HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1635        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1931

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Stephen Kulik

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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 to provide for a special commission to study veteran’s benefits.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1635        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1931

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3142 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

An Act to provide for a special commission to study veteran’s benefits.

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 pursuant to chapters 13 and 115 of the General Laws. The Commission shall study and evaluate current laws, regulations and practices related to providing services and other support to military veterans and to make recommendations to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of state and local programs.

The committee shall consist of 11 members: 1 member of the senate who shall be the chair of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs or a designee; who shall serve as co-chair of the commission; 1 member of the house of representatives who shall be the chair of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair of the commission; the secretary of the department of veterans’ services or a designee; the undersecretary of the office of consumer affairs and business regulation or a designee; the Secretary of Administration and Finance or a designee; the president of the Mass. Veterans’ Service Agents Association, Inc. or a designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association or a designee; the president of the Local Officials Human Services Council or a designee; the veterans’ benefits and services commissioner in and for the city of Boston; and two unaffiliated veterans, acting as private citizens not employed by a city, town, or group providing services to veterans, appointed by the Governor with consideration to veterans disabled in combat since 2001.

The Commission shall study and evaluate the current system for identifying veterans in need of services, providing, administering and financing services and access to services, and coordinating the actions of federal, state and local government agencies in a manner that is effective and efficient.

The Commission shall evaluate the fiscal impact on local government of the current system of municipal financing of veterans’ benefits subject to reimbursement through the state budget and of the rules governing state and local administration of the program.  The Commission shall consider alternative methods of financing and administration, including regionalization, that would improve services to veterans, and be more efficient.

The commission shall convene the first official meeting on or before April 1, 2018. The commission shall file the report of the study with recommendations for legislation not later than December 1, 2018 with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate who shall forward the same to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs.