MassachusettsPetersham may retain two named officers until age 70
Petersham may keep two named officers serving while they can do the job, and their retirement allowance is set at the amount they would have received at age 65.
What it does
Petersham may keep the two named officers on the job while they can do the work. Their service ends at age 70, retirement, or removal from duty, whichever comes first.
The law stops retirement deductions from the officers' regular pay. When they retire, their allowance equals what they would have received if they had retired at age 65.
Argument forPetersham may keep two experienced officers serving while they can do the job, helping the town retain their skills.
Argument againstKeeping the two officers eligible to serve until age 70 could leave their positions occupied longer and reduce openings for other applicants.
More detail
The law allows Richard D. Cooley Jr. and David A. Shoemaker to continue as Petersham police officers. This applies only to Cooley and Shoemaker in the Petersham Police Department. Both officers must be mentally and physically able to do the job. The town may require an exam by a physician it chooses and pays for. The law takes effect upon passage. Their service ends at age 70, retirement, or removal from duty, whichever occurs first.
The law ends retirement deductions from the officers' regular pay and sets their retirement allowance at the amount they would have received upon retiring at age 65. This applies to Cooley and Shoemaker. The deduction rule applies to regular pay; the allowance is set upon retirement.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Oct 9Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 236 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Oct 1Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Oct 1EnactedBecame Law
- Sep 28House concurred in the Senate amendment
- Aug 24Referred to the committee on Bills in the Third ReadingMinor
- Aug 20Read third, amended and passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Aug 20Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Aug 6Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Aug 6Taken out of the Orders of the Day
- Jul 23Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
- Jul 22Read third and passed to be engrossedPassed 1st Chamber
- Jul 22Rules suspended
- May 18Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- May 18Rules suspended
- May 18Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- May 11Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Mar 11Hearing rescheduled to 03/11/2026 from 01:00 PM-01:25 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
- Feb 27Hearing scheduled for 03/11/2026 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
- Feb 17Senate concurred
- Feb 12Referred to the committee on Public ServiceIntroduced
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