reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 93 - Certain Pensions Not Affected

Section 93. Persons who, at the time when chapter three hundred and fifty of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and nineteen took effect, were appointed to or employed by an office, board, commission or other governmental organization or agency abolished by said chapter and were appointed to positions in any of the departments established thereby shall retain all rights to retirement with pension that had accrued or would thereafter accrue to them, and their services shall be deemed to have been continuous as if said chapter had not been passed.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 94 - Impairment of Health Caused by Hypertension or Heart Disease, Resulting in Disability or Death of Paid Fire or Police Department Member; Presumption

Section 94. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary affecting the non-contributory or contributory system, any condition of impairment of health caused by hypertension or heart disease resulting in total or partial disability or death to a uniformed member of a paid fire department or permanent member of a police department, or of the police force of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or of the state police, or of the public works building police, or to any employee in the department of correction or a county correctional facility whose regular or incidental duties require the care, supervision or custody of prisoners, criminally insane persons or defective delinquents, or to any permanent crash crewman, crash boatman, fire controlman or assistant fire controlman employed at the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, members of the 104th fighter wing fire department, members of the Devens fire department established pursuant to chapter 498 of the acts of 1993 or members of the Massachusetts military reservation fire department, shall, if he successfully passed a physical examination on entry into such service, or subsequently successfully passed a physical examination, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of such condition, be presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty, unless the contrary be shown by competent evidence.
As used in this section the words ''permanent member of a police department'' shall include a permanent member of the park police of a city or town.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 94a - Disability or Death Caused by Disease of Lungs or Respiratory Tract; Paid Fire Department Member; Presumption

Section 94A. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary affecting the non-contributory or contributory retirement system, any condition of impairment of health caused by any disease of the lungs or respiratory tract, resulting in total disability or death to a uniformed member of a paid fire department, including, without limitation, any permanent crash crewman, crash boatman, fire controlman or assistant fire controlman employed at the General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, members of the 104th fighter wing fire department, members of the Devens fire department established pursuant to chapter 498 of the acts of 1993 or members of the Massachusetts military reservation fire department, shall, if he successfully passed a physical examination on entry into such service or subsequent to such entry, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of such condition, be presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty, as a result of the inhalation of noxious fumes or poisonous gases, unless the contrary be shown by competent evidence.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 95 - Granting Annuities to Certain Officials or Employees Not Entitled to Retirement Allowance or Pension

Section 95. For the purpose of promoting the public good and in consideration of long and meritorious service of any official or employee who is not entitled to a retirement allowance or pension under the provisions of any general or special law, a city or town may grant an annuity to such official or employee or to his surviving spouse so long as such spouse survives and does not remarry, or, if no surviving spouse to a legal guardian for the benefit of any surviving child who is unmarried and under age eighteen, in such amount as it may determine, but not to exceed one half of the regular annual compensation received by such official or employee or two thousand dollars, whichever is less; provided, that such official or employee has been permanently employed on full-time basis by such city or town for not less than fifteen years; and provided, further, that if any annuity granted hereunder to such spouse or for the benefit of any such child is less than twelve hundred dollars, it may be increased to an amount not exceeding twelve hundred dollars. The annuity provided to be paid to a surviving spouse under this section shall be paid only to such surviving spouse as was married to such official or employee at the time of his retirement.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 95a - Annuities to Widows and Children of Retired Employees

Section 95A. For the purpose of promoting the public good and in consideration of the long and meritorious service of any official or employee who was retired or pensioned under the provisions of any noncontributory retirement law or who was qualified for retirement under the provisions of any such law but died before being retired, and who had no rights under any such law to elect that benefits thereunder be paid to a survivor, a county, a city or a town which accepts this section, in the manner hereinafter provided, shall grant an annuity to his surviving spouse, so long as such spouse survives and does not remarry, or, if there is no surviving spouse, to a legal guardian for the benefit of any surviving child who is unmarried and under age eighteen, in such amount as it may determine, but not to exceed one half of the regular annual compensation received by such official or employee or three thousand dollars; provided, that such official or employee had been permanently employed on a full time basis by such county, city or town for not less than fifteen years; and provided further, that such spouse or child is not receiving a retirement allowance or pension under the provisions of any general or special law other than a retirement allowance or pension based on the service of such spouse or child to the commonwealth or to any political subdivision thereof; and provided further, that any annuity granted hereunder to such spouse or for the benefit of any such child is less than fifteen hundred dollars, it may be increased to an amount not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars. In the case of a town, the board of selectmen shall, subject to subsequent disapproval or modification by the town meeting, grant such annuity and determine the amount. The annuity provided to be paid to a surviving spouse under this section shall be paid only to such surviving spouse as was married to such official or employee at the time of his retirement.
This section shall take effect upon its acceptance in a county by vote of the county commissioners; in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the city council; in a city not having such a charter by vote of the city council, subject to the provisions of the charter of such a city; and in a town by a majority vote at a town meeting.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 95b - Annuities to Widows and Children of Retired Employees

