SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2826

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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SECTION 1. Section 34 of chapter 2 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 2. Chapter 6 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 15ZZZZZZ the following 2 sections:-

Section. 15AAAAAAA. The governor shall set apart May 22 as United States Merchant Marine Day in recognition of the establishment of the United States Merchant Marine on June 12, 1775 and shall annually issue a proclamation recommend that the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.

Section 15BBBBBBB. The governor shall annually set apart December 20 as United States Space Force Day, in recognition of the Space Force’s distinguished history and spacefaring service, and recommend that the day be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.

SECTION 3. Section 41 of said chapter 6, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 47 and 94, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 4. Section 219 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 8, the figure “21” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 23.

SECTION 5. Said section 219 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “chair”, in line 10, the following words:- ; the secretary of veterans' services or a designee.

SECTION 6. Said section 219 of said chapter 6, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “leader”, in line 18, the second time it appears, the following words:- ; 1 person appointed by the governor representing a veterans organization in the commonwealth.

SECTION 7. Subsection (d) of section 16DD of chapter 6A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 29, the second time it appears, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 8. Section 105 of said chapter 6A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the words “a department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- an executive office.

SECTION 9. Section 4G of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 7 and 8, the words “the department of veterans’ services,”.

SECTION 10. Section 61 of said chapter 7 is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 124 and 125, as so appearing, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 11. Section 78 of chapter 10 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the word "Reserve", in line 11, as so appearing, the following words:- , United States Space Force.

SECTION 12. Section 17 of chapter 11 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 21, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 13. Section 1G of chapter 15 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “students”, in line 86, the following words:- , including military-connected students.

SECTION 14. Chapter 15D of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 7 the following section:-

Section 7A. For the purposes of this section, “military installation” shall mean a base, camp, post, station, yard, center or other activity under the jurisdiction of the secretary of a United States military department or, in the case of an activity in a foreign country, under the operational control of the secretary of a United States military department or the United States Secretary of Defense, regardless of the duration of operational control.

Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, sections 6 and 7 shall not apply to a child care provider on a military installation or a facility licensed or certified as a family child care provider by a branch of the United States Department of Defense or by the United States Coast Guard.

SECTION 15. Section 1 of chapter 15E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the word “sections” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chapters.

SECTION 16. Said section 1 of said chapter 15E, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “Force”, in line 69, the following words:- , Space Force.

SECTION 17. Section 2EEEEE of chapter 29 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 14, the words “department of veterans” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office of veterans’.

SECTION 18. Section 49 of chapter 31 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 14 and 15, the words “home in the city of Chelsea” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- homes.

SECTION 19. Paragraph (h) of subdivision (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the fourth subparagraph and inserting in place thereof the following subparagraph:-

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, a member in service of a retirement system as defined in section 1 shall be provided written notice by the retirement board upon entry into service that if they qualify as a veteran who served in the armed forces of the United States, they shall be entitled to credit for active service in the armed services of the United States; provided, however, that such active service shall not be credited until such member, prior to or within 1 year of vesting pursuant to this chapter, has paid into the annuity savings fund of such system, in 1 sum or in installments, upon such terms and conditions as the board may prescribe, makeup payments, for each year of creditable service sought, of an amount equal to 10 per cent of the regular annual compensation of the member when said member entered the retirement system; provided further, that such creditable service shall not be construed to include service for more than 4 years; and provided further, that such creditable service shall not be allowed for any period of active service for which said veteran has received credit pursuant to this paragraph. This paragraph shall apply to national guard and active reserve personnel, both former and present. Creditable service time, both enlisted and commissioned, may be applied toward retirement on a ratio of 5 years of national guard service or 5 years of active reserve service substitutable for each year of active service. National guard and active reserve personnel shall not be precluded from making said purchase if they qualify as a veteran after vesting or if they reach the maximum of 4 years of eligible service purchase after vesting and qualifying as a veteran; provided, however, that they enter into a purchase agreement within 5 years of the last occurring event.

SECTION 20. Section 15 of chapter 33 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

(j) There shall be a military spouse liaison appointed by the adjutant general who shall conduct outreach to and advocate on behalf of military spouses residing in the commonwealth. The duties of the military spouse liaison shall include, but not be limited to: (i) providing assistance and information to military spouses seeking professional licenses and credentials or other employment the commonwealth; (ii) coordinating research on issues facing military spouses; (iii) creating informational materials to assist military spouses and their families; (iv) providing recommendations to assist spouses in accessing high quality child care; (v) developing resources in coordination with military installations to increase access to high quality child care for military families; and (vi) assisting military spouses with finding employment in relevant sectors.

