(Boston 3/10/2022) Today the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed S.2739, An Act relative to the Governance, Structure and Care of Veterans at the Commonwealth’s Veterans’ Homes. During the Senate’s debate of the bill, which improves the reporting structure of Veterans’ Homes, elevates the position of Veterans Secretary to cabinet level, and institutes new medical oversight, five amendments filed by Senator John C. Velis (D-Westfield) were adopted that further streamline the Chain of Command and expand the role of each Home’s Local Regional Council.
“From removing burdensome reporting layers and cleaning up the Chain of Command, to putting in place important infection control and medical oversight, this legislation builds on a lot of the critical lessons that we learned since the tragic COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in the spring of 2020,” said Senator John Velis, who is the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. “This legislation is about doing right by those Veterans who passed away at our Veterans’ and about doing right by all the Veterans who will call Massachusetts home in the coming years.”
A highlight of the new streamlined chain command is that the State-Wide Veterans Council is only advisory and not in the reporting structure. In addition, amendment 13 from Senator Velis was adopted to further streamline the structure by taking the Executive Director of Veterans’ Homes and Housing out of the Chain of Command and clarifying that each Superintendent report directly to the Secretary of Veterans Services.
“The one issue we’ve heard over and over again during every hearing and from every investigation is that there was a colossal breakdown in the Chain of Command at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that led to disastrous consequences,” said Senator Velis. “This legislation puts in place a governance system that makes sense, that provides a clear chain of command, and that ensures communication, transparency and accountability.”
Amendment 8 from Senator Velis ensures regional equity on the State-Wide Advisory Council and expands the responsibilities and makeup of the Local Regional Councils.
The amendment:
- Expands the Local Council to 9 members:
- Requires that 3 members come from a list nominated by the Home’s Area President for the Massachusetts Veterans’ Service Officers to ensure local Veteran input.
- Requires that one seat be chosen by the President of the Veterans Advocate Committee for each Veterans’ Home, a resident elected by fellow residents.
- Requires that one seat be filled by the President of the Family Advocate Committee for each Veteran’s Home, a position elected by family members of residents.
- Expands the Local Council’s role by:
- Empowering them to review and make recommendations on rules and regulations pertaining to each Veterans’ Home, staffing levels and other topics.
- The councils must also hold public meetings for the general public to participate.
- Requires that the State-Wide Advisory Council has regionally equitable membership and has least one member residing in the county in which each Veterans’ home is located.
“This amendment is about ensuring that those people closest to the Home have a say–an indispensable role in the oversight of our Homes. As anyone in the military will tell you, the boots on the ground perspective is absolutely critical to understanding what is going on. The members of the Local Council are those boots on the ground,” said Senator Velis. “This amendment guarantees that residents, family members, and local Veterans have a voice on this council, and that they will be heard on all issues pertaining to their Veterans’ Home.”
Amendment 12 from Senator Velis creates an annual Soldiers’ Home Remembrance Day to honor the Veterans who lost their lives due to COVID-19 at the two Veterans’ Homes.
“A Veteran is a Veteran, is a Veteran, no matter where they reside. We must never forget their service and sacrifices, and we must never forget the ultimate tragedy that befell so many Veterans at the Holyoke and Chelsea Soldiers’ Home in the spring of 2020,” said Velis.
In addition, amendment 9 from Senator Velis was adopted during the Senate’s debate to employ an infection control specialist and emergency preparedness specialist at each Veterans’ Home. Amendment 16 from Senator Velis was adopted to ensure that the office of the Executive Director of Veterans’ Homes and Housing has sufficient staffing and resources for their other duties.
With the House of Representatives having previously passed a Soldiers’ Home Governance Reform bill, the two branches will now appoint a conference committee to reconcile differences between the two versions.
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