Massachusetts House Bill H3963

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/31/25
• Refer: 3/31/25
• Refer: 8/21/25

Caption

Relative to the retirement of Greg Heath, a former firefighter of the city of Westfield

Summary

This bill is a special, local retirement act for Greg Heath, a former firefighter for the city of Westfield. It directs the Westfield retirement board to retire him under section 7 of chapter 32 of the General Laws if the board determines that he has a qualifying impairment of health caused by Parkinson’s disease and that the condition was incurred as a result of his employment. The bill is written as an exception to chapter 32 and any conflicting special or general law. The measure also requires that disability retirement payments be supported by a medical panel certification under chapter 32, section 6, confirming that Heath is mentally or physically incapacitated from further duty, that the incapacity is likely permanent, and that it is the natural and proximate result of Parkinson’s disease. The Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission may waive that medical panel exam if he has already been examined by a panel and is already receiving a disability benefit when the act takes effect. The bill is retroactive to September 26, 2020.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would create a specific statutory exception for one named former municipal employee and would require the Westfield retirement board to process his retirement under the accidental disability framework of chapter 32. It would not broadly change retirement law for all public employees, but it would override conflicting provisions for this individual and could authorize retroactive disability retirement benefits dating back to 2020. The bill affects the city of Westfield, its retirement board, PERAC, and the state public employee retirement system administration process.

Sentiment

The available record suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill, or at least no recorded opposition in the materials provided. The bill was filed with local approval from the mayor and city council, which typically indicates support from local officials and a consensus that the special retirement relief is appropriate. No committee transcript or vote record is included, so there is no evidence here of formal debate or divided sentiment.

Contention

The main legal and policy issue is the use of a special act to grant retirement relief to a named individual rather than relying solely on the ordinary chapter 32 process. Any concern would likely center on whether Heath’s Parkinson’s disease is sufficiently connected to his employment and whether the disability standards and medical-panel requirements are satisfied. The bill addresses that by requiring a medical panel certification, while also allowing PERAC to waive the exam in limited circumstances if prior review and disability benefits already exist.