HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2393        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3513

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Meghan Kilcoyne

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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 streamline veterans benefits.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2393        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3513

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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An Act to streamline 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:
 

Section 1. Section 5 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following: Veterans’ benefits shall be paid to a veteran or dependents by the Commonwealth; provided, that no benefits shall be paid to a veteran unless he has actually resided in the Commonwealth for 1 day preceding the date of his application for such benefits, nor shall any benefits be paid to any dependent of a veteran unless he has actually resided in the Commonwealth continuously for three years next preceding the date of his application for such benefits, nor unless the veteran of whom he is a dependent has actually resided within the commonwealth continuously for three years next preceding the date of such dependent’s application for such benefits.

Section 2. Section 6 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby stricken in its entirety and replaced by inserting its place the following: The application for veterans benefits is a function of the Veterans Service Officer in the city or town or district where the veteran or his dependent resides. The Veterans Service Officer is required to certify to the Commonwealth for direct payment to the veteran or dependent receiving the benefit the following information: the names of recipients thereof, the amounts to be paid to or for each applicant, the reasons for granting him such benefits, dates of residence in the Commonwealth, 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 served, or to which they were appointed, and in which they last served, and the relationship of each dependent to the veteran on the account.