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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2621 FILED ON: 1/18/2013 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3210
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Carl M. Sciortino, Jr. _______________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying: An Act relative to veterans' benefits equity. _______________ PETITION OF:
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2621 FILED ON: 1/18/2013 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3210
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
An Act relative to veterans' benefits equity. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. Section 7 of Chapter 4 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end of Clause 43 the following- “(4) Nothing in this clause shall be construed to deny benefits to anyone discharged solely under Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice when such discharge was the result of consensual behavior between legal adult persons; or anyone discharged solely under Chapter 37 of Title 10 of the US Code, Section 654. Nor shall anything in this clause be construed to deny benefits to a same-sex spouse or beneficiary of a veteran. The Department of Veterans’ Services shall promulgate regulations as necessary to ensure veterans discharged under the above mentioned codes, and/or same-sex spouses of veterans, may appeal their eligibility status for Chapter 115 benefits that they would otherwise be entitled to under Massachusetts General Laws and regulations. Any veteran and/or same-sex spouse of a veteran, whose discharge is determined to be the result of consensual behavior between legal adult persons, or anyone discharged solely under Chapter 37 of Title 10 of the US Code, Section 654, shall be eligible for and receive benefits under this section.” |