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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3921 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3889 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Steven George Xiarhos |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act relative to extending Veterans benefits to surviving spouses. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/17/2025Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester2/11/2025 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3921 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3889 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3889) of |
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| 19 | 19 | | Steven George Xiarhos and Joseph D. McKenna relative to extending veterans benefits to |
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| 20 | 20 | | surviving spouses. Veterans and Federal Affairs. |
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| 21 | 21 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 22 | 22 | | _______________ |
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| 23 | 23 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 25 | 25 | | _______________ |
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| 26 | 26 | | An Act relative to extending Veterans benefits to surviving spouses. |
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| 27 | 27 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 28 | 28 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | 1 SECTION 1. (a) Section 5 of chapter 115 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as |
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| 30 | 30 | | 2appearing in the most recent edition, is hereby amended by striking out the current rates of |
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| 31 | 31 | | 3benefits provided to veterans and inserting in place thereof the following provisions:- |
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| 32 | 32 | | 4 1. The amount of financial assistance provided to eligible veterans shall be increased by |
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| 33 | 33 | | 525% over the current rate of benefits. |
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| 34 | 34 | | 6 2. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans' Services shall annually review the |
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| 35 | 35 | | 7cost of living and adjust the benefit rates accordingly to ensure veterans' benefits keep pace with |
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| 36 | 36 | | 8inflation. |
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| 37 | 37 | | 9 (b) Section 5A of chapter 115 of the Massachusetts General Laws is further amended by |
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| 38 | 38 | | 10adding the following:- 2 of 2 |
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| 39 | 39 | | 11 (1) Upon the death of an eligible veteran, the surviving spouse shall continue to receive |
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| 40 | 40 | | 12the same financial assistance benefits provided under Chapter 115 for a period of 12 months |
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| 41 | 41 | | 13following the death of the veteran. |
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| 42 | 42 | | 14 (2) After the initial 12-month period, the surviving spouse shall continue to receive |
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| 43 | 43 | | 15financial assistance at 75% of the veteran’s benefit rate, provided the spouse remains unmarried |
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| 44 | 44 | | 16and continues to meet the eligibility criteria set forth by the Department of Veterans' Services. |
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| 45 | 45 | | 17 (3) In the event of remarriage, benefits shall cease at the time of remarriage. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 18 (4) The Executive Office of Veterans' Services shall establish guidelines to ensure a |
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| 47 | 47 | | 19seamless transition of benefits from the veteran to the surviving spouse, including application |
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| 48 | 48 | | 20procedures and eligibility verification processes. |
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| 49 | 49 | | 21 SECTION 2. (a) The Commonwealth shall allocate the necessary funds to the Executive |
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| 50 | 50 | | 22Office of Veterans' Services to implement the increased benefits and to administer the extension |
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| 51 | 51 | | 23of benefits to surviving spouses. |
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| 52 | 52 | | 24 (b) The Executive Office of Veterans' Services shall work in coordination with local |
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| 53 | 53 | | 25veterans’ agents to ensure eligible veterans and their surviving spouses are informed of the |
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| 54 | 54 | | 26changes to Chapter 115 benefits and the process for applying for and receiving benefits. |
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| 55 | 55 | | 27 SECTION 3. (a) The Executive Office of Veterans' Services shall submit a report to the |
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| 56 | 56 | | 28General Court within 18 months of the enactment of this act, detailing the financial impact of the |
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| 57 | 57 | | 29increased benefits and the extension of benefits to surviving spouses. The report shall include |
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| 58 | 58 | | 30recommendations for any further legislative action needed to ensure the sustainability and |
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| 59 | 59 | | 31effectiveness of the Chapter 115 benefits program. |
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