Amendment ID: S2817-23

Amendment 23

Veterans’ Bonus

Messrs. Cronin, Timilty, O'Connor and Payano move that the proposed new text be amended by adding the following sections:-

SECTION 1. Subsection (a) of section 78 of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following words:- 

As used in this section, the term “Korean Emergency” shall mean the period on or after June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955. 

As used in this section, the term “Persian Gulf War” shall mean the period on or after August 2, 1990 to April 10, 1991.  

As used in this section, the term “Vietnam Conflict” shall mean the period on or after July 1, 1958 to May 17, 1975. 

As used in this section, the term “World War II” shall mean the period on or after September 16, 1940 to July 25, 1947.  

SECTION 2. Subparagraph (1) of subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “served”, in line 16, the following words:- “, or is currently serving,” 

SECTION 2. Subparagraph (1) of subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 19 through 23, the words “have been in the commonwealth for a period of not less than 6 months before the time of the person's entry into the service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “be the commonwealth” 

SECTION 3. Subparagraph (5) of said subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 44, the word “Medal” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Medal, or equivalent Expeditionary Medal,” 

SECTION 4. Said subparagraph (5) of said subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 48 through 52, the words “have been in the commonwealth for a period of not less than 6 months immediately before the time of the person's entry into service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- be the commonwealth 

SECTION 5. Said subsection (b) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing is hereby further amended by inserting at the end thereof the following subparagraph:- 

(6) Upon application, as provided in this section and as specified in rules and regulations established by the treasurer, there shall be allowed and paid out of the treasury of the commonwealth, without appropriation, the sums specified in such rules and regulations to each person who has served in the armed forces of the United States in active service as part of World War II, the Korean Emergency, the Vietnam War or the Persian Gulf War; provided, however, that the domicile of a person on account of whose service the application is filed shall be the commonwealth; and provided further, that any veteran discharged or released under other than honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status based on the veteran's DD-214 form or equivalent documentation shall be eligible for a bonus under this section.  

SECTION 6. Subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the fifth and sixth sentences.  

SECTION 7. Subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 100, the word “section” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- act  

SECTION 8. Subsection (e) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 106-107, the word “designed” and inserting in place thereof the following word:- designated 

SECTION 9. Subsection (g) of said section 78 of said chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “service”, in line X, the following words:- “during the enlistment period”  

SECTION 10. Chapter 731 of the acts of 1945, as amended by chapter 210 of the acts of 1946, is hereby repealed.  

SECTION 11. Chapter 210 of the acts of 1946 is hereby repealed. 

SECTION 12. Chapter 581 of the acts of 1946, as amended by chapter 210 of the acts of 1946, is hereby repealed.  

SECTION 13. Chapter 440 of the Acts of 1953 is hereby repealed.  

SECTION 14. Chapter 646 of the acts of 1968 is hereby repealed.  

SECTION 15. Chapter 325 of the acts of 1969 is hereby repealed.  

SECTION 16. Section 16 of chapter 130 of the acts of 2005 is hereby repealed. 

SECTION 17. Section 2 shall take effect on July 1, 2025.