Section 95B. For the purpose of promoting the public good and in consideration of the long and meritorious service of any official or employee who was retired or pensioned under the provisions of any noncontributory retirement law or who was qualified for retirement under the provisions of any such law but died before being retired, and who had no rights under any such law to elect that benefits thereunder be paid to a survivor, a county, a city or a town which accepts this section, in the manner hereinafter provided, shall grant an annuity to his surviving spouse, so long as such spouse survives and does not remarry, or, if there is no surviving spouse, to a legal guardian for the benefit of any surviving child who is unmarried and under age eighteen, in such amount as it may determine, but not to exceed one-half of the regular annual compensation received by such official or employee or six thousand dollars whichever is less; provided, that such official or employee had been permanently employed on a full time basis by such county, city or town for not less than fifteen years; provided, further, that such spouse or child is not receiving a retirement allowance or pension under the provisions of any general or special law other than a retirement allowance or pension based on the service of such spouse or child to the commonwealth or to any political subdivision thereof; and provided, further, that if any annuity granted hereunder to such spouse or for the benefit of any such child is less than fifteen hundred dollars, it may be increased to an amount not exceeding fifteen hundred dollars. In the case of a town, the board of selectmen shall, subject to subsequent disapproval or modification by the town meeting, grant such annuity and determine the amount. The annuity provided to be paid to a surviving spouse under this section shall be paid only to such surviving spouse as was married to such official or employee at the time of his retirement.
This section shall take effect upon its acceptance in a county by vote of the county commissioners; in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the city council; in a city not having such a charter by vote of the city council, subject to the provisions of the charter of such a city; and in a town by a majority vote at a town meeting. The provisions of section ninety-five A shall cease to be effective in a county, city, town or district upon its acceptance of this section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 96 - Increase in Retirement Allowance, Pension or Annuity; Amount

Section 96. A city, town, district, or county may increase to an amount not exceeding twelve hundred dollars the annual amount of any retirement allowance, pension, annuity or other benefit, payable by it under any general or special law, to any former official or employee, including an employee of a housing authority, or to his dependent as provided in such general or special law, which is less than twelve hundred dollars; provided, that such official or employee had been in the service of such city, town, housing authority, district, or county for not less than fifteen years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 97 - Increase in Retirement Allowance, Pension or Annuity; Approval

Section 97. Annuities or increases of retirement allowances, pensions or annuities under sections ninety-five and ninety-six may be granted in any city by a two thirds vote of all the members of the city council and the approval of the mayor or city manager, as the case may be; and in a town by a two thirds vote of the voters at an annual town meeting upon recommendation of the selectmen. In a district increases under section ninety-six may be granted by a majority vote of the prudential committee, or board having similar powers. In a county increases under section ninety-six may be granted by a majority vote of the county commissioners.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 98 - Advance Payments, Period of Processing Application

Section 98. The state treasurer may make advance payments in an amount not to exceed any retirement allowance actually due to employees of the commonwealth who are eligible for, and who have filed application for, retirement, during such period as is necessary for the processing of such application for retirement. The said treasurer shall make rules and regulations governing such payment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 99 - Advance Payments

Section 99. The treasurer of any city, town or county which accepts this section may make advance payments in an amount not to exceed any retirement allowance actually due to employees of such city, town or county who are eligible for, and who have filed applications for, retirement, during such period as is necessary for the processing of such applications for retirement, and shall establish rules and regulations governing such payments.
This section shall take effect upon its acceptance in a city by vote of the city council, subject to the provisions of its charter; in a town by vote of the voters at a town meeting; and in a county by vote of the county commissioners.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 100a - Killed-in-Line-of-Duty Benefits

