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
Court assembled:

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

An Act relative to veterans' benefits equity.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Carl M. Sciortino, Jr.

34th Middlesex

1/18/2013

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

 

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

 

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

 

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

 

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

 

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

 

James J. O'Day

14th Worcester

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

 

Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

26th Middlesex

 

Martha M. Walz

8th Suffolk

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2621        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3210

By Mr. Sciortino of Medford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3210) of Carl M. Sciortino, Jr., and others relative to veterans' benefits equity for persons discharged from the military based on certain consensual conduct.  Veterans and Federal Affairs.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 970 OF 2011-2012.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

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.”