SECTION 21.  Said chapter 33 is hereby further amended by striking out section 59, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 59. (a) An employee of the commonwealth or another state in the service of the armed forces of the commonwealth or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States based in the commonwealth shall be entitled to receive pay without loss of ordinary remuneration as a public employee during service in the uniformed services, annual training under section 60 or drills and parades under section 61, or for an employee in the service of the armed forces of another state, annual training, drills or parades under a corresponding law of that state, not exceeding 40 days in any federal fiscal year, and shall not lose any seniority or any accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime. For the purposes of this section, “uniformed services'' shall have the same meaning as in section 13. For the purposes of this subsection, ''day'' shall mean any 24–hour period regardless of calendar day.

(b) An employee of the commonwealth in the service of the armed forces of the commonwealth under sections 38, 40 or 41, or in the service of the armed forces of another state under a corresponding law of that state, shall be entitled to receive pay without loss of ordinary remuneration as a public employee and shall not lose any seniority or any accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime during the first 30 consecutive days of any mission; provided, however, that after the 30-day period, the ordinary remuneration of such an employee shall be reduced by any amount received from the United States, the commonwealth or another state as base pay for military service performed during the same pay period and there shall be no loss of any seniority or any accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime. National guard duty performed under Title 32 of the United States Code shall not be deemed service in the armed forces of the commonwealth under sections 38, 40 or 41 or service in the armed forces of another state under the corresponding law of that state for the purposes of this section.

(c) An employee of the commonwealth in the armed forces of the commonwealth or of another state performing duty under Titles 10 or 32 of the United States Code shall be paid their regular base salary as a public employee for each pay period of such military leave of absence, reduced by any amount received from the United States, the commonwealth or another state as base pay for military service performed during the same pay period and such employee shall not lose any seniority or any accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime.

(d) An employee of the commonwealth in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States who is ordered to service for more than 30 consecutive days shall be paid their regular base salary as a public employee for each pay period of such military leave of absence, reduced by any amount received from the United States, the commonwealth or another state as base pay for military service performed during the same pay period. No such employee shall lose any seniority or accrued vacation leave, sick leave, personal leave, compensation time or earned overtime.

(e) An employee of a county, city or town which, by vote of its legislative body, has accepted this section or similar provisions of earlier laws, shall be entitled to the benefits and protections of this section or the benefits of the accepted earlier law.

(f) For the purposes of this section, ''base pay for military service'' shall not include any housing, incentive, bonus, skills pay, allowance or other stipend or benefit paid to the employee for the employee's military service.

SECTION 22. Subsection (b) of article 43 of chapter 33A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (2) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(2) A person charged with an offense shall not be liable to be punished under article 15 if the Massachusetts National Guard knew, or reasonably should have known, of the offense more than 2 years before the imposition of punishment.

SECTION 23. Section 5 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after clause Twenty-second H the following 2 clauses:-

Twenty-second I. In a city or town that accepts this clause and is certified by the commissioner of revenue to be assessing all property at full and fair cash valuation, an abatement granted pursuant clause Twenty-second, Twenty-second A, Twenty-second B, Twenty-second C, Twenty-second E or Twenty-second F shall be increased annually by an amount equal to the increase in the cost of living as determined by the Consumer Price Index for such year. The department of revenue shall annually inform each city or town that accepts this clause of the amount of such increase.

Twenty-second J. In a city or town that accepts this clause and is certified by the commissioner of revenue to be assessing all property at full and fair cash valuation, a taxpayer who otherwise qualifies for an exemption pursuant to clause Twenty-second, Twenty-second A, Twenty-second B, Twenty-second C, Twenty-second E or Twenty-second F shall be granted an additional exemption the amount of which shall not exceed 100 per cent of the exemption for which the taxpayer qualifies, as may be determined by the legislative body of the city or town, subject to its charter, not later than the beginning of the fiscal year to which the additional exemption shall commence; provided, however, that the additional exemption shall be uniform for all taxpayers who qualify for an exemption under said clause Twenty-second, Twenty-second A, Twenty-second B, Twenty-second C, Twenty-second E or Twenty-second F. Once accepted, the amount of the exemption shall continue until amended by the legislative body of the city or town. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the exemption shall be in addition to any exemption allowable pursuant to this section; provided, however, the taxable valuation of the property receiving an exemption pursuant to this clause, after all applicable exemptions, shall not be reduced below 10 per cent of its full and fair cash valuation, except through the applicability of clause Eighteenth. Acceptance of this clause by a city or town shall not increase the amount that the city or town otherwise would have been reimbursed by the commonwealth pursuant to the clause. The additional exemption contained within this clause shall not be implemented in any year in which the city or town has also accepted section 5C1/2.

