Amendment ID: S2439-18

Amendment 18

Veterans' Bonus Division Statutory Corrections

Mr. Feeney moves that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after Section 5 the following sections:-

SECTION X.  Subsection (b) of section 78 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 124 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by striking out the words “for service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- or similar medal for service in a combat operation.

SECTION X. Section 78 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (e) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:- 

(e) Applications under this section shall be filed with the state treasurer, upon forms to be furnished by state treasurer. The state treasurer may accept the written statement of the clerk of a city or town that a person claiming pay or on whose account pay is claimed by a dependent or heir-at-law, under this section, was domiciled therein on the first day of January, in any year, as prima facie evidence of the fact of such domicile and may accept such other evidence of domicile as the state treasurer may consider adequate or necessary. The clerk of a city or town shall, at the request of the state treasurer, immediately furnish such information relative to such domicile as the clerk's records may disclose. The state treasurer may require and accept such additional evidence as the state treasurer may consider necessary to establish the fact of domicile within the commonwealth as provided under paragraph (1) of subsection (b). 

Upon request, the adjutant general shall coordinate with and shall provide any necessary information to the state treasurer for the purpose of carrying out this section. Where appropriate, the state treasurer shall furnish to the adjutant general a copy of a DD–214 form or equivalent documentation as determined by the adjutant general for the permanent records of the military division of the commonwealth. 

SECTION X.  Section 14 of chapter 132 of the acts of 2009 is hereby repealed.  

SECTION X.  Section 93 of chapter 124 the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by striking out the words “in direct response to” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- during.

SECTION X.  Item 0610-2000 of section 2 of chapter 227 of the acts of 2020 is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following words:- ; and provided further, that funds in this item shall be made available until June 30, 2022.

SECTION X. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Office of the Treasurer and Receiver General shall administer bonus payments to Gulf War veterans as set forth in item 4170-0420 of section 2 of chapter 153 of the acts of 1992; provided, however, that such sums shall only be allowed or paid out of the treasury of the commonwealth to a veteran whose final enlistment is characterized as discharged or released under honorable conditions.