H 4088

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1981  FILED ON: 1/15/2025
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4088
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Estela A. Reyes
  _________________
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 adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to a commission to redetermine the definition of disabled veteran in the laws and
  regulations for the registry of motor vehicles.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:  DATE ADDED:
Estela A. Reyes  4th Essex  1/15/2025
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  HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1981  FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4088
    By Representative Reyes of Lawrence, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4088) of
    Estela A. Reyes for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General
    Court) relative to modernizing the language defining disabled veterans pursuant to registry of
    motor vehicle laws. Transportation.
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
    An Act relative to a commission to redetermine the definition of disabled veteran in the laws and
    regulations for the registry of motor vehicles.
  Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to
    assist disabled veterans, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the
    immediate preservation of the public convenience.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
    of the same, as follows:
1(a) There shall be a special commission established to modernize the language defining
2 disabled veteran pursuant to the eighth paragraph of section 2 of chapter 90 of the General Laws
3 and in all other registry of motor vehicle laws and regulations pertaining to disabled veterans.
4(b) The commission shall consist of 9 members that shall include: the director of the
5 registry of motor vehicles or the director's designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the veteran
6 advocate of the office of the veteran advocate or the advocate’s designee, who shall serve as co-
7 chair; 1 member appointed by the attorney general that shall be a representative from Disability
8 Law Center; 1 member appointed by the Disabled American Veterans that shall be an expert in
9 veteran prosthetics; 1 member appointed by the governor that shall be a representative from the
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10 city of Boston’s US Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system that shall be a senior
11 health care provider and researcher; 2 members appointed by the speaker of the house of
12 representatives that shall be members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be a
13 veteran; and 2 members appointed by the senate president that shall be members of the senate, 1
14 of whom shall be a veteran.
15(c) The commission shall prepare a report on its activities and on any findings and
16 recommendations for proposed legislation. Not later than 1 year after the enactment of the
17 special commission, the report shall be submitted to the: (i) chairs of the joint committee on
18 veterans and federal affairs; (ii) chairs of the joint committee on transportation; (iii) chairs of the
19 senate and house committees on ways and means; and (iv) offices of the house and senate clerk.
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