it was engrossed on a vote of 158-0. The bill still requires Senate approval and Governor Healey’s signature before it can become law.

Representative Howitt said the House bill mirrors legislation that passed the House late last session but was never acted on by the Senate. It would allow qualifying teachers who were hired prior to July 1, 2001 and did not elect to join the alternative superannuation retirement plan, known as RetirementPlus, to be given a one-time opportunity to do so. Qualifying teachers would have up to 180 days from the bill’s effective date to elect to participate.

The RetirementPlus program provides an enhanced retirement benefit for qualifying individuals who have completed 30 years of service, at least 20 years of which must be as a member of the Massachusetts Teacher Retirement System or the Boston Retirement System as a teacher. The contribution rate for the program is 11%.

Representative Howitt noted that the proposed one-time enrollment in the RetirementPlus program is limited to individuals who:

are a teacher or nurse who is an active or inactive member of the teachers’ retirement system;
became eligible for membership in the teachers’ retirement system 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.

House Bill 4361 also includes language allowing individuals currently vested in the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System or the Boston Retirement System as a teacher and are subsequently employed by EOE or DESE to retain their teacher status for retirement purposes and to be considered as remaining in service in that capacity. Representative Howitt said the bill provides for these individuals to make a single lump sum payment or installment payments into the retirement system to receive creditable service.

House Bill 4361 now moves to the Senate for its consideration.

* pension or retirement