THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 15, 2025 Page 3 Representative Wong supports legislation to provide enhanced superannuation benefi ts for teachers Bill will also protect retirement status of teachers who go to work at EOE, DESE B OSTON – State Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus) recently supported legislation that will allow qualifying teachers to participate in an alternative superannuation retirement program, while also protecting the retirement status of teachers who leave the profession to work at the Executive Offi ce of Education (EOE) or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). House Bill 4361, An Act relative to benefi ts for teachers, was given preliminary approval by the House of Representatives on July 30, when it was engrossed on a vote of 158-0. The bill still requires Senate approval and Governor Healey’s signature before it can become law. Representative Wong said the House bill mirrors legislation that passed the House late last session but was never acted on by the Senate. It would allow qualifying teachers who were hired prior to July 1, 2001 and did not elect to join the alternative superannuation retirement plan, known as RetirementPlus, to be given a one-time opportunity to do BILL | FROM PAGE 2 eral so that all impacted employers are following uniform standards. In addition to the training program, licensed innholders will be required to conspicuously post a written human traffi cking notice developed by the Attorney General in their lobby and in any public restrooms on the premises. This notice must include the telephone number for the National Human Traffi cking Hotline, which is 1-888-373-7888. According to its website (https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en), the National Human Traffi cking Hotline has identifi ed 1,175 cases of human trafficking involving 2,283 victims in Massachusetts alone between 2007 and so. Qualifying teachers would have up to 180 days from the bill’s eff ective date to elect to participate. The RetirementPlus program provides an enhanced retirement benefi t for qualifying individuals who have completed 30 years of service, at least 20 years of which must be as a member of the Massachusetts Teacher Retirement System or the Boston Retirement System as a teacher. The contribution rate for the program is 11%. Representative Wong noted that the proposed one-time enrollment in the RetirementPlus program is limited to individuals who: • are a teacher or nurse who is an active or inactive member of the teachers’ retirement system; • became eligible for membership in the teachers’ retirement system before July 1, 2001; • began contributing to the teachers’ retirement system before July 1, 2001; and • did not provide a written election to participate or held a good faith belief that they elected to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefi t program to 2024. On a national level, the hotline has identifi ed 112,822 cases of human traffi cking involving 218,568 victims. This includes incidents involving sex traffi cking, labor traffi cking, and in some cases both forms of exploitation. Representative Wong noted that House Bill 4360 provides an exemption for innholders with three rooms or less. The bill also does not apply to Airbnb rentals or other similar services. Representative Wong said the provisions included in House Bill 4360 will help to protect women and children from being exploited. Both the Massachusetts Lodging Association and the American Hotel and Lodging Association have endorsed this legislation. the teachers’ retirement system before July 1, 2001 nor at any other time prior to September 1, 2025. House Bill 4361 also includes language allowing individuals currently vested in the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System or the Boston Retirement System as a teacher and are subsequently employed by EOE or DESE to retain their teacher status for retirement purposes and to be considered as remaining in service in that capacity. Representative Wong said the bill provides for these individuals to make a single lump sum payment or installment payments into the retirement system to receive creditable service. 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