Section 100A. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or any other general or special law to the contrary, there shall be paid a killed in the line of duty benefit, to be administered and paid for, subject to appropriation, by the state board of retirement.
(b) The state board of retirement shall adopt regulations to administer said benefit.
(c) The killed in the line of duty benefit shall be a 1–time payment of $300,000 to the family of a deceased public safety employee who, while in the performance of his duties and as a result of incident, accident or violence, was killed or sustained injuries which were the direct and proximate cause of his death. As used in this section, the words ''deceased public safety employee'' shall mean any firefighter, any call, volunteer, auxiliary, intermittent or reserve firefighter, any call, volunteer, auxiliary, intermittent or reserve emergency medical services provider who is a member of a police or fire department and who is not subject to chapter 152, any police officer, any auxiliary, intermittent, special, part-time or reserve police officer, any police officer in the employ of a public institution of higher education under section 5 of chapter 15A, any public prosecutor, any municipal or public emergency medical technician and a correction officer who was killed in the line of duty or who sustained injuries that were the direct and proximate cause of his death.
(d) The $300,000 killed in the line of duty benefit shall be in addition to amounts payable under section 100 and shall be payable to the family of the deceased public safety employee in a manner determined by the state board of retirement. As used in this section, the word ''family'' shall mean the surviving spouse of such deceased public safety employee or, if there is no surviving spouse, the child or children of such deceased public safety employee or, if there is no surviving child, the parent of such deceased public safety employee. The board, at its discretion, may purchase life insurance for the purpose of paying this benefit.
(e) The presumptions created by sections 94, 94A and 94B shall not apply to eligibility for the $300,000 killed in the line of duty benefit.
(f) The $300,000 killed in the line of duty benefit shall not be taxable by the commonwealth.
(g) This section shall apply in the case of the death of a public prosecutor occurring on or after January 1, 1995.
(h) This section shall apply to members of the Massachusetts military reservation fire department killed in the line of duty.
(i) This section shall apply to members of the 104th fighter wing fire department killed in the line of duty.
(j) This section shall apply to members of the Devens fire department, established pursuant to chapter 498 of the acts of 1993, who are killed in the line of duty.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 101 - Allowance to Widows of Disabled Public Employees; Supplemental Annual Allowance

Section 101. In the event of the death of any former employee who had been retired under the provisions of this chapter after having been found to be incapacitated for further duty by reason of injuries sustained while in the performance of his duties, or who had been retired for ordinary disability under the provisions of this chapter, under which retirement he was unable to provide for any annual allowance to be paid to his widow at the time of his death, there shall be paid to such widow an annual allowance in the amount of either $6,000 or, in a retirement system accepting the supplemental annual allowance as provided in this section, $9,000, or, in a retirement system accepting the supplemental annual allowance provided in the third paragraph, $12,000, subject to the provisions of paragraph (e) of section one hundred and two; provided, however, that any allowance payable under this section shall be in the alternative to any allowance to which such widow would be entitled under the provisions of any other section of this chapter. Any allowance which such widow may be receiving or any allowance which she may have potential rights to receive, based on her own service to the commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof, shall not make her ineligible to receive the allowance provided in this section. The allowance provided by this section shall be paid by the same retiring authority and from the same source as the allowance payable to the deceased former employee referred to in this section.
Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, a retirement system may accept a supplemental annual allowance fixed at the rate of $9,000, by a majority vote of the board of each such system, subject to the approval of the legislative body thereof. For the purposes of this section, ''legislative body'' shall mean, in the case of a city, the city council in accordance with its charter, in the case of a town, the town meeting, in the case of a county, the county retirement board advisory council, in the case of a region, the regional retirement board advisory council, in the case of a district, the district members and, in the case of an authority, the governing body of such authority. Acceptance shall be deemed to have occurred upon the filing of a certification of such votes with the commission.
Any retirement system may accept the supplemental annual allowance, provided for by this paragraph and fixed at the rate of $12,000, by a majority vote of the board of each such system, subject to the approval of the legislative body. Acceptance shall be deemed to have occurred upon the filing of a certification of such votes with the commission. For purposes of this section, the state teachers' and state employees' retirement systems shall be deemed to have accepted this paragraph.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 105 - Reinstatement