SECTION 24. Section 5N of said chapter 59, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 16 and 43, the figure $1,500 and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $2,000.

SECTION 25. Subsection (u) of section 6 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1113 and 1130, the figure “$2,000” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $2,500.

SECTION 26. Said subsection (u) of said section 6 of said chapter 62, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 1119, the words “the day” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- six months after.

SECTION 27. Section 38GG of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 8 and 24, the figure “$2,000” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $2,500.

SECTION 28. Said section 38GG of said chapter 63, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 13, the words “the day” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- six months after.

SECTION 29. Section 6 of chapter 64H of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out subsection (u) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(u) Sale of a motor vehicle purchased by and for the use of a person who has suffered loss, or permanent loss of use, of both legs or both arms or 1 leg and 1 arm or by and for the use of a veteran who has been determined to be permanently disabled by the medical advisory board established under section 8C of chapter 90 and has been issued a plate displaying the words “Disabled Veteran” or a Purple Heart distinctive registration plate pursuant to section 2J of said chapter 90; provided, however, that this exemption shall apply to 1 motor vehicle owned and registered only for the personal, noncommercial use of such person. A person who is otherwise eligible for this exemption and who was previously issued a Purple Heart distinctive registration plate shall not be required to forfeit such plate to remain eligible for this exemption.

SECTION 30. Chapter 69 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 38. (a) For the purposes of this section, “military-connected student” shall mean a student who is an unemancipated person whose parent or guardian: (i) is a current or reserve member of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard, United States Space Force, Army Nurse Corps, Navy Nurse Corps, United States Air Force, Air National Guard or Army National Guard; or (ii) a member of a military or reserve force under clause (i) who was killed in the line of duty.

(b) A school district shall provide appropriate support services to a military-connected student if their parent or guardian is called or ordered to active duty pursuant to Title 10 or 32 of the United States Code and said parent or guardian notifies the district of such active duty or a student’s parent or guardian is a member of a military or reserve force and was killed in the line of duty. The school district shall provide such student with informational materials and resources and access to a: (i) certified school counselor; (ii) certified school psychologist; or (iii) school social worker.

(c) The department shall coordinate with the military division of the commonwealth to carry out subsection (b), including posting information about military family resources to the department’s website and providing informational materials for use by school districts to inform parents and guardians of the supports available under said subsection (b).

(d) A school district may notify a teacher of the enrollment of a military-connected student at the request of the military-connected student’s parent or guardian to provide the teacher with the opportunity to monitor a military-connected student’s level of academic engagement and provide support as needed.

SECTION 31. Section 4 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 32, the word “department”, the second time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 32. Said section 4 of said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 39, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 33. Section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 172 to 186, inclusive, as so appearing, the words “pleasure passenger vehicles owned by veterans who, according to the records of the United States Veterans’ Administration, has been determined to have a service-connected disability rating of 60 per cent or greater and by reason of service in the armed forces of the United States have suffered loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet; or loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands; or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes of the following status: central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than twenty degrees in the better eye, or any other disability or handicap of such veterans which may be determined by the medical advisory board as established by section eight C, and”.

SECTION 34. The seventh paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 90, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third and fourth sentences.

SECTION 35. Said section 2 of said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 246 to 258, inclusive, as so appearing, the words “and the words “Disabled Veteran” for a pleasure passenger vehicle or a pick-up truck owned or leased by and used by a veteran who, according to the records of the United States Veterans’ Administration, by reason of service in the armed forces of the United States has suffered loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet; or loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands; or permanent impairment of vision of both eyes of the following status: central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater that 20 degrees in the better eye, or any other disability or handicap”.

SECTION 36. Said section 2 of said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by striking out the twelfth paragraph, as so appearing.

SECTION 37. Said section 2 of said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by striking out the fifteenth to seventeenth paragraphs, inclusive, as so appearing.

SECTION 38. Said section 2 of said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by striking out the nineteenth to twenty-second paragraphs, inclusive, as so appearing.

SECTION 39. Said chapter 90 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2I the following section:-

Section 2J. (a) The registrar shall design and maintain a series of distinct and individual license plates recognizing those who have served in the military and for those who deserve special recognition relating to or deriving from military service as provided herein.

(b) An individual that meets the definition of a veteran under clause forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 or section 1 of chapter 115 or who is eligible for annuity provided under section 6C of said chapter 115, upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of such status as determined by the registrar, shall be eligible for and entitled to a veteran license plate bearing the words “VETERAN”.

