Massachusetts 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3513 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/16/2023

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2393       FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3513
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Meghan Kilcoyne
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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 to streamline veterans benefits.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Meghan Kilcoyne12th Worcester1/18/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2393       FILED ON: 1/19/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3513
By Representative Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3513) of 
Meghan Kilcoyne relative to veterans' benefits. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to streamline veterans benefits.
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. Section 5 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking 
2the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following: Veterans’ benefits shall be paid to 
3a veteran or dependents by the Commonwealth; provided, that no benefits shall be paid to a 
4veteran unless he has actually resided in the Commonwealth for 1 day preceding the date of his 
5application for such benefits, nor shall any benefits be paid to any dependent of a veteran unless 
6he has actually resided in the Commonwealth continuously for three years next preceding the 
7date of his application for such benefits, nor unless the veteran of whom he is a dependent has 
8actually resided within the commonwealth continuously for three years next preceding the date 
9of such dependent’s application for such benefits. 
10 Section 2. Section 6 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby stricken in its entirety 
11and replaced by inserting its place the following: The application for veterans benefits is a 
12function of the Veterans Service Officer in the city or town or district where the veteran or his 
13dependent resides. The Veterans Service Officer is required to certify to the Commonwealth for  2 of 2
14direct payment to the veteran or dependent receiving the benefit the following information: the 
15names of recipients thereof, the amounts to be paid to or for each applicant, the reasons for 
16granting him such benefits, dates of residence in the Commonwealth, the names of the veterans 
17on account of whose services the benefits were granted, the names, if any, of the companies, 
18regiments, stations, organizations or vessels in which they respectively served, or to which they 
19were appointed, and in which they last served, and the relationship of each dependent to the 
20veteran on the account.