Section 105. (a) Any member retired under section 5 or section 10 shall be eligible to be reinstated in a retirement system established under this chapter, if the retired member repays to the system from which he retired an amount equal to the total amount of any retirement allowance received by the retired member, together with buyback interest. Such payment shall be made in one lump sum or in installments as the board shall prescribe. Upon such reinstatement, regular deductions shall be made from regular compensation pursuant to paragraphs (b) and (b1/2) of subdivision (1) of section 22, and for such purpose, the member's date of entry into service shall be the date such member waived his retirement allowance or the date of reinstatement, whichever occurs earlier. Upon completion of such payment, the member shall be entitled to creditable service for all periods of service for which deductions were made from the member's regular compensation. For purposes of this section, the term ''reinstatement service'' shall mean a member's period of full-time employment after reinstatement in a retirement system under this section.
(b) If the member shall have less than 5 years reinstatement service, upon retirement, that member shall receive a refund of the payments actually made to the system under this section. The member shall not be entitled to any creditable service for the reinstatement service, nor shall the member be eligible to establish any additional creditable service under any provision for make up payments or other payments.
(c) If the member shall have 5 years or more of reinstatement service, the member shall be entitled to creditable service resulting from his reinstatement service upon the completion of payments required under subsection (a) and payment of regular deductions under section 22 for the reinstatement service. In the event that a retirement allowance becomes effective for the member before the completion of payments under subsection (a), the member shall be entitled to credit for that proportion of reinstatement service as the board shall prescribe, in addition to any credit for service rendered prior to the date of reinstatement, provided that the member would have otherwise been eligible for that prior service.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32 - Retirement Systems and Pensions › Section 106 - Amounts Paid in Lieu of Vacation Leave

Section 106. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a retirement allowance, as defined in section 1, to a member inactive, as defined in section 3, that included in its calculation the annual amounts paid in lieu of vacation leave upon which contributions or deductions were made to the applicable retirement system shall not be reduced, modified or changed because of the inclusion of such contributions or deductions.
(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any amount paid annually in lieu of vacation leave to a member in service as of May 1, 2018 pursuant to any applicable collective bargaining agreement, individual contract for employment, written benefits or personnel policy or municipal plan or ordinance in effect on May 1, 2018 and for which the applicable retirement system was accepting regular contributions or deductions as of May 1, 2018 shall be considered regular compensation as defined in said section 1. Any such annual payment in lieu of vacation leave subsequent to May 1, 2018 shall continue to qualify as regular compensation only for members who were in service as of May 1, 2018, as long as the payment in lieu of vacation leave is permitted under an applicable collective bargaining agreement, individual contract for employment, written benefits or personnel policy or municipal plan or ordinance; provided, however, that such an annual payment in lieu of vacation leave shall be to a member who consistently participates in a program that is available to all similarly situated employees and shall not have been made: (i) only in the final 3 years of employment for a member who joined the retirement system prior to April 2, 2012; (ii) only in the final 5 years of employment for a member who joined the retirement system on or after April 2, 2012; or (iii) as a result of providing retirement notice.
(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a retirement system subject to the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) shall regard as regular compensation any payment in lieu of vacation leave made subsequent to May 1, 2018 to a member who was in service as of May 1, 2018 and the systems shall take appropriate measures to effectuate this section.
(d) Subsections (b) and (c) shall apply only to members who: (i) were in service as of May 1, 2018; and (ii) began receiving payment in lieu of vacation leave prior to May 1, 2018.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 1 - Purpose of Chapter

Section 1. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a program of group life insurance, group accidental death and dismemberment insurance for certain persons in the service of the commonwealth, and group general or blanket hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance for such persons and their dependents.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 3a - Employees' Advisory Committee