(c) The series of distinct and individual license plates recognizing those who have served in the military and for those who deserve special recognition relating to or deriving from military service shall include license plates for:

(i) veterans ranked with a disability rating of not less than 60 per cent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, including those who have suffered the loss of a limb, permanent visual acuity loss of 20/200 in an eye, or are otherwise determined to be disabled or handicapped by the medical advisory board established in section 8C;

(ii) veterans who have been captured and incarcerated by foreign forces in conflict or held as prisoners of war;

(iii) veterans who are members of the Legion of Valor of the United States of America Inc.;

(iv) veterans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor shall be entitled to a distinctive plate recognizing that status, including, subject to availability, the use of the initials of the award recipient followed by CMH signifying their award.

(v) veterans awarded the Purple Heart medal shall be entitled to a distinctive plate indicating that status which shall include the words “COMBAT WOUNDED”;

(vi) survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status and bearing the word “VETERAN”;

(vii) residents of the commonwealth serving in any branch of the national guard shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status;

(viii) residents of the commonwealth awarded the medal of liberty pursuant to section 67A of chapter 33 shall be entitled to a distinctive plate reflecting that status; and

(ix) next of kin of a member of the armed forces, in possession of a Gold Star Lapel Button under the regulations of the United States Secretary of Defense, shall be entitled to a Gold Star Family distinctive plate; provided, however, that said button shall not be an eligibility requirement for those who have presented other satisfactory evidence of their status, as determined by the registrar.

(d) A veteran who has served in the armed forces and is entitled to a veteran license plate shall also be entitled to the issuance of a decal or emblem denoting their branch of service. Residents of the commonwealth who are veterans and who identify as female shall be entitled to a distinctive decal or emblem, which the registry of motor vehicles shall design and issue.

(e) The following individuals shall be entitled to a distinctive plate, decal or emblem denoting their award status:

(i) owners of private vehicles awarded 1 of the following decorations for valor or gallantry: (i) the Silver Star; (ii) the Bronze Star; (iii) the Distinguished Flying Cross; (iv) the Distinguished Service Cross; (v) the Navy Cross; (vi) the Air Force Cross; or (vii) any other similar award designated by the secretary of veterans’ services; and

(ii) residents of the commonwealth who qualify as a Gold Star parent, child, sibling, grandchild or spouse.

(f) Veterans entitled to a distinctive plate shall be entitled to have a distinctive emblem or decal reflecting service in Operation Enduring Freedom or the receipt of the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, a Persian Gulf Campaign Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal or the Prisoner of War Medal.

(g) A person who is widowed by a veteran who received any special recognition or status pursuant to this section shall not be required to forfeit their distinctive license plate, decal or emblem unless they cancel or fail to renew the registration for said license plate. If a veteran was eligible for special recognition or status under this section but did not apply for such special recognition or status before their death, the person widowed by said deceased veteran may apply on behalf of the deceased veteran for special recognition or status pursuant to this section.

(h) Special recognition or status pursuant to this section shall entitle the recipient to not more than 1 distinctive license plate, decal or emblem; provided, however, that such recipient may opt to have the distinctive plate, decal or emblem issued in a form suitable for use on a motorcycle.

(i) Any plate to which an individual is entitled pursuant to this section shall be issued without fee other than the established registration fee for private passenger motor vehicles and motorcycles. State-operated veterans’ homes shall be reimbursed annually from the General Fund for any loss of revenue for any license plate, decal or emblem provided free of charge pursuant to this section.

SECTION 40. Section 244 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as inserted by section 14 of chapter 154 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2, 28, the second time it appears, 35 and 38, the word “commissioner” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- secretary.

SECTION 41. Said section 244 of said chapter 111, as so inserted, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 43, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 42. Section 1 of chapter 115 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of “'Dependent” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Dependent”, the spouse, widowed person, child or parent of a veteran, including any person who stood in the relationship of a parent to such veteran for the 5 years preceding the commencement of the veteran’s wartime service; provided, however, that no child of a veteran who is more than 18 years of age shall be deemed a dependent, unless the child meets the criteria established for emancipation pursuant to section 28 of chapter 208 or section 9 of chapter 209C or unless the child is mentally or physically unable to support themselves after attaining the age of 23.

SECTION 43. Said section 1 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 25, the word “his”, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the applicant’s.

SECTION 44. Said section 1 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 26, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the applicant.

