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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 598 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3824
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Shirley B. Arriaga
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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 reform veterans’ services at the municipal level.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Shirley B. Arriaga8th Hampden1/10/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 598 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3824
By Representative Arriaga of Chicopee, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3824) of
Shirley B. Arriaga for legislation to provide for the appointment of full-time veterans' agents or
directors of veterans’ services in certain cities and towns. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3709 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to reform veterans’ services at the municipal level.
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 10 of chapter 115 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
3 Any city or town having a population over 12,000 and having a part-time veterans’ agent
4or part-time director of veterans’ services shall, at the start of the fiscal year, appoint a full time
5veteran’s agent or director of veterans’ services. If any city or town, having a population over
612,000, fails to appoint a full time veteran’s agent or director of veterans’ services, the secretary
7shall issue a civil penalty, not to exceed $5,000, for each month of noncompliance. Each month
8of noncompliance by the city or town shall be deemed a separate offense and such penalty shall
9be in addition to any other penalties provided by law.