Governor signs ‘An Act relative to the reserve time of public safety personnel in the city of Revere’ into law

  Governor Charlie Baker has signed H.4572, An Act relative to the reserve time of public safety personnel in the city of Revere, into law – Chapter 298 of the Acts of 2022. H.4572 has been actively advocated for all session by the Massachusetts Legislature and Revere Fire Department. This law originated in the Revere City Council as a Home Rule Petition, and it will allow the Revere Retirement Board the authorization to provide creditable service for so-called “Reserve Time” to certain public safety personnel in the City of Revere in the same manner as it was allowed prior to the issuance of a Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) Memo in 2020. This change is available to any member of the Revere Fire Department who was a member of the Revere Retirement System on or before February 11, 2020.

  “This legislation ensures proper compensation for our Firefighters, for the reserve time that they accounted for when accepting a position with the City of Revere,” said Representative Jessica Giannino (D-Revere). “Our city’s firefighters are selfless and spend the best years of their lives keeping our community safe. When accepting the position to serve with the fire department, they make decisions and plan ahead in order to provide for their family and their future. Time that they accounted for was taken away, and this law corrects that.”

  “From the first day I met Capt. O’Hara, he has advocated for this important piece of legislation to become law; he deserves kudos for his tireless advocacy on this important matter. This law, necessitated by a misguided and bureaucratic interpretation of law by PERAC, brings equity and fairness to the brave men and women of the Revere Fire Department who every day protect our families and our community,” said Representative Jeffrey Rosario Turco(D-Winthrop). “Whether a member of the fire service is working on “Reserve Time” or full-time service, it is obvious that they have earned their pension credits and today the law makes this clear.”

  “Firefighters and First Responders sacrifice so much to serve our communities especially during the holidays, they deserve their reserve time,” said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-Boston). “I was proud to work with the Revere State Delegation to pass this bill before the New Year. I want to thank Representative Giannino, and Representative Turco for their work moving the Revere Firefighter’s Reserve Time Bill in the House of Representatives.”

  “The Local and the 65 affected Firefighters are forever grateful for this bill passing,” said the Revere Fire Fighters Local 926 IAFF President, Captain Kevin O’Hara. “The reserve time that these firefighters earned was taken away from them due to a misinterpretation of a court ruling that took place a few years back. As a local we felt it was only right to fight for their time back as many of these men and women made career decisions based on this time. We would like to thank State Rep Jessica Giannino, who has led the charge regarding House Bill 4572 along with Rep Jeff Turco and Senator Lydia Edwards. Without the strong efforts of all of them this would not have happened.”