This bill would make teachers, professional and nonprofessional educational employees who work on behalf of the school system but are paid through municipal budgets, ineligible to collect unemployment insurance benefits when school is not in session by extending them a “reasonable assurance” of employment. The bill would also reduce unemployment benefits by an amount equal to 65% of a retiree’s weekly pension for retirees collecting both unemployment benefits and a pension from the same public or private employer.

In 2012, a task force was convened by Governor Deval Patrick in response to concerns about the municipal unemployment insurance system. This panel was composed of representatives of both public-sector labor and management. One recommendation sought to address the issue of school-based employees who are paid by the municipality directly and not by the school department, to collect unemployment benefits during school vacations and the summer break. Another recommendation seeks to address the issue of a retiree collecting both unemployment benefits and a defined benefit pension from the same public or private employer. The committee released a report more than 10 years ago containing a series of recommendations — and reforms are still necessary. As cities and towns try to manage finances, these are important loopholes to close.