SECTION 45. Said section 1 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the definition of “Veteran” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:-

“Veteran”, a person who: (a) is a veteran as defined in clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4; (b) served on active duty in the armed forces for not less than 90 days and whose last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable; (c) served on active duty, including active duty solely for training purposes, in the armed forces and was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; (d) served in the national guard or as a reservist in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes, and was awarded a service-connected disability or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; or (e) is determined to be a veteran according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, however, that in any case, the service of such person qualified under clause (a) through clause (e), inclusive, was entered into or served in the commonwealth or such person has resided in the commonwealth for not less than 1 day, except for the purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a deceased veteran’s dependents.

SECTION 46. Said section 1 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 54 and 55, the words “as defined in clause Forty-third of section seven of chapter four,”.

SECTION 47. Section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 1 and 2, the words “as defined in clause Forty-third of section seven of chapter four”.

SECTION 48. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 7 and 20, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- the secretary’s.

SECTION 49. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 8, 12, 20, 66, 82, 103, 123, 131, 139 and 150, the word “He” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:-The secretary.

SECTION 50. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 12, 63, 71, 89, 98, 113, 118 and 119, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the secretary.

SECTION 51. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 13, 14, 61, 118, 125, 129, 134 and 142, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the secretary.

SECTION 52. The third paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the third sentence the following 3 sentences:- Any claimant aggrieved by a decision of a veterans’ agent regarding veterans benefits or by the failure of a city or town to render adequate veterans' benefits or to take, approve or deny an application for veterans’ benefits within 45 days of receiving such application or the claimant requesting to apply for benefits or any person aggrieved by the termination or reduction of such benefits shall have the right to appeal to the secretary. An appeal shall be filed with the secretary within 90 days of the claimant’s receipt of a written adverse notice. An informal administrative hearing of such appeal shall be conducted to review the facts and circumstances giving rise to the appeal. The secretary shall issue a decision on the appeal within 90 days after the informal administrative hearing has closed.

SECTION 53. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 39, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the person’s.

SECTION 54. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 45, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a party’s.             

SECTION 55. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the sixth paragraph.

SECTION 56. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 82, the words “him or by his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the secretary or the secretary’s.

SECTION 57. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 98, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the applicant’s.

SECTION 58. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 153 and 156, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- a.

SECTION 59. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 155, the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 60. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following 3 paragraphs:-

The secretary shall provide, subject to appropriation, a medical assistance benefit in addition to the other benefits provided in this chapter. A recipient of the medical assistance benefit shall, where applicable, make use of private, state or federally-funded resources before seeking aid under this paragraph. The medical assistance benefit shall include, but not be limited to, covering the cost of necessary medical visits, procedures, prescriptions and other such treatment as the secretary shall determine through regulations. The secretary shall, by regulation or otherwise, make provision to keep the program efficient and economical.

The secretary shall provide, subject to appropriation, a behavioral health assistance benefit in addition to the other benefits provided in this chapter. A recipient of the behavioral health assistance benefit shall, where applicable, make use of private, state or federally-funded resources before seeking aid under this paragraph. The behavioral health assistance benefit shall include, but not be limited to, coverage for the cost of those necessary outpatient behavioral health assessments, evaluations, visits, prescriptions and other such treatment as the secretary shall determine through regulations. The secretary shall, by regulation or otherwise, make provision to keep the program efficient and economical.

The secretary shall provide, subject to appropriation, a dental assistance benefit in addition to the other benefits provided in this chapter. A recipient of the dental assistance benefit shall, where applicable, make use of private, state or federally-funded resources before seeking aid under this paragraph. The dental assistance benefit shall include, but not be limited to, coverage for the cost of those necessary medical visits, procedures, prescriptions and other such treatment as the secretary shall determine through regulations. The secretary shall, by regulation or otherwise, make provision to keep the program efficient and economical.

SECTION 61. Said section 2 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Annually, not later than November 1, the secretary shall report on the activities of the office and data collected related to veterans, including, but not limited to: (i) the number of recipients of state veteran benefits and applicants for benefits, delineated by municipality and demographic; (ii) a breakdown on the outcome of benefit appeal decisions pursuant to this section; (iii) a summary of the office’s outreach to veterans on the availability of and process for applying for benefits; (iv) demographic and regional information available on the veteran population in the commonwealth; (v) directives in effect; and (vi) any legislative recommendations necessary to better serve veterans and their families in the commonwealth. The office shall publicly post the report on the office’s website and submit the report to the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means.

SECTION 62. Section 2B of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 7 and 8, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- a.

SECTION 63. Section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 17, the word “his”.

SECTION 64. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 18, the words “in behalf of a civil war” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- on behalf of a.

SECTION 65. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 18 and 19, the words “his wife or widow” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a veteran’s spouse or widowed person.

SECTION 66. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 20, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the secretary.

