Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2352 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1825 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2352
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 ensuring the fair treatment of military service members and veterans.
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. 1825 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2352
18	18	By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2352) of Michael F. Rush and Paul
19	19	McMurtry for legislation to ensure the fair treatment of military service members and veterans.
20	20	Veterans and Federal Affairs.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act ensuring the fair treatment of military service members and veterans.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 12A of the General Laws is hereby amended by
30	30	2inserting after the definition of “Contractor” the following definition:-
31	31	3 ''Uniformed services'', shall have the same meaning as in 38 U.S.C. section 4303(16) and
32	32	4shall include: (i) the armed forces of the commonwealth, including the state defense force or
33	33	5similar organization composed as permitted by law; (ii) the state staff when engaged in duty
34	34	6under this chapter or Title 32 of the United States Code; or (iii) the armed forces of another state
35	35	7or territory when ordered to active duty under appropriate authority.
36	36	8 SECTION 2. Said chapter 12A is hereby further amended by inserting after section 7 the
37	37	9following section:-
38	38	10 Section 71/2. (a) There shall be a veteran employment and reemployment rights division
39	39	11within the office of the inspector general to assist veterans and service members with
40	40	12employment disputes. There shall be within the division: (i) intake officers to serve as the 2 of 2
41	41	13designated initial point of contact for veterans and service members within the division; (ii)
42	42	14investigators to conduct the division’s formal inquiries or investigations, as necessary; and (iii)
43	43	15mediators to act as an intermediary between veterans and service members and employers.
44	44	16 (b) Under the direction of the office of the inspector general, the veteran employment and
45	45	17reemployment rights division shall: (i) employ intake officers to meet with veterans and service
46	46	18members, gather preliminary evidence and facts from the service member or veteran, and gather
47	47	19preliminary evidence on military service, employment, and reemployment; (ii) employ
48	48	20investigators to contact employers and military components for the purpose of gathering
49	49	21pertinent evidence; (iii) conclude whether there was improper conduct in violation of Sections
50	50	224301 to 4333, inclusive, of title 38 of the United States Code, the Uniformed Services
51	51	23Employment and Reemployment Rights Act or the General Laws; and (iv) employ mediators to
52	52	24contact the employer and veteran to offer mediation to resolve disputes and correct any improper
53	53	25conduct.
54	54	26 (c) If mediation under this section is unsuccessful, the Office of the Inspector General
55	55	27shall refer the case to the attorney general for further action.