By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3890) of Steven George Xiarhos relative to amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
Summary up to date
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
No summary yet. Click the button to generate one.
Date
Branch
Action
—
House
— HouseReported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
10/28/2025
Joint
10/28/2025 JointHearing rescheduled to 10/28/2025 from 01:00 PM-01:10 PM in A-2 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time
10/17/2025
Joint
10/17/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 10/28/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateSenate concurred
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
An Act amending death and disability compensation for members of the armed forces and the organized militia of the Commonwealth
Active
11 section(s) · formatted for easier reading
▸SECTION 1
Section 88(a) of chapter 33 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “ An officer or enlisted person of the Massachusetts organized militia” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia”.
▸SECTION 2
Said section 88 subsection (a) is further amended by striking out the words “a board” in line 4 and inserting in place thereof the words: - “The Death Gratuity Board (the “Board”)”.
▸SECTION 3
Section 88 subsection (b) is amended by striking it out entirely, and adding in its place:- “Members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia who, while performing any duty lawfully ordered under this chapter without willful neglect on the part of the person, dies, shall, receive compensation as described by a Board appointed under section 90 for a determination of death gratuity benefits as described in subsection (c). The Board shall consider death or injury arising from present or past qualified duty status on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or United States of America. Qualified Duty Status is defined as State Active Duty and service pursuant to orders under Titles 10 and 32 of the US Code.
▸SECTION 4
Said section 88 subsection (b) is further amended by striking out the letter “(b)” and inserting in place the letter: “(c)”.
▸SECTION 5
Said section 88 updated subsection (c) is further amended by striking out the words: - “If the death of a member of the Massachusetts organized militia results from injury, sickness or disease received while in the line of duty, pursuant to orders under titles 10 and 32 of the United States Code or this chapter and the injury, sickness or disease resulting in the death” and inserting in place the words: - “If the death results from injury, sickness, or disease received while in the line of duty, pursuant to orders”.
▸SECTION 6
Said section 88 subsection (c) is further amended by striking out the letter “(c)” and inserting in place the letter: “(d)”.
▸SECTION 7
Said section 88 updated subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the letter “(b)” in line 15 and replacing it with the letter: - “(c)”.
▸SECTION 8
Said section 88 updated subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the words “a member of the Massachusetts organized militia” and inserting the words in place: - “a member of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and / or Massachusetts organized militia”.
▸SECTION 9
Said section 88 subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the letter “(d)” and replacing it with the letter: - “(e)”.
▸SECTION 10
Said section 88 subsection (e) is further amended by striking out the letter “(e)” and replacing it with the letter: - “(f)”
▸SECTION 11
Said section 88 is further amended by adding the following subsection: - “(g) The board will make a recommendation to the adjudicative authority (The Adjutant General)”.
Show raw text
SECTION 1. Section 88(a) of chapter 33 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the words “ An officer or enlisted person of the Massachusetts organized militia” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia”.
SECTION 2. Said section 88 subsection (a) is further amended by striking out the words “a board” in line 4 and inserting in place thereof the words: - “The Death Gratuity Board (the “Board”)”.
SECTION 3. Section 88 subsection (b) is amended by striking it out entirely, and adding in its place:- “Members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts organized militia who, while performing any duty lawfully ordered under this chapter without willful neglect on the part of the person, dies, shall, receive compensation as described by a Board appointed under section 90 for a determination of death gratuity benefits as described in subsection (c). The Board shall consider death or injury arising from present or past qualified duty status on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or United States of America. Qualified Duty Status is defined as State Active Duty and service pursuant to orders under Titles 10 and 32 of the US Code.
SECTION 4. Said section 88 subsection (b) is further amended by striking out the letter “(b)” and inserting in place the letter: “(c)”.
SECTION 5. Said section 88 updated subsection (c) is further amended by striking out the words: - “If the death of a member of the Massachusetts organized militia results from injury, sickness or disease received while in the line of duty, pursuant to orders under titles 10 and 32 of the United States Code or this chapter and the injury, sickness or disease resulting in the death” and inserting in place the words: - “If the death results from injury, sickness, or disease received while in the line of duty, pursuant to orders”.
SECTION 6. Said section 88 subsection (c) is further amended by striking out the letter “(c)” and inserting in place the letter: “(d)”.
SECTION 7. Said section 88 updated subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the letter “(b)” in line 15 and replacing it with the letter: - “(c)”.
SECTION 8. Said section 88 updated subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the words “a member of the Massachusetts organized militia” and inserting the words in place: - “a member of the armed forces of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and / or Massachusetts organized militia”.
SECTION 9. Said section 88 subsection (d) is further amended by striking out the letter “(d)” and replacing it with the letter: - “(e)”.
SECTION 10. Said section 88 subsection (e) is further amended by striking out the letter “(e)” and replacing it with the letter: - “(f)”
SECTION 11. Said section 88 is further amended by adding the following subsection: - “(g) The board will make a recommendation to the adjudicative authority (The Adjutant General)”.