SECTION 67. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 20, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the agent’s.

SECTION 68. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 24, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the veteran.

SECTION 69. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 24, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the veteran’s.

SECTION 70. Said section 3 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 25 and 27, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the agent.

SECTION 71. Section 4 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 4, 5, 8 and 20, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the applicants.

SECTION 72. Said section 4 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 14, the word “widow” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- widowed person.

SECTION 73. Section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2 and 55, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the veteran.

SECTION 74. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 3 to 10, inclusive, the words “unless he has actually resided within the commonwealth for 1 day preceding the date of his application for such benefits, nor to any dependent of a veteran unless he has actually resided within 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” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- or to a dependent of a veteran unless the veteran or the dependent has actually resided within the commonwealth for not less than 1 day preceding the date of the application for such benefits.

SECTION 75. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 16, 25, 26, 45, 59, 62, 63, 65 and 66, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- their.

SECTION 76. The second paragraph of said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- A city or town may, upon recommendation of the veterans’ agent and with written authorization from the veteran or dependent, disburse veterans’ benefits under this section by direct deposit to a financial institution of the veteran or dependent’s choice or by mail.

SECTION 77. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 22 and 74, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- them.

SECTION 78. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 27, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the applicant.              

SECTION 79. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 24, the word “himself” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- themselves.

SECTION 80. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out in lines 39, 43, 51, 54, 102 and 103, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the veteran’s.

SECTION 81. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 42, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the secretary’s.

SECTION 82. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 57, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the veteran.

SECTION 83. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 59, the word “He” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- They.

SECTION 84. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 61, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- they.

SECTION 85. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 92, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the veterans’ agent’s.

SECTION 86. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 95, 99 and 103, the word “mother” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- parent.

SECTION 87. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 100, the word “her” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the parent’s.

SECTION 88. Said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 106, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the secretary.

SECTION 89. The seventh paragraph of said section 5 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- An increase in income from a cost-of-living adjustment made to social security, supplemental security income or social security disability insurance shall not render a recipient ineligible for benefits under this chapter in the year that the cost-of-living adjustment was issued.

SECTION 90. Section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 2, 8, 11, 57, 60 and 63 and 64, the words “mother or father” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following word:- parent.

SECTION 91. Said section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 16 and 17, the words “mother’s or father’s” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- parent’s.

SECTION 92. Said section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 33, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- the person.

SECTION 93. Said section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 40, the words “mother and father” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- parents.

SECTION 94. Said section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 41, the words “in his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- within the secretary’s.

SECTION 95. Said section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 45, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the secretary’s.

SECTION 96. Said section 5A of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 47 and 48, the words “the petition in his own name” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- a petition.

SECTION 97. Section 6 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the word “him”.

SECTION 98. Said section 6 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 12, each time it appears, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the secretary.

SECTION 99. Said section 6 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 15 and 19, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the secretary.

SECTION 100. Section 6A of said chapter 115 is hereby repealed.

SECTION 101. Section 6B of said chapter 115, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 19, 28 and 35, the words “the sum of $2,000” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $2,250.

SECTION 102. Said section 6B of said chapter 115 is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$2,250”, inserted by section 101, each time it appears, and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following figure:- $2,500.

SECTION 103. Said section 6B of said chapter 115, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 20, 29 and 35 and 36 the words “two equal payments on August and February 1” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- “1 payment on August 1.”

SECTION 104. Said section 6B of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 21 and 30, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the veteran’s.

SECTION 105. Said section 6B of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 31 and 32 the words “, provided that the surviving spouse does not remarry,”.

SECTION 106. Section 7 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the word “He” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- The burial agent.

SECTION 107. Said section 7 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 8, the words “his wife, or his widow” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the veteran’s spouse, or widowed person.

SECTION 108. Said section 7 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 10, the word “him” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the burial agent.

SECTION 109. Said section 7 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 12 and 14, the word “he” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the burial agent.

SECTION 110. Said section 7 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 17 and 20, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the person’s.

SECTION 111. Section 8 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 23, the words “widow, or widower” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- widowed person.

SECTION 112. Section 9 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The mayor of every city and the select board of every town shall appoint a resident of such city or town who shall be a veteran as a veterans’ graves officer for a term to be determined by the appointing authority; provided, however, that said term shall not exceed five years; provided further, that if no qualified, willing and able veteran seeks such appointment, a spouse of a veteran or a member of a Gold Star family may be appointed as a veterans' graves officer.

SECTION 113. Said chapter 115 is hereby amended by inserting after section 9 the following section:-

Section 9A. The executive office of veterans’ services shall operate, maintain and expand the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial cemetery located in the city known as the town of Agawam and the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial cemetery located in the town of Winchendon and may add new cemetery locations, subject to the availability of funds, to meet veterans’ and veteran dependents’ needs; provided, however, that the office shall maintain the cemetery grounds, facilities and infrastructure and shall manage the burial and interment services. The executive office may adopt additional rules, regulations and policies as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities and ensure the proper functioning of the cemeteries under its control.

SECTION 114. Section 10 of said chapter 115, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 23, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- such director’s.

SECTION 115. Said section 10 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 31 and 32, the words “duties of his office” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- office’s duties.

SECTION 116. Said section 10 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 32, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the director’s.

SECTION 117. Said section 10 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 37, the words “his duties as treasurer of the district” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the district treasurer’s duties.

SECTION 118. Section 11 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the mayors.

SECTION 119. Said section 11 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the word “chairman” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- chair.

SECTION 120. Said section 11 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 5, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the town manager’s.

SECTION 121. Said section 11 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 24, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the treasurer’s.

SECTION 122. Section 15 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 4, the words “he, and his duly accredited agents,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- the director and the director’s agents.

SECTION 123. Said section 15 of said chapter 115, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 11, the word “his” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- a.

SECTION 124. Section 16 of said chapter 115, inserted by section 53 of chapter 126 of the acts of 2022, is hereby amended by inserting after the first sentence the following sentence:- The board shall ensure that veterans receive state-based veteran benefits if they receive: (i) an other than honorable discharge on the basis of sex, race, color, religious creed, national origin, age, genetic information, ancestry, marital status or disability; or (ii) any United States Department of Veterans Affairs category eligible for a discharge upgrade, including, but not limited to, mental health conditions, military sexual trauma and traumatic brain injury. The executive office of veterans’ services shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out this section.

SECTION 125. Said section 16 of said chapter 115, as so inserted, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 37, 40 and 50, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 126. Said chapter 115 is hereby further amended by adding the following section:-

Section 18. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Compensation”, payment of any money, thing of value or financial benefit.

“Person”, an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality or any other legal or commercial entity.

“Veterans benefits matter”, the preparation, presentation or prosecution of any claim affecting any person who has filed or expressed an intent to file a claim for any benefit, program, service, commodity, function or status, entitlement to which is determined under the laws and regulations administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense pertaining to veterans, their dependents, their survivors and any other individual eligible for such benefits.

(b) In regard to a veterans benefits matter, no person shall: (i) receive compensation for: (A) preparation, presentation, prosecution, advising, consulting or assisting any individual with regard to any veterans benefits matter, except as permitted under federal law; or (B) referring a veteran to another person to prepare, present, prosecute, advise, consult or assist such veteran with any veterans benefits matter; (ii) guarantee, either directly or by implication, that any individual is certain to receive specific veterans benefits or that any individual is certain to receive a specific level, percentage or amount of veterans benefits; or (iii) receive excessive or unreasonable fees under 38 C.F.R 14.636(e) as compensation for advising or assisting any veteran with any veterans benefits matter.

(c) A violation of this section shall also be a violation of chapter 93A.

SECTION 127. Chapter 115A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 1, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 1. A person who is a veteran as defined in section 1 of chapter 115 shall be entitled to out-patient treatment at, admission to and hospitalization in a state-operated veterans' home, subject to the provisions of section 3.

SECTION 128. Section 9 of said chapter 115A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 3, the words “home in the city of Chelsea” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- homes.

SECTION 129. Section 12 of said chapter 115A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 1, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 130. Said section 12 of said chapter 115A, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 22, the words “department of veterans” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- executive office of veterans’.

SECTION 131. Section 3 of chapter 115B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 16 to 18, inclusive, the words “home in the city of Chelsea; and the chair of the board of trustees of the veterans’ home in the city of Holyoke” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- homes.

SECTION 132. Section 73B of chapter 272 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 18, the second time it appears, and 23, the word “department” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- executive office.

SECTION 133. Section 11 of chapter 276A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 6 and 13, the words “the department” and inserting in place thereof, in each instance, the following words:- the executive office.

SECTION 134. Section 3 of chapter 71 of the acts of 1996, as amended by section 2 of chapter 468 of the acts of 2002, is hereby further amended by striking out the second paragraph.

SECTION 135. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a member of a retirement system who is a member in service and a veteran who failed to make the purchase authorized in paragraph (h) of subdivision (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws pursuant to chapter 71 of the acts of 1996 shall be given a 1-time opportunity to apply to the retirement system to make said purchase within 1 year from the effective date of this act. Each retirement system shall provide written notice to all members in service of their potential eligibility for this purchase within 90 days of the effective date of this act.

SECTION 136. (a) The secretary of veterans’ services, in coordination with the executive office of health and human services, shall convene a working group to review alternative therapies for mental health treatments for veterans. The working group shall: (i) study whether psychedelic therapy is associated with improved outcomes among veterans with diagnosed mental health disorders; (ii) evaluate literature, research trials and expert opinions to determine if psychedelic therapy is associated with improved outcomes regarding mental health treatment for veterans; and (iii) issue recommendations regarding the provision of psychedelic therapy to treat veterans with mental health disorders in the commonwealth. As used in this section, “psychedelic therapy” shall mean the use of psilocybin, ketamine, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine under the direction of a health care provider to treat mental health disorders.

(b) The secretary shall appoint the following members to the working group: 2 members who shall represent medical centers or hospitals in the commonwealth that serve veterans; 2 members who shall represent health insurance companies; 2 members who shall represent veterans’ services organizations; 1 member who shall represent an organization currently studying the subject matter of alternative therapies for mental health treatment of veterans; 1 member who shall represent the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics at Massachusetts General Hospital; and such other members with experience in behavioral health or veterans’ services as the secretary deems necessary. The secretary shall designate a chair of the working group from the membership of the group.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2025, the working group shall file a report of its findings and any recommendations with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs and the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery.

SECTION 137. (a) There shall be a special commission to study post-traumatic stress disorder in the commonwealth.

(b) The commission shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of public safety and security, or a designee; the secretary of veterans’ services, or a designee; the commissioner of mental health, or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery; a representative of the National Guard appointed by the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard; and 9 members to be appointed by the secretary of health and human services, 1 of whom shall be an expert from the Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders Laboratory at Harvard University in consultation with their relevant specialty chapters, 1 of whom shall be a representative of Boston Children's Hospital, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Police Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Jane Doe Inc.: The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, 1 of whom shall be a representative from Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Corrections Officers Federated Union, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a research advocacy or support organization primarily serving individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder and 1 of whom shall be a representative of Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base program.

(c) The commission shall: (i) assess and summarize the advances made in research on and treatment and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder; (ii) assess and summarize the advances made in access to care for individuals with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder; (iii) assess and summarize research services and support activities for post-traumatic stress disorder across the commonwealth, including coordination of the commonwealth's activities and programs with respect to post-traumatic stress disorder; and (iv) develop a comprehensive strategic plan to improve health outcomes for individuals with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder including, but not limited to, recommendations to: (A) advance research on post-traumatic stress disorder; (B) improve the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; (C) improve public awareness and recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder; (D) improve mental health care delivery for individuals with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder; (E) improve the early and accurate diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder; and (F) systematically advance the full spectrum of biomedical research on post-traumatic stress disorder.

(d) The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than July 1, 2025.

SECTION 138. The executive office of veterans’ services, in consultation with the department of revenue, shall study property tax abatements and exemptions for veterans and surviving spouses pursuant to chapter 59 of the General Laws. The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) veteran property tax exemptions in other states; (ii) the utilization of a sliding scale based on the percentage of a veteran’s disability for the awarding of such exemption to veterans and spouses; (iii) determination of the relation of tax abatements and exemptions to United States Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating; (iv) the financial impact these tax exemptions have on veterans with disabilities; and (v) any anticipated monetary cost that the exemptions may cause. The office shall file a report of its findings and recommendations with the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than December 31, 2024.

SECTION 139. There shall be a special commission to study and develop proposals for ways to improve the quality of life of veterans in the commonwealth, including, but not limited to, employment opportunities for veterans. The commission shall collaborate with veterans’ organizations in the commonwealth to develop such proposals. The commission shall consist of: the secretary of veterans’ services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the veteran advocate or a designee; a representative from BRAVE for Veterans, Inc.; 2 persons appointed by the governor with experience in veterans’ advocacy; 3 persons appointed by the senate president with experiencing working with veterans; 1 person appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who is a veteran or the spouse or family member of a veteran; 1 person appointed by the senate minority leader who is a veteran or the spouse or family member of a veteran; and an attorney with experience in veterans issues in the commonwealth, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

Not later than December 31, 2024, the commission shall submit a report of its findings to the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and the senate and house committees on ways and means.

SECTION 140. Sections 25 and 27 shall take effect on taxable years beginning on January 1, 2024.

SECTION 141. Sections 29 and 33 to 39, inclusive, shall take effect 6 months after the effective date of this act.

SECTION 142. Sections 60 and 101 shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

SECTION 143. Section 102 shall take effect on July 1, 2025.