HOUSE   .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .   No. 4526

Substituted by the House, on motion of Mr. Verga of Gloucester, for a Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the effects of war on returning Massachusetts service members (House, No. 4312).  February 7, 2008.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Eight.

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        Resolve, PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO THE HIDDEN WOUNDS OF WAR ON MASSACHUSETTS SERVICE MEMBERS.

Resolved, That a special commission, to consist of 4 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be the president of the senate or her designee who shall serve as co-chairperson, 1 of whom shall be the minority leader of the senate or his designee, 1 of whom shall be the chairman of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs or his designee, and 1 of whom shall be the chairman of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse or his designee, 6 members of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall be the speaker of the house of representatives or his designee who shall serve as co-chairperson, 1 of whom shall be the minority leader of the house of representatives or his designee, 1 of whom shall be the chairman of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs or his designee, 1 of whom shall be the chairman of the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse or her designee, the adjutant general of the national guard or his designee, the secretary of veterans’ services or his designee, the commissioner of the department of mental health or her designee, the commissioner of probation or his designee, and 5 persons to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 of whom shall be a veterans agent to be selected  by the president of the Massachusetts Veterans’ Service Officers Association, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, is hereby established for the purposes of making an investigation and study relative to the mental health effects of war on those citizens of the commonwealth returning from active duty, including the establishment of a mandatory mental health treatment program for national guard members who engage in combat, a state military family leave policy for caregivers, and a statewide education training program to assist law enforcement, corrections officers and other first responders in recognizing the early warning signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

All appointments shall be made on or before 30 days of the effective date of this resolve.  The chairpersons shall meet with the commission on or before 60 days of the effective date of this resolve. 

Members shall receive no compensation for their services but may receive reimbursement for the reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission.

Said commission shall report to the general court the result of its investigation and study, and its recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives who shall forward the same to the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs and the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse on or before September 15, 2008.