Section 3A. There shall be within the group insurance commission, but not under its direction or control, an unpaid advisory committee to be known as the employees' advisory committee consisting of a representative duly elected or appointed to membership on said committee by organizations of employees and retirees whose membership consists of employees or retirees insured under this chapter. Said committee shall elect a chairman and other officers from its membership and shall establish procedures for the conduct of its deliberations including a method to provide a reasonable opportunity for all interested employees and retirees to meet with it so that the conclusions and recommendations of the committee will be a fair representation of the interests of all persons insured under this chapter. The commission, upon request by the committee, shall provide space, if possible, within the offices occupied by the commission for the conduct of the meetings of said committee.
The employee advisory committee, at least once each calendar year, or upon request by the commission, shall furnish the commission with a list of its officers and members indicating their organizational representation and affiliation.
The committee from time to time may submit to the commission for consideration and necessary action any recommendations relative to the insurance programs administered by the commission.
Upon request by the governor, the committee may submit the names of nominees from its membership or from the organizations represented therein to serve as members of the commission as provided under section three.
The provisions of chapter thirty A shall not be applicable to the employees' advisory committee.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 3b - Applicability of Chapter to Commonwealth Charter Schools and Education Collaboratives

Section 3B. This chapter shall become effective for a commonwealth charter school by a majority vote of its board of trustees and, for an education collaborative, by a majority vote of its board of directors.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 4 - Purchase of Insurance Policies by Commission

Section 4. The commission shall negotiate with and purchase, on such terms as it deems to be in the best interest of the commonwealth and its employees, from one or more insurance companies, savings banks or non-profit hospital or medical service corporations, a policy or policies of group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance covering persons in the service of the commonwealth, and group general or blanket insurance providing hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance benefits covering persons in the service of the commonwealth and their dependents, and shall execute all agreements or contracts pertaining to said policies or any amendments thereto for and on behalf and in the name of the commonwealth. Said commission may negotiate a contract for such term not exceeding five years as it may, in its discretion, deem to be the most advantageous to the commonwealth; provided, however, that the portion of the cost of the premium per month to be borne by the commonwealth shall not exceed the estimated monthly cost for which funds have been appropriated by the general court for the then current fiscal year.
For the purposes of this chapter, any nonprofit hospital service corporation or nonprofit medical corporation organized under chapter one hundred seventy-six A or one hundred and seventy-six B shall be and is hereby authorized to enter into a reinsurance agreement as herein provided in the same manner as any other insurance company.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 4a - Administrative Services Contracts

Section 4A. The commission when providing hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance coverage as authorized by this chapter may, in lieu of or in addition to entering into the insurance policies, agreements or contracts described in this chapter, enter into an administrative services or similar contract with an insurance carrier, non-profit hospital or medical service corporation, health maintenance organization, preferred provider organization, independent practice association or other third-party health care administrators. If deemed by the commission to be in the best interest of the commonwealth and its active and retired employees and their eligible dependents, the commission may enter into such service-type contracts for a period not to exceed five years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 5 - Insurance and Medicare Benefits of State Employees

Section 5. Each employee shall be automatically insured for five thousand dollars of group life insurance and five thousand dollars of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance and group general or blanket insurance providing hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance benefits provided under said policy or policies, commencing on the date he first becomes eligible or on the effective date of such coverage or coverages, including dependent benefits, whichever last occurs; provided, that any employee desiring not to be so insured shall, on an appropriate form prescribed by the commission, give written notice to the commission that he is not to be insured for such coverages, including dependent benefits, provided under such policy or policies. Such notice shall be mailed to the office of the commission at least thirty days prior to the effective date the employee becomes eligible or insured. If an employee fails to give such notice or, if an employee desires to terminate said insurance, he may withdraw, and such insurance benefits shall cease to be effective on the date to which the premium has been paid. In determining said date, payroll deductions or direct payments on behalf of the employee shall continue to be made until the expiration of fifteen days from the receipt of notice of withdrawal by the commission.
When an employee insured under this section becomes eligible for health insurance coverage, as provided in section ten C, he may terminate by notice, as aforesaid, his hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health benefits provided herein and retain his five thousand dollars of group life insurance and five thousand dollars of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Every policy whether original or renewal shall, in the case of employees who immediately prior to the effective date of such original or new policy were covered by group insurance benefits under this chapter, provide protection by continuing uninterrupted coverage without regard to waiting periods for benefits.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 6 - Amounts of Insurance and Benefits; Determination; Alterations or Reductions; Separability

