Legislative Session Final report by MCCC VP Donnie McGee, 5/11/16

MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE BILLS:

H. 1055 – An Investment in Higher Education Faculty
Requires that seventy-five percent of undergraduate courses be taught by full time tenure and tenure track faculty by 2019 and contains provisions for pension support, health insurance, and a possible career path for adjunct faculty. (Rep. Paul Mark)

• Sent to the Joint Committee on Higher Education; heard on 6/17/15
• VP McGee testified on behalf of MCCC.
• An amendment to H. 1055 was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee with recommendation for passage (3/28/16). This amendment (now H.4127) would allow half-time faculty to participate in the state’s group health insurance program without having to enroll in the state’s contributory retirement systems (MSERS or ORP). Currently, per MA General Laws, enrollment in either of these retirement plans is a requirement before an employee can be considered eligible for the state’s group insurance plan.

H.2206 – An Act Relative to Part-time Higher Education Faculty Eligibility in the State Retirement System (companion bill in the Senate)
Allows part-time faculty who teach at least four, three or more credit courses per calendar year at one or more state higher education institutions to earn one half year of creditable service for this time. (Representative Michael Brady)

• Sent to the Joint Committee on Public Service; heard on 10/20/15
• President LeBlanc and VP McGee testified on behalf of MCCC.
• Accompanied S. 1376 (later described), which was reported out favorably to the Senate Ways & Means Committee (3/3/16)

H.2207 – An Act Relative to State Group Health Insurance (companion bill in the Senate)
Extends group health insurance coverage to part-time higher education faculty members who teach the equivalent of at least two courses per semester or four courses during a calendar year consisting of three or more credits regardless of funding source. (Representative Michael Brady)

• Sent to the Joint Committee on Public Service; heard on 9/8/15
• President LeBlanc and VP McGee testified on behalf of MCCC.
• Accompanied S. 1377 (later described), which was reported out favorably to the Senate Ways & Means Committee (3/3/16)

MASSACHUSETTS SENATE BILLS:

S. 1376 – An Act Relative to Part-time Higher Education Faculty Eligibility in the State Retirement System (companion bill in the House)
Allows part-time faculty who teach at least four, three or more credit courses per calendar year at one or more state higher education institutions to earn one half year of creditable service for this time. (Senator Patricia Jehlen)

• Sent to the Joint Committee on Public Service; heard on 10/20/15
• President LeBlanc and VP McGee testified on behalf of MCCC.
• Reported out favorably (with H. 2206) to the Senate Ways & Means Committee (3/3/16)

S. 1377 – An Act Relative to State Group Health Insurance (companion bill in the House)
Extends group health insurance coverage to part-time higher education faculty members who teach the equivalent of at least two courses per semester or four courses during a calendar year consisting of three or more credits regardless of funding source. (Senator Patricia Jehlen)

• Sent to the Joint Committee on Public Service; heard on 9/8/15
• President LeBlanc and VP McGee testified on behalf of MCCC.
• Reported out favorably (with H. 2207) to the Senate Ways & Means Committee (3/3/16)

For additional information regarding Massachusetts bills, related legislation, state house committees, and/or state legislators:

• Visit the state’s General Court website for information on state legislators, to find out the current status of Massachusetts bills, or to see a bill in its entirety:
  https://malegislature.gov/
• Visit the MCCC website for SAC news and legislative updates:
  http://mccc-union.org/

FEDERAL LEGISLATION:

House 973/Senate 1651 – The Social Security Fairness Act of 2015:
This bipartisan legislative proposal would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) which greatly diminishes Social Security benefits for those with public pensions from one of 15 states, including Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island. This Act would also repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which reduces public employees’ Social Security spousal or survivor benefits by 2/3 of their public pension.

• For more information on these offsets, go to: www.socialsecurity.gov/gpo-wep/
• For information on H 973, go to:
  https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/973
• For information on S 1651, go to: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1651
• To advocate in support of this legislation, see NEA’s advocacy tool kit on this site: http://www.nea.org/home/16491.htm