Massachusetts 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3494 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/16/2023

                    1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3796       FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3494
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Michael S. Day
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act honoring as veterans certain persons who served in the National Guard and Reserves.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael S. Day31st Middlesex1/20/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3796       FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3494
By Representative Day of Stoneham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3494) of 
Michael S. Day for legislation to recognize reserve veterans as veterans in the Commonwealth. 
Veterans and Federal Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3647 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
An Act honoring as veterans certain persons who served in the National Guard and Reserves.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as 
2appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
3 “Reserve veteran”, shall mean a person (a) whose last discharge from the National Guard 
4or Reserve was under honorable conditions; and (b) who performed at least 20 years of service as 
5computed under 10 U.S.C. section 12732; provided, however, that a reserve veteran shall not be 
6considered a veteran for the purposes of this clause solely by reason of satisfying this definition.
7 SECTION 2. Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the 
8following section:- 2 of 2
9 Section 16. Reserve veterans shall be honored and recognized as veterans in the 
10commonwealth; provided, however that a reserve veteran shall not be eligible for benefits 
11administered under this chapter or any other general or special law solely by reason of being a 
12reserve veteran. 
13 The commissioner shall develop a program for outreach to reserve veterans in order to 
14effectively recognize their service and further their inclusion in all honorary and ceremonial 
15events for veterans throughout the commonwealth.