Gov. Charlie Baker Signs Home Act into Law

From Massachusetts House of Representatives:

Representative Harold P. Naughton, Jr. proudly joined Gov. Charlie Baker and many of his legislative colleagues on Thursday, July 14 at a bill-signing ceremony for an omnibus veteran’s package that will improve veteran’s access to housing and protects veterans from discrimination. Known as the Veterans Home Act, the bill establishes the Office of State Veterans’ Homes and Housing within the Department of Veterans Services in order to increase accountability and maintain financial stability within the state’s two Soldiers’ Homes. The new executive director, appointed by the Department of Veterans Services Secretary, will report to the legislature annually to promote best practices within the homes. Collectively, the two homes house hundreds of aging veterans in a long-term care setting.

“It was truly an honor watching Gov. Baker sign this important veteran’s benefits legislation that unanimously cleared both branches of the Legislature.” said Rep. Naughton. “This legislation will further our tradition of leading the nation in how we treat our veterans by making sure all of our men and women who have served have priority access to housing. I am also pleased that the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee was able to include my original idea of making veterans a protected class against discrimination.”

The bill will give veterans preference in public housing throughout the state and excludes certain income 100 percent disabled veterans earn from the Veterans Administration to ensure they qualify for public housing. Further, the bill makes veterans status a protected class in the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

Other provisions of the bill include the creation of a post-deployment commission to study ways to improve services to veterans who have returned home from deployment overseas, clarifying the real-estate tax exemption for Gold Star families and updating the rules for public employees who take leave for military service to reflect the current model of training for those in the National Guard and reserve forces.

In addition, several amendments from both the House and Senate were adopted in their respective sessions. One such amendment would extend an excise tax exemption to veterans deployed for at least 180 days, granted that the vehicle is not used in that time. Others include granting veterans a leave of absence on Veterans Day in organizations with 50 or more employees, extends eligibility for the Gold Star Family registration plate for those who are currently eligible for the federal Gold Star Lapel Button and designates Bicentennial Park in Fall River as the official Gold Star Families Memorial Monument of the Commonwealth.

Representative Naughton is, himself, a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghan Wars.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock