SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1742 FILED ON: 1/14/2009
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2000
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John A. Hart, Jr.
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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 passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act RELATIVE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF VETERANS SERVICE OF
FICERS AND AGENTS.
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PETITION OF:
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Name:
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District/Address:
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John A. Hart, Jr.
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First Suffolk
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Harold P. Naughton, Jr.
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12th Worcester
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Susan Williams Gifford
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2nd Plymouth
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Rosemary Sandlin
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3rd Hampden
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William G. Greene, Jr.
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22nd Middlesex
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Matthew C. Patrick
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3rd Barnstable
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James T. Welch
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6th Hampden
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Sean Garballey
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23rd Middlesex
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Stephen M. Brewer
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Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
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An Act
RELATIVE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS AND AGENTS
.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Sect
ion 2 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting the following after paragraph 2: —
The secretary shall promulgate regulations to ensure local veteran service officers and agents, appointed under section 3 of this chapter, are train
ed and certified
, including but not limited to assessing penalties against any municipality, district or veterans service officer or agent not in compliance with this statute or regulations promulgated hereto. Veteran service officers and agents shall be
trained and certified within twelve (12) months of appointment pursuant to Section 3 of this Chapter. Veterans service officers and agents currently appointed pursuant to section 3 of this chapter shall be shall be certified within (12) months of the date
said regulations are promulgated.
Certification must be renewed every five (5) ye
ars. To be eligible for certification as a veterans service officer or agent, the candidate shall (1) be appointed locally pursuant to MGL chapter 115, section 3; (2) pass a
test established by the secretary which shall demonstrate the skills necessary to effectively represent veterans which shall include, but not be
limited to the following areas of knowledge: the chapter 115 program, federal and local benefits, including em
ployment, education, health care, retirement and other veterans’ benefits; and alternative resources, including those which are partially or wholly subsidized by the federal government, such as Medicaid, supplemental security income and social security dis
ability benefits, as well as federal pension and compensation entitlements.
The secretary shall collaborate with the Massachusetts veterans service officers association in formulating said training and certification.
The secretary shall make this testin
g available no less than two times per calendar year. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall consider those who complete the requirements in this paragraph a certified veteran service officer or agent.
The secretary shall establish standards for the trai
ning and support of
veteran service officers and agents
consistent with the requirements of this paragraph. During the period of employment, a person holding a veterans service officer or agent certificate pursuant to this section shall be under the direc
t supervision of the mayor, town manager, board of selectmen, or regional district board or others who shall regularly observe and evaluate the performance of assigned duties by veterans service officer or agent.
At the request of any municipality or dis
trict, the secretary shall offer such training and testing to any person who works directly for a certified veterans service officer or agent.
