HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2879        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3161

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jerald A. Parisella

_________________

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 commission to study veterans transportation issues.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Jerald A. Parisella

6th Essex

1/16/2015

Dennis A. Rosa

4th Worcester

12/19/2019

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

12/19/2019

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

12/19/2019

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

12/19/2019

Claire D. Cronin

11th Plymouth

12/19/2019

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

12/19/2019

RoseLee Vincent

16th Suffolk

12/19/2019

Walter F. Timilty

7th Norfolk

12/19/2019

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

12/19/2019

John V. Fernandes

10th Worcester

12/19/2019

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

12/19/2019

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

12/19/2019

James M. Murphy

4th Norfolk

12/19/2019

John C. Velis

4th Hampden

12/19/2019

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

12/19/2019

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

12/19/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2879        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3161

By Mr. Parisella of Beverly, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3161) of Jerald A. Parisella and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to veterans transportation issues.  Veterans and Federal Affairs.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

An Act establishing a commission to study veterans transportation issues.

 

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

There is hereby established a special commission to study and make recommendations regarding veterans access to transportation for medical and other service-connected appointments with the goal of expanding and improving transportation options for veterans.

The commission shall consist of 11 members: 3 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on transportation and 1 of whom shall be a member of the senate who is on the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs or the joint committee on transportation to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, or the members’ designee; the secretary of transportation, or a designee; the secretary of veterans’ services, or a designee; 3 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, 1 of whom shall be the chair of the joint committee on transportation and 1 of whom shall be a member of the house of representatives who is on the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs or the joint committee on transportation appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, or the members’ designee; and 5 members appointed by the governor, who shall consist of members with specialized knowledge of veterans and/or transportation issues. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the senate shall select 2 members from the commission membership to serve as co-chairpersons.

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.

The commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and suggest an action plan and make recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations by filing the report with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and with the joint committees on veterans and federal affairs and transportation 270 days after the formation of said committee.