This bill (HD 3416) requires that all veteran benefits paid under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5, be adjusted annually to match the state's average cost-of-living increase. It directly affects veterans receiving benefits under this section by ensuring their payments rise each year with inflation. The key mechanism is an automatic annual adjustment tied to the Commonwealth's official cost-of-living measure. This change updates existing benefit payments without creating new programs or eligibility requirements.
This bill changes when veterans' disability benefits begin. It sets the effective date to the day after a veteran's discharge if they apply within one year of leaving service. This directly affects veterans who file for disability compensation soon after their military separation, ensuring they receive benefits starting immediately after discharge rather than from the application date. The key mechanism is modifying the timing rule in existing law to provide faster access to benefits.
This bill updates Massachusetts veteran bonus eligibility for veterans who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm (1990-1991). It expands eligibility to veterans who moved to Massachusetts after their service by allowing either 6 months of residency before entering service or 10 years of residency after discharge. Qualifying veterans receive $500 for Persian Gulf service with the Southwest Asia Service Medal, or $300 for other qualifying National Guard/Reserve service during the same period. The changes apply specifically to veterans who served during those operations and meet the revised residency requirements.
This bill amends a state law to extend public employee benefits coverage to include military service members who die while on active duty, regardless of whether the death was combat-related or not. It adds a new provision (paragraph k) to the existing law, explicitly stating that the benefits apply to all active-duty deaths. The change directly affects public employees serving in the military who pass away during their service, ensuring their families receive benefits without distinction between combat and non-combat circumstances.
This bill requires Massachusetts child welfare agencies to collect military service information when domestic abuse or child abuse/neglect reports are accepted as credible, then share relevant details with military family advocacy programs. It mandates new agreements between local child welfare offices and military programs (like the DoD's established military family advocacy program) to create clear protocols for identifying military personnel accused of abuse and sharing information without discouraging reports or endangering victims. Key provisions include specific procedures for reporting to military programs during investigations and maintaining confidentiality under state and federal law. The law directly affects child welfare workers, military advocacy programs, and military-connected families involved in abuse cases. It takes effect immediately, updating existing statutes to improve coordination between civilian and military systems handling abuse reports.
This bill increases state reimbursement amounts for veterans' burial expenses under Chapter 115 of the General Laws. It raises the maximum reimbursement from $4,000 to $7,000 for one category and from $5,000 to $8,000 for another category of burial costs. The change directly affects veterans or their families seeking state-funded burial expense reimbursements. The policy modifies specific dollar figures in existing law without altering eligibility criteria or creating new requirements.
This bill requires the Massachusetts Port Authority (MassPort) to create hiring rules that give preferential consideration to veteran applicants during employment decisions. It directly affects MassPort's hiring process for all positions, including consultants and independent contractors paid by the Authority. The law defines "veterans" according to Chapter 31 of the General Laws and mandates that MassPort develop specific guidelines to implement this preference in its recruitment and hiring practices. The change applies to all roles covered under MassPort's employment definitions, expanding veteran hiring considerations beyond traditional employee roles.
This bill amends Massachusetts law to update eligibility for veterans' bonus payments. It defines specific conflict periods (e.g., Korean Emergency: June 25, 1950-January 31, 1955) and removes the requirement that veterans must have resided in Massachusetts for six months before service. The bill expands eligibility to include veterans discharged under non-honorable conditions due to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or HIV status (based on DD-214 documentation). It also repeals outdated historical laws related to veterans' bonuses, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill would add an annual $1,500 payment to surviving spouses of veterans who meet specific criteria. To qualify, a surviving spouse must be unmarried, currently receiving Dependency Indemnity Compensation from the Veterans Administration, and have a spouse who served in active military service. The $1,500 would be paid in two installments on August 1 and February 1 each year, starting from when the spouse submits a completed application. It directly affects eligible surviving spouses by providing an additional financial benefit beyond their existing VA compensation.
This bill changes the timeline for reimbursing cities and towns that pay veterans' benefits. It replaces the current deadline of "on or before November tenth" with a new requirement that reimbursement must be made "no later than 6 months after the date on which such expenditures are certified by the secretary." The bill directly affects cities and towns that disburse veterans' benefits, ensuring they receive reimbursement within six months of state certification of their expenses. The change takes effect two years after the bill is enacted.
This bill allows veterans who retired before July 24, 1996, from state or local retirement systems to count their military service toward retirement benefits. Veterans may receive credit for up to four years of active military service (or National Guard/Reserve service at a 5:1 ratio - five years of guard/reserve service equals one year of active duty), but this credit cannot exceed 80% of their retirement benefit. Local retirement systems must approve the change via vote, though state systems like teachers' and employees' plans automatically adopt it. The bill specifically excludes service already counted under prior provisions.
This bill increases veterans' financial assistance by 25% and requires annual cost-of-living adjustments to keep pace with inflation. It extends benefits to surviving spouses for 12 months after a veteran's death at the full rate, then at 75% of the veteran's rate if the spouse remains unmarried and meets eligibility criteria. Benefits end if the surviving spouse remarries, and the state will fund these changes while requiring clear application processes. The Veterans' Services office must coordinate with local agents to inform eligible veterans and spouses about the new rules. A report on the program's financial impact must be submitted to the legislature within 18 months.
