HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 629        FILED ON: 1/14/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3183

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

James J. Dwyer

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a special commission to create a state office of veterans business assistance.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

James J. Dwyer

30th Middlesex

1/14/2013

Carlo Basile

1st Suffolk

 

Stephen L. DiNatale

3rd Worcester

 

Dennis A. Rosa

4th Worcester

 

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

 

Jerald A. Parisella

6th Essex

 

Karen E. Spilka

Second Middlesex and Norfolk

 

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

 

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

 

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 629        FILED ON: 1/14/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3183

By Mr. Dwyer of Woburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3183) of James J. Dwyer and others for an investigation by a special commission relative to creating a state office of veterans business assistance.  Veterans and Federal Affairs.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act establishing a special commission to create a state office of veterans business assistance.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations to create a state office of veterans business assistance. The commission shall consist of 13 members: 3 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house; 2 of whom shall be appointed by the house minority leader; 3 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the secretary of labor and workforce development; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the secretary of veterans services; and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the governor.  The speaker of the house and the senate president shall determine which 2 members of the commission shall serve as co-chairpersons.

The commission shall identify opportunities to help promote the development of business enterprises and non-profit organizations owned and operated by veterans and make such other recommendations as the commission deems appropriate, with the goal of expanding business and non-profit opportunities for veterans.  The commission shall consider barriers facing veterans seeking to start business or nonprofits, better access to capital and financing, ways in which veterans can be given certification similar to that of the state office of minority and women business assistance, and relationships that can be formed with state agencies and financial institutions with veterans. The commission shall also seek to identify opportunities to maximize revenues, such as federal grants and matching funds.

The commission may hold hearings and invite testimony from experts and the public.  The commission shall review and identify best practices learned from similar efforts in other states.

Members of the commission shall be named and the commission shall commence its work within 60 days of the effective date of this act.  The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study, and recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives on or before January 15, 2014.  The clerks of the house and senate shall make the report available to the public through the internet.