In 2001, Massachusetts created RetirementPlus, a program that allows teachers to retire somewhat earlier if they contribute 11 percent of their salary to their pension. Teachers hired before July 1, 2001, were required to elect into RetirementPlus when the program was enacted, but the process was often confusing. Many educators believed they had been automatically enrolled, only to learn years later that they had not been given the retirement option they thought they had secured.

Last July, the Massachusetts House unanimously passed H.4361 (formerly H.2932), which would create a fair and clear pathway for teachers hired before July 1, 2001, to have a new opportunity to join RetirementPlus. In June, the Senate unanimously passed an amended version of the bill, S.3109. The Senate’s action was a major step forward, but its version changed how the buyback cost would be calculated, creating a significant increase in cost for eligible teachers that must be addressed in the final bill.

On July 15, the House called for the creation of a conference committee and on July 30 the Senate named its members. With the formation of this conference committee the legislative needs to act on this bill before January 6 but we don’t want it to take that long. That is why we ask MTA members to contact their legislators to urge them contact the members of the conference committee to finalize a Fair Fix for RetirementPlus so it can be sent to the Governor as soon as possible.

CALL AND EMAIL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS NOW! Ask them to support a fair (and affordable) fix for RetirementPlus in the final version of H.4361. You can find your legislators' phone numbers by clicking here.

More information is available here.