The bill proposes amendments to the Teachers’ Retirement sections of the General Laws, specifically focusing on the definitions and provisions concerning benefits for spouses, former spouses divorced, and domestic partners of deceased members. A significant insertion is the new definition of "former spouse divorced," which now encompasses individuals who were married to the deceased member for at least ten years and were entitled to post-divorce support by court order. The bill also introduces eligibility for benefits to former spouses divorced, provided there are no other dependents with a higher entitlement. It removes the term "regular" from "regular contributions" in the context of support provided by the deceased member and aligns the yearly cost-of-living adjustment for benefits with the annual social security adjustment.

The bill's primary objective is to update the legal framework regarding the distribution of retirement benefits to the spouses and former spouses of deceased teachers. By redefining "former spouse divorced" and extending benefits eligibility to include this group, the bill seeks to ensure that former spouses who meet the specified criteria can receive monthly benefits, assuming no other dependents such as children, parents, or a current spouse or domestic partner have a claim. The removal of "regular" from the phrase concerning the deceased member's support obligations and the adjustment of cost-of-living increases to match social security changes are additional notable aspects of the bill. The act is designed to be effective immediately upon passage.