Sen. Ross Votes for Valor Act

The following is a release from State Sen. Richard Ross.

Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) voted Thursday to pass “The Valor Act,” new legislation that will expand benefits and increase access to a range of services for veterans, active-duty military and their families. The legislation passed unanimously in the Senate.

 “I am pleased to see this important piece of legislation passed by the Senate,” said Senator Ross. “Our military personnel sacrifice so much to protect not only the citizens of the Commonwealth, but all citizens of the United States. It is our job as a legislature to return the favor, and provide them with these services to benefit themselves and their families.”

 The bill works on many fronts to help veterans and active military members improve business, educational and housing opportunities. For example, through the formation of public/private partnerships, it facilitates seed money for the start-up and expansion of veteran-owned businesses. It also promotes the participation of disabled-veteran business owners in public construction and design projects.

The legislation also removes certain educational impediments by requiring the state’s public institutions of higher learning to adopt new policies and procedures for awarding proper academic credit for a student’s prior military training, coursework and experience. The bill also adds Massachusetts to the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, making it easier for the children of military personnel to transfer between school districts and states.

To help ease the costs of housing, utilities, medical services and food for Gold Star Families, the bill expands eligibility for the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund. It also eliminates the $2,500 Property Tax Exemption Cap for Gold Star Spouses.

The bill helps the courts to better recognize veterans issues by ensuring that veterans and service members facing criminal complaints have a properly recorded military history and are considered for diversion and treatment options if eligible.

Some additional features of The Valor Act include: prohibiting local hiring authorities from requesting military medical records that are not requested by the Human Resources Department; allowing for at least a 90-day license renewal extension for service members returning from active duty for certain Department of Public Safety licenses, such as engineering and firefighter licenses; and creating a local option property tax exemption for veterans who volunteer in their community, with a maximum credit rate equal to the minimum wage and a total exemption not exceeding $750.

The Valor Act will now be presented to the House of Representatives for consideration.