HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3796        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3494

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Michael S. Day

_________________

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 honoring as veterans certain persons who served in the National Guard and Reserves.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Michael S. Day

31st Middlesex

1/20/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3796        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3494

By Representative Day of Stoneham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3494) of Michael S. Day for legislation to recognize reserve veterans as veterans in the Commonwealth.  Veterans and Federal Affairs.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3647 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act honoring as veterans certain persons who served in the National Guard and Reserves.

 

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. Clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

“Reserve veteran”, shall mean a person (a) whose last discharge from the National Guard or Reserve was under honorable conditions; and (b) who performed at least 20 years of service as computed under 10 U.S.C. section 12732; provided, however, that a reserve veteran shall not be considered a veteran for the purposes of this clause solely by reason of satisfying this definition.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 16.  Reserve veterans shall be honored and recognized as veterans in the commonwealth; provided, however that a reserve veteran shall not be eligible for benefits administered under this chapter or any other general or special law solely by reason of being a reserve veteran.

The commissioner shall develop a program for outreach to reserve veterans in order to effectively recognize their service and further their inclusion in all honorary and ceremonial events for veterans throughout the commonwealth.