HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2585        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2774

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

John C. Velis

_________________

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 amending the Valor Act.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

John C. Velis

4th Hampden

1/19/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2585        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2774

By Mr. Velis of Westfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2774) of John C. Velis for legislation to clarifiy procedural issues within the Valor Act.  Veterans and Federal Affairs.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act amending the Valor Act.

 

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 2 of chapter 276A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 14 after the words, “United States,”, and before the word, “and”, the following: -

"or an individual who qualifies for diversion as a veteran pursuant to section 10 of this chapter,"

SECTION 2.  Section 10 of said chapter 276A, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended  by striking out in line 17, the word, “an”, and inserting in place thereof the word, "any."

SECTION 3.  Said section 10 of said chapter, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence:-

"Diversion shall be available for an eligible veteran notwithstanding the prohibitory language of any other general or special law to the contrary."

SECTION 4.  Section 11 of said chapter 276A, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 4 the word, “arraignment”, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

"prior to arraignment on the date of the scheduled arraignment"

SECTION 5.  Said section 11 of said chapter, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence:-

"Following the 14-day continuance, diversion shall proceed in accordance with sections 5, 6, and 7 of this chapter."