Amendment ID: S2739-13-R1

Redraft Amendment 13

Role of Secretary of Veterans’ Services

Messrs. Velis and Gomez, Ms. Gobi, Mr. Lesser, Ms. Comerford, Messrs. Hinds, Collins and Pacheco move that the proposed new text be amended in section 6, by striking out, in lines 120 and 121, the words “the executive director of veterans’ homes and housing” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “the secretary of veterans’ services”; and 

in section 71, in proposed section 14 of chapter 115A, by striking out subsection (a) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

“(a) Each state-operated veterans’ home shall have a: (i) superintendent, who shall serve as the administrative head of the veterans’ home and who shall report to the secretary of veterans’ services; and (ii) deputy superintendent, who shall report to the superintendent. The superintendent shall be appointed by the secretary of veterans’ services, with priority given to candidates who are veterans, and may be removed by the secretary of veterans’ services without cause. The deputy superintendent of a home shall be appointed by the superintendent of the home, with priority given to candidates who are veterans, and may be removed by the superintendent without cause.

The superintendent for each veterans’ home shall: (i) be licensed as a nursing home administrator pursuant to section 109 of chapter 112 of the General Laws; (ii) have an understanding of veterans’ issues; (iii) have experience with management of a nursing home or long-term care facility; and (iv) have knowledge of and experience with fiscal management practices and labor relations.

The secretary of veterans’ services shall provide notice of a vacancy in the position of superintendent at a veterans’ home within 10 days of the vacancy to the secretary of health and human services, the Massachusetts Veterans’ Homes Advisory Council and the regional council of the state-operated veterans’ home at which the vacancy exists. The secretary of health and human services, the Massachusetts Veterans’ Homes Advisory Council and the regional council of the state-operated veterans’ home at which the vacancy exists shall submit nominations to the secretary of veterans’ services for a candidate to fill the vacancy.

Recommendations for the removal of a superintendent may be submitted to the secretary of veterans’ services and recommendations for the removal of a deputy superintendent may be submitted to the respective superintendent by the executive director of veterans’ homes and housing, the secretary of health and human services, the Massachusetts Veterans’ Homes Advisory Council and the regional council of the state-operated veterans’ home at which the superintendent or deputy superintendent has been appointed.”; and

in said section 71, in proposed subsection (g) of section 14 of chapter 115A,by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- “Annual performance reviews of the superintendent shall be conducted by the secretary of veterans’ services and annual performance reviews of the deputy superintendent shall be conducted by the superintendent of the state-operated veterans’ home at which the deputy was appointed.”.