Sen. John Velis

Maddy summaryThis bill allows education administrators in Massachusetts to count past work in special education as retirement credit if they paid into their pension fund. Specifically, it applies to individuals who supervised special education services in non-public schools where the state helped pay tuition. To claim this credit, the administrators must make a one-time payment or a series of payments equal to five percent of their salary from that time period, plus interest. The law gives these workers the option to choose when to make this payment before their retirement benefits begin.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new optional veteran allowance for public retirees in Massachusetts, allowing them to receive extra annual payments based on their years of service. The provision applies to members of specific retirement groups who are veterans and would provide an additional $50 per year of service, capped at a total of $1,000. Retirement systems must vote to accept this option before it takes effect, though state teachers' and state employees' systems are automatically included. The changes are prospective, meaning they only apply to future retirements and do not provide any retroactive benefits for those already receiving pensions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for public employee retirement systems in Massachusetts to allow certain veterans to receive additional yearly allowances. It specifically affects members who retired before a 2004 law change and did not previously get these veteran-specific benefits. To activate this change, a retirement system's board must vote to accept the provision, with the state teachers' and state employees' systems automatically considered to have accepted it. The new benefits only apply to future claims and do not provide any money for past years.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new chapter in Massachusetts law that allows cities and towns to install automated cameras on school buses to detect when vehicles pass the bus while its warning signals are active. If a community chooses to adopt this system, local officials must hold a public hearing to review accident data and costs before approving the number of cameras, and they must annually report details about the equipment and enforcement actions to the state Department of Transportation. Violations captured by these cameras result in a maximum fine of $25 for the vehicle's registered owner, though the owner can avoid the penalty if the driver was already cited by police for the same incident. Additionally, the bill ensures that these specific violations do not appear on the driver's operating record or affect their auto insurance premiums.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for the personal use of drones in Massachusetts by adding specific definitions and operational limits to state law. It defines a drone as a remotely operated aircraft and sets a restricted airspace around airports within five miles. Under the proposed regulations, individuals flying drones for personal use must keep them under 400 feet, ensure they weigh less than 10 pounds, maintain visual contact, and avoid reckless or harassing behavior. These restrictions apply to private operators and align with existing federal requirements while clarifying state-level safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, a grant program designed to help public colleges and universities address student food insecurity. Managed by the state department of higher education, the program will provide funding to eligible institutions, including municipal colleges and minority-serving schools, to support students in completing their post-secondary education. The department will hire a director to set guidelines for the grants, which may require schools to have specific staff, awareness programs, and meal options that accept federal nutrition benefits. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department provide technical assistance to schools and submit an annual report to state officials on the program's progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal presumption that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a work-related injury for specific first responders and correctional employees in Massachusetts. It applies to police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, airport workers, military firefighters, and prison staff who passed a physical exam before joining but later develop PTSD diagnosed by a mental health professional within five years of leaving service. Under this law, these workers would be presumed to have suffered their condition in the line of duty unless evidence proves it was caused by non-work factors, thereby granting them access to disability or death benefits. The legislation also clarifies that PTSD resulting from standard personnel actions like transfers or layoffs does not qualify for these presumptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal category for firefighters and related emergency personnel in Massachusetts to receive disability or death benefits specifically for Parkinson's disease. It establishes a presumption that the disease was caused by service in the line of duty, provided the individual passed a physical exam before symptoms appeared and has served for at least five years. The law applies to paid firefighters, state police fire investigators and K9 units, and specific airport and military fire crews who were employed at least five years prior to the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Massachusetts public employee retirement system to include certified emergency telecommunicators in Group 2. It specifically affects full-time dispatchers, supervisors, center directors, and chiefs who are certified by the State 911 Department. The key provision adds these roles to the list of covered professions in the state's general laws, granting them access to the same contributory retirement benefits as other public employees in that group.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Massachusetts state law to clarify how survivor benefits are distributed to Option (d) beneficiaries of public service retirement plans. It allows members to nominate eligible individuals to receive a portion of their potential retirement allowance if they die before retiring. The law specifies that if multiple beneficiaries are chosen, the benefit amount is calculated based on the youngest beneficiary's age, and any share left by a deceased beneficiary is split equally among the survivors. These changes directly affect public employees and their families who rely on these specific retirement options.