This bill prohibits Massachusetts hiring authorities from requesting military medical records or service records during employment applications or retention. It allows hiring managers to require a DD-214 form (discharge document) but bans any condition requiring military medical records as a job requirement. Disabled veterans must obtain a physician's certificate (paid for by the state) confirming they can perform job duties, but employers cannot use military medical history to deny employment. The law applies to all state and municipal hiring, except when a DD-214 shows an "other than honorable" discharge, which permits requesting military records.
This bill changes eligibility rules for veterans' dependents under Massachusetts' Chapter 115 benefits program. It allows dependents of veterans to qualify for benefits even if they lack the standard one-day Massachusetts residency requirement, provided they can prove they lived in Massachusetts for at least one year before applying. The key change removes the previous residency barrier for these dependents, replacing it with a one-year residency proof requirement. This directly affects veterans' spouses and children seeking benefits under this specific program.
HD 956 exempts eligible disabled veterans from vehicle registration fees and license issuance fees. It applies to veterans permanently disabled as certified by the medical advisory board under Chapter 90, who display the special disabled veteran number plate or handicapped parking placard. The exemption covers one personally owned vehicle used for noncommercial purposes. This bill modifies Chapter 64H (vehicle sales tax exemption) and Chapter 90 (registration fee waiver) to clarify and extend these fee waivers to qualifying veterans.
SD 599 amends Massachusetts law to require towns and cities in veterans' service districts to provide at least 180 days' written notice before withdrawing from the district. This applies to any constituent city or town voting to leave a district formed under Chapter 115, requiring the vote to occur no fewer than 180 days before the fiscal year ends. The bill directly affects municipalities participating in shared veterans' services districts by changing the notice period for withdrawal. It does not alter the district's operations or services, only the procedural requirement for exiting the agreement. (Bill SD 599, Section 10 amendment)
This bill (SD 594) amends Massachusetts Chapter 115 benefits to expand eligibility for veterans' dependents. It allows dependents who meet all other eligibility criteria but lack the standard one-day Massachusetts residency requirement to qualify if they provide proof of living in Massachusetts for at least one year before applying. The change directly affects dependents of veterans who previously could not access these benefits due to residency timing. The policy modifies the existing Chapter 115 benefit rules to recognize longer-term Massachusetts residency as sufficient proof of connection.
This bill amends a Massachusetts law to expand retirement benefits eligibility for specific healthcare workers at two Soldiers' Homes. It directly affects registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, recreational therapists, and physical therapy assistants employed at the Holyoke and Chelsea Soldiers' Homes. The key provision adds these job titles to the existing list of employees qualifying for retirement benefits under Chapter 32 of the General Laws. The change clarifies that these caregivers, who provide essential health services, are now explicitly included in the retirement benefit program.
HD 1023 amends state retirement laws to help veterans count military service toward their retirement benefits. It requires veterans to notify the retirement board upon entering military service and to complete the purchase of military service credit within one year of becoming vested. Veterans who missed the original 180-day window for this purchase can now apply within one year of the bill's effective date. Retirement systems must provide written notice about this opportunity to eligible members within 90 days of the bill taking effect.
HD 1335 establishes the "Crosby Project," a three-phase pilot program allowing Massachusetts veterans to use medical marijuana to treat conditions currently managed with opioids and combat opioid use disorder. The program directly affects veterans with qualifying medical conditions who are seeking alternatives to opioid-based medicine. Key mechanisms include Phase 1 research (reviewing medical studies, consulting veterans' groups, and evaluating other states' programs), Phase 2 launching a Boston-based veterans health center with staff and complementary services like acupuncture, and Phase 3 evaluating results to develop a statewide program. The Department of Public Health must submit a report detailing the program structure and findings by December 31, 2024.
This bill (HD 1241) simplifies tax exemption processing for veterans in Massachusetts. It requires local assessors to stop asking veterans to re-prove eligibility annually once an exemption is approved, streamlining the process for those already qualifying. However, assessors may revoke the exemption in future years if they later discover the veteran did not meet the initial requirements when the exemption was first granted. The change directly affects veterans who currently receive or apply for property tax exemptions under these provisions.
HD 1981 creates a commission to study and potentially update the legal definition of "disabled veteran" used in Massachusetts vehicle registration rules. The commission would review how the current definition applies to veterans seeking special license plates or registration benefits through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. This bill directly affects veterans who currently qualify for or may qualify for these vehicle registration benefits based on their disability status. The commission's work would determine if the definition needs adjustment, but the bill itself does not change the definition or benefits. (Note: This is a draft bill currently under review by House Counsel.)
