HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1853        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1939

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul A. Schmid, III

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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 accelerating state repayments to municipalities for veterans’ benefits.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1853        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1939

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act accelerating state repayments to municipalities for veterans’ benefits.

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

Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 6, as so appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 6. The amounts expended by any city or town for veterans' benefits, the names of recipients thereof, the amounts paid to or for each applicant, the reasons for granting him such benefits, the names of the veterans on account of whose services the benefits were granted, the names, if any, of the companies, regiments, stations, organizations or vessels in which they respectively enlisted, or to which they were appointed, and in which they last served, and the relationship of each dependent to the veteran on account of whose service the benefits were granted, and such other details as the commissioner may require, shall, within 30 days following the month in which such expenditures were made, be certified to said commissioner on blank forms provided by him, in a manner approved by him, and under the penalties of perjury, by the veterans' agent and treasurer of such city or town. Such certificate forms shall be sent to the commissioner with any related documents as the commissioner may require. Within 120 days of receipt of a certification form with other required documentation, the commissioner shall examine such certificates, and shall allow such amounts as he finds have been paid and reported in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.  The commissioner may decide upon the necessity of the amount paid in each case, and may allow any part thereof which he deems proper and lawful. Subject to such decision and allowance, 75 per cent of the amounts of veterans’ benefits paid to applicants by the cities and towns wherein they reside, but none of the expenses attending the payments of such benefits, shall be repaid by the commonwealth to the several cities and towns. Repayment by the commonwealth of veterans’ benefits in each case shall, subject to appropriation, be made to cities and towns no later than 45 days after the commissioner’s decision to allow payment of such benefit amounts expended.