Chapter 32, Mass. retirement law, had long-provided that superannuation retirees, who are veterans, receive $15.00 for each year of public service, up to a maximum of $300.00. This amount is added to the retiree's annual pension. Senate 1576 will give the same benefit to accidental disability members retired under Section 7 of Chapter 32.

As we to go press on August 4, Governor Romney has 4 days left in which to sign or veto this key bill which will give several thousand accidental disability veterans the same small additional benefit that superannuated retirees have long-received.

If signed by the governor, the law will take effect in 90 days for the State and Teacher Retirement Systems and locally by the vote of retirement boards and governing bodies of city, town, county, regional, district and authority retirement systems. The local acceptance provision is a last-minute amendment to the bill, which up to that point was a local mandate.

"Although Section 7 was a legislative victory for 90% of our disability veterans, members on ordinary disability (Section 6) or state police disability (Section 26) are not yet sharing that victory and leaves me personally unfulfilled," said Association President Ralph White.

"Our original bill included every disability vet retired within Chapter 32. We covered all the bases. It was a grueling process, and at times, it appeared there would be no bill enacted at all. At one juncture we lost the ordinary disabilities and at another the state police. And on July 30, we agreed to a local approval amendment to save the bill."

White said there would be no finger-pointing at the Legislature. "I know the ordinary disabilities and state police are angry. I answer all my phone calls. But this is not the time to criticize anyone," he said. "The Legislature will be back in January and I'm confident that the bill we are filing on behalf of those left out will be successful."

Meanwhile, those many members should be thankful that we achieved a victory on their behalf. If the bill is signed by Governor Romney there will be some nice retroactive checks coming down the road. Although boards do have up to 12 months to research their eligible vets (another concession), we think that most boards will not take nearly that long.

At this time we will thank Rep. Bob Koczera and Senator Steve Tolman, the House and Senate chairmen of the Public Service Committee, who carried the bill on behalf of the Committee, Senator Steve Panagiotakos, whose bill was ultimately the vehicle that drove this legislation, and Senator Therese Murray and Representative John Rogers, the chairmen of the Senate House Ways and Means Committees, who had to give the final OK on the bill's passage.

"There were myriad other legislators deeply involved in this legislation at one point or another. All of these Representatives and Senators will be given proper recognition in the near future." said Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel.