Amendment ID: S2454-7

Amendment 7

Access to federal VA benefits while in state custody

Mr. Keenan moves to amend the bill by inserting the following new section:-

SECTION _. The executive office of health and human services, in conjunction with the department of veterans’ services, shall conduct a study on access to federal department of veterans affairs benefits for military veterans who may be in state or county correctional custody in Massachusetts.

The study shall investigate any impediments through state, county or federal policy, logistical challenges, or otherwise, that veterans in custody may face when seeking to apply for benefits under federal or state programs, or seeking to access medical evaluations for the purpose of completing, revising or renewing such benefits applications.

The office shall submit a report on the study to the clerks of the senate and house, the chairs of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, and the senate and house committees on ways and means not later than March 1, 2019.