MassachusettsBill would include Springfield Empowerment Zone teachers in state retirement
If enacted, teachers working at least half-time in qualifying Springfield Empowerment Zone jobs would join the state teachers’ retirement system and earn service credit for that work.
What it does
If enacted, qualifying Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership teachers would join the state teachers’ retirement system, and their work for the partnership would count toward retirement service.
Argument forEligible teachers could build state retirement credit for their Springfield Empowerment Zone work, which may help them qualify for retirement benefits.
Argument againstTeachers working less than half-time might not qualify under this definition, so their Springfield Empowerment Zone work may not count toward retirement service under this provision.
More detail
If enacted, the bill would make qualifying teachers members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System and count their partnership work as creditable service. This applies to teachers employed by the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership, Inc. A teacher must work at least half-time in a position that would qualify for system membership if it were in a public school.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 14Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and MeansLatest
- Jul 14Hearing rescheduled to 07/14/2026 from 11:00 AM-11:20 AM in A-1 Hearing updated to New End Time
- Jun 30Hearing scheduled for 07/14/2026 from 11:00 AM-04:00 PM in A-1
- Jun 11Senate concurred
- Jun 8Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Public ServiceMinor
- Jun 1Referred to the committee on House RulesIntroduced
Economy & Jobs