On July 12, the Committee heard testimony from Association President Ralph White, along with several Association members, as to reinstating the Medicare Part B premium refund once paid by the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC). S1607, filed by Senator Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy), requires the GIC to once again reimburse retirees for the expense.

At the same hearing, the Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) and Senator Ben Downing (D-Pittsfield), also heard testimony on our bill raising the basic life insurance benefit for state retirees and employees to $10,000. The bill (H2455) was filed by Rep. Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth). A number of other insurance related bills were also reviewed at the hearing, including several filed by our Association that would alter certain policies of the state GIC.

A week later, on July 19, the Committee heard testimony from Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel on S1610 (Morrissey), which requires a recalculation of the retirement allowance for those retiring under Option C prior to July 1, 2004. Once again, a number of Association members were in attendance and testified on the Option C issue.

The Public Service Committee is now considering an alternative proposal, by the Association, that calls for the creation of a special commission on Option C, that would be charged with identifying the number of retirees impacted and the potential cost associated with recalculating pre-July 2004 pensions.

Association officials also presented testimony on S1613 (Morrissey), which would allow surviving spouses, who lost their pension benefit due to remarriage before 7/1/00, to prospectively regain their survivor pension.

In addition, further testimony was given on H2581, filed by House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading), which increases the minimum pensions of various surviving spouses.

The Committee has instructed   staff to analyze the various proposals during the August informal recess. As of press time, the Committee is scheduled to reconvene in mid-September, when further action will be considered.