Section 6. The amount of group life insurance on each employee shall be five thousand dollars, and the amount of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance on each employee shall be five thousand dollars, except that those employees desiring to elect optional coverage in excess of five thousand dollars group life insurance and five thousand dollars group accidental death and dismemberment insurance may do so as provided in section ten A. The amount of the hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance benefits to be provided each employee and his dependents shall be determined by the commission as provided under sections four and ten C. For active and retired employees, their dependents and the survivors of deceased employees, including municipal subscribers, except as otherwise required by state or federal law, and except effective July 1 of any year, the commission shall not alter the schedule of copayments and deductibles for health plans, or alter any other terms relating to health plans which would require authorization by vote of the commissioners but, for health plans whose rates change on January 1 instead of July 1, the commission may make such changes effective January 1. If the governor reduces allotments to the commission under section 9C of chapter 29, the commission may make any necessary adjustments to account for the reduction, but the commission shall not alter the contribution ratios provided in the most recent applicable appropriation act. As determined by the rules and regulations of the commission, all insurance coverages authorized by this chapter may be considered separable for employee, retiree or deferred retiree application and eligibility purposes.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 7 - Information Furnished Commission by Employees

Section 7. Each employee to whom this chapter applies shall furnish the commission, in such form as it shall prescribe, such information as is necessary to enroll himself, or himself and his dependents, under the policy or policies of insurance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 8a - Employees on Leaves of Absence for More Than One Year; Insurance Costs Charged to Employing Agency

Section 8A. The secretary of administration and finance is hereby authorized and directed to charge all agencies for the commonwealth's share of the health insurance costs incurred on behalf of any employees of that agency who are on leave of absence for a period of more than one year and to notify the comptroller of such charges and such leaves of absence. The comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to transfer said amounts to the General Fund.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 9a - Investment Committee; Investment and Deposit of Funds by State Treasurer

Section 9A. There shall be an unpaid investment committee which shall have general supervision of the investment of funds retained in the group insurance commission trust fund to be used on behalf of the insured employees. Such committee shall consist of the state treasurer, who shall be a member ex officio, the members of the group insurance commission who shall be members ex officio, and one other person who shall be chosen by the aforementioned members, for a term of three years and who shall be qualified by training and experience in the investment of funds as a result of having been principally employed in such occupation for a period of at least ten years. The chairman of the investment committee shall be chosen from among its members. Each member of such committee shall continue to hold office until the expiration of his term and until the qualification of his successor. The executive director of the commission shall perform the duties of secretary of the investment committee. The commission shall furnish such clerical assistants as may be required to carry on the work of the investment committee. Subject in each instance to the approval of the investment committee established under the provisions of this section, the state treasurer shall invest and reinvest such funds to the extent not required for current disbursements as authorized by section nine in bonds, notes or other securities which are legal for the investment of funds of savings banks under the laws of the commonwealth. Not more than twenty-five per cent of the total funds of the trust fund shall be invested in bank stocks or bank holding company stocks nor shall more than one-half of said twenty-five per cent be invested in the stock of any one bank or bank holding company. The treasurer may deposit any portion of the monies to be invested, in savings banks, co-operative banks or in savings deposits in trust companies, lawfully doing business in the commonwealth for one year or more, subject, however, to the limitations set forth in section three of chapter one hundred and sixty-seven D, and may invest such funds in shares of federal savings and loan associations lawfully doing business in the commonwealth for one year or more, but the amount so invested in any one federal savings and loan association shall not at any time exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars. The commission shall have power to expend such funds which in its discretion is in the best interests of the insured employees and retired employees. The state treasurer shall make payment of such funds as authorized by the commission. A statement of all funds received, invested and expended on behalf of the insured employees shall be included in the annual report of the commission as required by section three.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 10d - Disability Insurance; Withholding Payment of Premiums

Section 10D. The commission shall establish a plan of disability insurance on such terms and conditions as it deems to be in the best interest of the commonwealth and its employees. With respect to any disability insurance which is in effect for an employee there shall be withheld from the salary or wages of such employee the premium for such insurance and the commonwealth shall make no contribution to said premium. The group insurance commission is hereby authorized to implement a system whereby such employee contributions are made on a pre-tax basis.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 10e - Insurance for Commonwealth Employee Granted Leave to Care for Dependent Child

