| 1 | 1 | | 1 of 1 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 535 FILED ON: 1/17/2023 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2345 |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | Michael F. Rush |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | An Act relative to the appointment of veterans agents and service officers. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael F. RushNorfolk and SuffolkPaul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/2/2023 1 of 2 |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 535 FILED ON: 1/17/2023 |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2345 |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2345) of Michael F. Rush and Paul |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | McMurtry for legislation relative to the appointment of veterans agents and service officers. |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Veterans and Federal Affairs. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | [SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | SEE SENATE, NO. 2424 OF 2021-2022.] |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (2023-2024) |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | _______________ |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | An Act relative to the appointment of veterans agents and service officers. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 1 SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | 2deleting the first paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following:- The Mayor of each city, |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | 3except Boston, and the selectmen of each town, shall appoint a veterans' agent/veterans' service |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 4officer to act for him or them in the disbursement of veterans' benefits by such city or town; |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 5provided, however, that in each town having a part time veterans' agent/veterans' service officer |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | 6the town clerk shall receive applications and assist applicants for veterans' benefits, and shall |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | 7submit said applications to the veterans' agent/veterans' service officer. Two or more contiguous |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | 8towns may, by vote of the selectmen, and subject to the approval of the commissioner, appoint |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | 9one full time veterans' agent/veterans' service officer and such additional staff as necessary, and |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | 10may apportion the payment of compensation among such towns. The appointment of a veterans' 2 of 2 |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | 11agent/veterans' service officer shall not create a civil service position. Any person who is |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | 12appointed to the position of veterans' agent/veterans' service officer and certified by the |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | 13Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services as a trained veterans' agent/veterans' service |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | 14officer and who has held such position for not less than three years, shall not be involuntarily |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | 15separated and shall have the same rights and protection granted to any veteran under section 9A |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | 16of chapter 30 of the General Laws, notwithstanding that his or her prior appointments were for a |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | 17fixed term. |
|---|