HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1013        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1937

 

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

1/18/2017

Carole A. Fiola

6th Bristol

1/18/2017

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

1/30/2017

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

1/18/2017

Alan Silvia

7th Bristol

1/18/2017

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

1/18/2017

Daniel Cahill

10th Essex

1/18/2017

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

1/18/2017

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

28th Middlesex

1/18/2017

Daniel J. Ryan

2nd Suffolk

1/18/2017

Keiko M. Orrall

12th Bristol

1/18/2017

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

1/18/2017

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

1/18/2017

Shaunna L. O'Connell

3rd Bristol

1/18/2017

Kate Hogan

3rd Middlesex

1/18/2017

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

1/18/2017

Paul Brodeur

32nd Middlesex

1/18/2017

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

1/18/2017

James M. Murphy

4th Norfolk

1/18/2017

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

1/18/2017

Linda Dean Campbell

15th Essex

1/18/2017

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

1/18/2017

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

1/18/2017

Paul Tucker

7th Essex

1/18/2017

James Arciero

2nd Middlesex

1/18/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1013        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1937

By Mr. Parisella of Beverly, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1937) 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.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3161 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

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.