Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3847 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1528 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3847
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jessica Ann Giannino
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 recognizing and providing assistance for military service-related injuries from agent
13	13	orange and burn pits.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/15/2025 1 of 5
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1528 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3847
19	19	By Representative Giannino of Revere, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3847) of
20	20	Jessica Ann Giannino for legislation to recognize and provide assistance for military service-
21	21	related injuries from agent orange and burn pits. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act recognizing and providing assistance for military service-related injuries from agent
28	28	orange and burn pits.
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. Chapter 33 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
32	32	2section 67B the following section:-
33	33	3 Section 67C. There shall be a Massachusetts orange heart medal to be presented to a
34	34	4service member or veteran who suffered a service-connected disease, condition or injury related
35	35	5to the exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents or materials including, but not limited to,
36	36	6exposure to agent orange and burn pits, where the exposure occurred while serving in the armed
37	37	7forces of the United States, active or reserve components, or the Massachusetts national guard. A
38	38	8service member shall have entered military service or state active duty from the commonwealth,
39	39	9have been a resident of the commonwealth at the time of death or have been a member of the
40	40	10Massachusetts national guard at the time of death. To be eligible, a service member or veteran
41	41	11must have served after December 6, 1941. The adjutant general or designee and 2 field grade
42	42	12officers of the armed forces of the commonwealth detailed by the commander-in-chief shall 2 of 5
43	43	13constitute a commission to make recommendations to the commander-in-chief for the awarding
44	44	14of the Massachusetts orange heart medal. The presentation of the Massachusetts orange heart
45	45	15medal pursuant to this section shall not preclude an award of the Massachusetts medal of fidelity
46	46	16pursuant to section 67B.
47	47	17 SECTION 2. Chapter 115 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
48	48	18following section:-
49	49	19 Section 18. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the
50	50	20context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
51	51	21 "Agent orange", the herbicide composed primarily of trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4, 5
52	52	22T) and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4 D) and its contaminant tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin
53	53	23(2, 3, 7, 8 dioxin, TCDD).
54	54	24 "Chemical agent", dioxin or other toxic substances found in certain defoliants, herbicides,
55	55	25pesticides and similar chemical substances or causative agents.
56	56	26 "Board", the veterans agent orange advisory board.
57	57	27 "Program", the agent orange information and assistance program.
58	58	28 “Vietnam veteran”, as defined in clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4 of the
59	59	29General Laws.
60	60	30 (b) There shall be a veterans agent orange advisory board to assist the secretary in
61	61	31administering the agent orange and burn pit information and assistance program established
62	62	32pursuant to subsection (c). The board shall consist of: 3 members appointed by the secretary of
63	63	33veterans' services; and 2 members appointed by the governor. All members shall, by education or 3 of 5
64	64	34experience, be knowledgeable of veterans benefits and programs and have demonstrated interest
65	65	35in veteran affairs. A majority of the members shall be veterans. Members shall serve for 5 years.
66	66	36The members shall vote to select a chair. If a vacancy occurs, it shall be filled for the balance of
67	67	37the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. A majority of the appointed
68	68	38and serving members of the board shall constitute a quorum of the board for the transaction of
69	69	39business. An action of the board shall be approved by a majority vote of the members present at
70	70	40a meeting where a quorum is present. The members of the board shall serve without
71	71	41compensation.
72	72	42 (c) The secretary shall develop and administer, in consultation with the veterans agent
73	73	43orange advisory board established in subsection (b), the agent orange information and assistance
74	74	44program to identify and assist Vietnam, Gulf War and Post September 11 veterans exposed to
75	75	45agent orange or other chemical agents in connection with their military service. The program
76	76	46shall:
77	77	47 (1) study, evaluate and provide information regarding epidemiological, genetic and other
78	78	48studies, investigations and research that pertain to use of chemical agents, including agent
79	79	49orange, and adverse health conditions that may be associated with exposure to chemical agents;
80	80	50 (2) provide medical information to health professionals in the commonwealth regarding
81	81	51the detection, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic symptoms that may be associated
82	82	52with exposure to chemical agents, including agent orange;
83	83	53 (3) monitor and report on the activities and policies of the federal government and other
84	84	54states relating to the exposure of veterans to chemical agents, including agent orange; 4 of 5
85	85	55 (4) monitor existing programs for Vietnam, Gulf War and Post September 11 veterans at
86	86	56the state or local level to determine if adequate services and resources exist, identify additional
87	87	57areas of concern and make recommendations on behalf of Vietnam, Gulf War and Post
88	88	58September 11 veterans to address these needs;
89	89	59 (5) provide genetic information, screening and counseling to Vietnam, Gulf War and Post
90	90	60September 11 veterans regarding the possible genetic effects which may be associated with
91	91	61exposure to chemical agents, including agent orange;
92	92	62 (6) establish, promote and maintain a public information service on agent orange
93	93	63including, but not limited to, efforts to contact Vietnam, Gulf War and Post September 11
94	94	64veterans who may have been exposed to agent orange or other chemical agents;
95	95	65 (7) establish and maintain a central registry of information on Vietnam, Gulf War and
96	96	66Post September 11 veterans in the commonwealth who may have been exposed to agent orange
97	97	67or other chemical substances;
98	98	68 (8) refer Vietnam, Gulf War and Post September 11 veterans to appropriate state and
99	99	69federal agencies or other available resources for treatment of adverse health conditions which
100	100	70may have resulted from possible exposure to chemical agents, including agent orange, in
101	101	71connection with their military service;
102	102	72 (9) assist Vietnam, Gulf War and Post September 11 veterans in filing compensation
103	103	73claims for disabilities that may have resulted from possible exposure to chemical agents,
104	104	74including agent orange and burn pits; and 5 of 5
105	105	75 (10) communicate the concerns of Vietnam, Gulf War and Post September 11 veterans
106	106	76related to exposure to chemical agents, including agent orange and burn pits, to appropriate state
107	107	77and federal officials.
108	108	78 (d) The secretary, in consultation with the board, shall promulgate regulations necessary
109	109	79to implement this section.