Lowell would retire injured police sergeant with pay-based pension

The Lowell Retirement Board would retire Fernandez and pay him a special pension. The pension is for Fernandez, who was injured while working on June 4, 2016, and is totally and permanently unable to perform a police officer’s essential duties. The board would fund and administer the benefits under chapter 32, except for sections 8 and 91A. Amounts paid under this bill would be nontaxable. Until Fernandez dies or reaches mandatory retirement age for a Lowell patrol officer, whichever comes first, his annual pension would match the regular pay he would have received as a sergeant at his retirement grade. At that age, he would receive a chapter 32 pension equal to 80% of his pay on the prior day.

The bill would provide Fernandez with payment for certain injury-related expenses and a lump sum of his accumulated retirement deductions. The expense payments cover hospital, medical, and related costs from his June 4, 2016, on-duty injuries. Expenses must have been or be incurred after his retirement and are covered under sections 100 and 100B of chapter 41. The expense coverage applies to costs incurred after retirement. The lump sum would be paid upon retirement.

The Lowell Retirement Board would pay a survivor annuity to Amy Fernandez if she qualifies, and may pay benefits to their children in the stated circumstances. Amy must be married to Fernandez when he retires and survive him. If both die before their children reach the stated age limits, eligible children may receive payments. Amy’s annuity would be three-fourths of the pension that otherwise would have been payable to Fernandez and would continue until her death. If both parents die before the children reach age 18, payments would be divided equally among children under 18; a child enrolled full-time could receive payments until age 22. The pension would be subject to section 103 of chapter 32. Amy’s annuity would begin upon Fernandez’s death. The children’s payments would apply if both parents die before the children reach the stated age limits.