Issues

FY '21 Gains Neared 30 Percent, Pushed Fund to $95.7 Bil

Colin A. Young, State House News Service

AUG. 3, 2021.....Fiscal year 2021 was a record year for the Massachusetts state pension fund, which closed the one-year period ending June 30 with the highest return in its history and invested assets that swelled to a record $95.7 billion.

Sends Back Amended Budget Section 

JULY 19, 2021: Governor Charlie Baker signed the $47.6 billion Fiscal Year 2022 budget on Friday, July 16^th. While no changes were made to the State and Teacher retirees COLA or the Group Insurance Commission line items, he did return certain items to the legislature with amended language. 

June 16, 2021- Late last evening, the House and Senate passed a bill that would extend several COVID-19 policy measures that expired when the Governor’s state of emergency was lifted on June 15th. The House passed their version mid-morning and in an unusual move the two versions were sent to conference committee and hammered out the same day. The Senate version included language that would extend the Post Retirement Work Waiver until December 15th, 2021.

Mass Retirees Seeks Extension Through Year-End 

June 9, 2021 – On Thursday the state Senate is poised to debate legislation aimed at addressing various public policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are set to expire next week when Governor Baker’s Public Health Emergency Order ends on June 15th. Of direct concern to our Association is the expiration of the post retirement work waiver that has been in place since March 2020.