By Mr. Verga of Gloucester, petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 3728) of Anthony J. Verga and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) of the effects of war on returning service members.  Veterans and Federal Affairs

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Anthony J. Verga

Barbara A. L'Italien

Angelo M. Scaccia

Frank I. Smizik

Alice K. Wolf

Denise Provost

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act creating a special commission to study the effects of war on returning Massachusetts service members.

    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.  Be it resolved that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts create an 11-member special commission to study the mental health effects of war on the citizens of the commonwealth who are returning from active military duty.  This commission shall consist of a representative from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-Mass); the speaker of the house of representatives, or his designee; the president of the senate, or his designee; the minority leader of the house of representatives, or his designee; the minority leader of the senate, or his designee; the chairpersons of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, or their designee; the chairpersons of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, or their designee; the adjunct general of the national guard, or his designee; the secretary of veterans services, or his designee; and two designees of the governor.  Results of the commission shall include, but not be limited to an analysis of the need for change in the laws and regulations relative thereto, and shall be reported to the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs and to the clerks of the house and senate no later than April 1, 2008.