LEGISLATIVE ALERT

The Legislative Committee needs you to contact your Reps and Senators

Chapter 21 of the Acts of 2009 needs to be amended so your pension will be saved.

THIS IS YOUR PENSION

We have been working with numerous members of the both the House, Senate and the staff of the Patrick Administration to facilitate a fair and equitable resolution that  expedites a corrective legislative remedy as soon as possible that will rectify the injustice that resulted from the unintended reductions of accidental disability pensions of public employees who are injured in the line of duty and subsequently must retire. The Pension Reform Law that became effective on July 01, 2009 has resulted in numerous reductions in pensions that have created severe and unplanned financial hardships for our members and their families that were not expected.
 The changes in the calculations for accidental disability pensions for employees working out of grade or in a temporary position was an issue and it was addressed in the Pension Reform Law.
 Reducing all employees accidental pensions who worked in their respective permanent ranks was never an issue and was never discussed but in the end ""Language appeared in the law; Legislative action changed the law and became effective on July 1, 2009 that effected all public employees who are injured and subsequently retire. This was wrong. This was not intended and we were told by Legislative Leaders in June 2009; that it would be fixed before the formal legislative session ends on November 18, 2009.

Well now it is November and nothing has been fixed. Monday; November 10 is the next scheduled formal legislative session in the House of Representatives and I do not believe the "Fix It" issue will be acted on this Tuesday.  My best guesstimate is that Tuesday of the next week; November 17 and Wednesday November 18; the last two days of formal sessions of the House and Senate is when and where this "Fix It" technical change will be addressed and rectified.

Members need to call, write or email their Legislative Delegates and educate them on the problems with this Legislation.

Use the following sample letter to contact them or for talking points.

Sample Letter

Amendment Letter

Amendment Letter 2

Amendment Letter 3

Amendment Letter 4