1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 209 FILED ON: 1/12/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2358 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: John C. Velis _________________ 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 promoting equality in veterans' bonus eligibility. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and HampshireDeborah B. Goldberg, Treasurer and Receiver General TreasurerJack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/24/2023 1 of 1 SENATE DOCKET, NO. 209 FILED ON: 1/12/2023 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2358 By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2358) of John C. Velis, Deborah B. Goldberg, Treasurer and Receiver General and Jack Patrick Lewis for legislation to promote equality in veterans' bonus eligibility. Veterans and Federal Affairs. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court (2023-2024) _______________ An Act promoting equality in veterans' bonus eligibility. 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. Paragraph (1), subsection (b) of section 78 of chapter 10 of the General 2Laws, as most recently amended by chapter 124 of the acts of 2020, is hereby amended by 3inserting after the word “however” the following words:- any veteran discharged or released 4under other than honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender 5expression, or HIV status, based on such veteran’s DD-214 form or equivalent documentation, 6shall be eligible for a bonus under this section; provided further, 7 SECTION 2. Subsection (g) of said section 78 is hereby further amended by striking the 8word “service” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- service, unless any veteran is 9discharged or released under other than honorable conditions yet deemed eligible pursuant to 10paragraph (1), subsection (b) of this section.