Section 10E. The health and insurance benefits including, without limitation, policies of group life insurance group accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and the group general or blanket hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance as provided in this chapter for an employee of the commonwealth shall be continued for such employee for any period for which such employee is granted leave by his employer for the purpose of caring for such employee's minor dependent child under three years of age; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the employee shall make payment of the portion of the total monthly premium or rate that would have otherwise been deducted from his salary, wages or other compensation had such employee not taken such leave, and the commonwealth shall contribute the remaining amount of any such premium cost. For the purposes of this section, ''dependent child'' shall mean any child, whether natural, adoptive or a stepchild, of any such employee.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 11 - Death of Employee or Retired Employee; Continuation of Insurance by Spouse or Dependent

Section 11. Upon the death of an employee or retired employee insured under this chapter, the surviving spouse, or the surviving dependent if there is no surviving spouse, or the surviving dependent if the surviving spouse subsequently dies, may continue the group general or blanket insurance providing hospital, surgical, medical, dental and other health insurance until the remarriage of said surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, until the surviving dependent becomes eligible for other group health coverage; provided, however, that application for such insurance coverage shall be filed with the commission and a method for the payment of premiums shall be determined in accordance with its rules and regulations; and provided, further, that the commonwealth shall contribute the same percent share of the total monthly premium or rate for coverage under this section as the percent share it contributes, pursuant to section eight, on behalf of retired employees, subject, where applicable, to reimbursement as provided under section ten B, and that eligible persons having elected coverage under this section shall pay the remainder premium or rate. Said commission shall determine the amount of said premium which may be the entire average group premium for hospital, surgical, and medical, dental and other health insurance applicable to an employee, an employee and his dependents, or a premium computed on a basis considered by said commission to be equitable in relation to all insured employees and all former employees who have retired and who have continued such coverage under the provisions of section ten or are insured under the provisions of section ten B.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title IV - Civil Service, Retirements and Pensions › Chapter 32a - Contributory Group General or Blanket Insurance for Persons in the Service of the Commonwealth › Section 11a - Divorced or Separated Spouses; Continuation of Insurance Coverage

Section 11A. (a) In the event of the granting of a judgment absolute of divorce or of separate support to which an employee or retiree who has health insurance or coverage under a plan or contract authorized by this chapter is a party, the person who was the spouse of said employee or retiree prior to the issuance of such judgment shall be and remain eligible for benefits under said plan or contract, whether or not said judgment was entered prior to the effective date of said plan or contract, without additional premium or examination therefor, as if said judgment had not been entered; provided, however, that such eligibility shall not be required if said judgment so provides. Such eligibility shall continue through the employee's or retiree's participation in the plan or contract until the remarriage of either the employee or retiree or such spouse, or until such time as provided by said judgment, whichever is earlier.
(b) In the event of the remarriage of the employee or retiree referred to in paragraph (a), the former spouse thereafter shall have the right, if so provided in said judgment, to continue to receive benefits as are available to the employee or retiree, by means of the addition of a rider to the family plan or contract or the issuance of an individual plan or contract, either of which may be at additional premium rates determined by the group insurance commission to be just and reasonably in accordance with the additional insuring risks involved.
(c) The name, address, and certificate number of a person eligible for health insurance or coverage pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b), if available, shall be forwarded by the plan or contractor, whichever is applicable, to the department of public welfare within thirty days of the date when coverage of said person under said paragraph (a) or (b) is commenced.
Notice of cancellation of coverage of the divorced or separated spouse of a member shall be mailed to such divorced or separated spouse at such person's last known address, together with notice of the right to reinstate coverage retroactively to the date of cancellation.
Claims paid on behalf of a divorced or separated spouse or on behalf of a dependent who is not residing with the member shall be paid to the physician, hospital or other provider of covered services or to the person on whose behalf such services were performed, unless the person is a minor child. In the event the person on whose behalf such services were performed is a minor, payment shall be made to the physician, hospital or other provider of such services or to the parent or custodian with whom the child resides.