Originally, the Association filed fifteen bills for the new session. However, with the passage of S-1281 during the final moments of the previous session, the Association's legislative team has fourteen bills to work with at the start of the new session.

While sponsorship alone does not guarantee success, it does increase the odds of positive action being taken, rather than the legislation being lost in the shuffle. Taking the lead role are three legislators with close ties to the House and Senate leadership. Representative Michael Ruane (D-Salem), along with Senators Brian Joyce (D-Milton) and Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), are the lead sponsors on the various bills offered by the Association.

Members should be familiar with all three legislators due to their long record of service on behalf of retirees. Ruane, who is the vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, played a key role in the passage of Chapter 17 (COLA law) in 1997. Joyce, the chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service, played a crucial role in the passage of last year's 3% COLA. Moore, the former chairman of Public Service and current chairman of the powerful Joint Committee on Health Care, has long played a key role in a number of retiree initiatives.

Adding to the prospects of a successful legislative session is the strong bipartisan support the legislative package has received from key members of the Republican party. Senate Minority Leader Brian Lees (R-East Longmeadow), along with Assistant House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) have co-sponsored a number of Association bills.

"The Association has a record of attractingstrong support for our bills, but this year we received far more interest than we have in the past," said Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel. "No one can guarantee the passage of any particular bill. However, with this level of support our chances of success are certainly enhanced."

The following are the fourteen bills filed by the Association for the 2001-2002 session. Names listed in bold denote the lead sponsors of each bill. All other cosponsors are listed in the order in which they signed on to the bill.

HB 335: Increased Maximum COLA Base: Sponsors Rep. Ruane, Senators Joyce and Moore. Reps Stanley, Jones, Connolly, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, B. Golden, Brown, Kafka, and McGee. Senators Morrisey, Shannon, Knapik, Lynch, and Walsh.

HB 336: Municipal Minimum Pension of $10,000: Sponsors Rep. Ruane, Senator Joyce. Reps. Jones, Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, B. Golden, Brown, and McGee. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Knapik, and Walsh.

HB 337: Minimum Survivors Pension of $6,000: Sponsors Rep. Ruane, Senator Joyce. Reps. Jones, Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, Golden, Brown, McGee. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Knapik, and Walsh.

HB 338: Minimum Disability Widows Pension of $8,000: Sponsors Rep. Ruane, Senator Joyce. Reps. Jones, Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, Golden, and Brown. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Knapik, and Walsh.

HB 339: Right to Remarry (Retroactive Application): Sponsors Rep. Ruane, Senators Joyce and Moore. Reps. Jones, Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, Golden, and Brown. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Lees, Knapik, and Lynch.

SB 1426: Basic Group Life Insurance of $10,000: Sponsors Senators Moore and Joyce. Senators Shannon, Sprague, Walsh, and Menard. Reps. deMacedo, Hynes, and McGee.

SB 1427: Right to Remarry (Health Insurance Retention): Sponsors Senators Moore and Joyce. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Sprague, and Walsh. Reps. deMacedo, Hynes, Brown, and McGee.

SB 1428: Dental Insurance - Municipal Retirees: Sponsors Senators Moore and Joyce. Senators Shannon, Sprague, Lynch, and Menard. Reps. deMacedo, Hynes, and Brown

SB 1429: GIC Prescription Drug Appeals: Sponsors Senators Moore and Joyce. Senators Shannon, Sprague, Walsh, and Menard. Reps. deMacedo, Hynes, Brown, and McGee.

SB 1430: Reinstatement of Health Insurance: Sponsors Senators Moore and Joyce. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Sprague, Lees, Walsh, and Menard. Reps. Hynes and McGee.

HB 340: Veterans Bonus for Disability Retirees: Sponsors Rep. Ruane and Senator Joyce. Reps. Jones, Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, Golden, Brown, Kafka, and McGee. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Lees, and Knapik.

HB 341: Non Contrib State Tax Exempt Status: Sponsors Rep. Ruane and Senator Joyce. Reps Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, deMacedo, Hynes, B. Golden, Kaprielian, and Kafka. Senators Morrissey, Shannon, Lees, Knapik, and Walsh.

HB 342: Disability Oversight: Sponsor Rep. Ruane. Reps. Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, Hynes, and B. Golden. Senator Knapik.

HB 343: Indemnification of Medical Expenses: Sponsor Rep. Ruane. Reps. Connolly, Hargraves, Flynn, Hynes, B. Golden, and McGee.