OFFICE OF THE VETERAN ADVOCATE

M.G.L. pt. Part I, tit. Title XVII, ch. c. 115B

in effect

M.G.L. c. 115B, § 1 Definitions

c. 115B, § 1. Definitions Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: ''Executive agency'', a state agency within the office of the governor, including the executive office of education, the executive office of public safety and security, executive office of health and human services, and their constituent agencies, the Massachusetts interagency council on housing and homelessness and the executive office of housing and livable communities, and their constituent agencies. ''Nominating committee'', the nominating committee established in section 3. ''Office'', the office of the veteran advocate established in section 2. ''Veteran advocate'', the veteran advocate appointed under section 3.

M.G.L. c. 115B, § 2 Office of the veteran advocate

c. 115B, § 2. Office of the veteran advocate Section 2. There shall be an office of the veteran advocate, which shall be independent of any supervision or control by any executive agency. The office shall: (i) ensure that veterans in the care of the commonwealth or receiving services under the supervision of an executive agency in any public or private facility receive humane and dignified treatment at all times, with full respect for the veterans' personal dignity and right to privacy; (ii) ensure that veterans in the care of the commonwealth or receiving services under the supervision of an executive agency in any public or private facility receive timely, safe and effective services; (iii) aid and coordinate with local veterans service officers to ensure veterans receive all available state and federal benefits; (iv) examine, on a system-wide basis, the care and services that executive agencies provide veterans; (v) advise the public and those at the highest levels of state government about how the commonwealth may improve its services to and for veterans and their families; (vi) develop internal procedures appropriate for the effective performance of the office's duties; (vii) act as a liaison to all state agencies providing services to veterans to ensure each veteran receives necessary services and care; (viii) assist in developing procedures for the executive agencies to best serve the veteran community; (ix) act as a liaison to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and all other relevant federal agencies to advocate on behalf of the veterans of the commonwealth; and (x) investigate incidents where a veteran suffered a fatality, near fatality or serious bodily or emotional injury while receiving services from an executive agency, or circumstances which result in a reasonable belief that an executive agency or a constituent agency failed in its duty to care for a veteran and, as a result, the veteran was at imminent risk of, or suffered serious bodily or emotional injury or death.

M.G.L. c. 115B, § 3 Veteran advocate; nomination and appointment; term; removal

c. 115B, § 3. Veteran advocate; nomination and appointment; term; removal Section 3. The office of the veteran advocate shall be under the direction of the veteran advocate. The veteran advocate shall be the administrative head of the office and shall devote full time to the duties of the office. The veteran advocate shall be appointed by a majority vote of the attorney general, the state auditor and the governor from a list of 3 nominees submitted by a nominating committee to recommend a veteran advocate. The nominating committee shall consist of: the secretary of health and human services, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of veterans' services, or a designee; the secretary of public safety, or a designee; the commissioner of mental health, or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs; the adjutant general of the Massachusetts national guard; a representative of the veterans of foreign wars department of Massachusetts; a representative of the American legion department of Massachusetts; the chair of the board of trustees of the veterans' homes. The nominating committee shall submit salary recommendations for the candidates commensurate with the candidates' experience and other similar state positions. The work of the nominating committee shall be coordinated by the executive office of health and human services. Any person appointed to the position of veteran advocate shall be selected without regard to political affiliation and on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability in veteran welfare, justice, auditing, law, health care, management analysis, public administration and investigation or criminal justice administration. The veteran advocate may, subject to appropriation, appoint such other personnel as the veteran advocate deems necessary for the efficient management of the office. The veteran advocate shall serve for a term of 5 years. In the case of a vacancy in the position of the veteran advocate, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner for the remainder of the unexpired term. No person shall be appointed as veteran advocate for more than 2 full terms. The veteran advocate may be removed from office for cause by a majority vote of the attorney general, the state auditor and the governor. Such cause may include substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct or conviction of a crime. The cause for removal of the veteran advocate shall be stated in writing and shall be sent to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives and to the governor at the time of removal and shall be a public document.

M.G.L. c. 115B, § 4 Annual report

c. 115B, § 4. Annual report Section 4. The veteran advocate shall report annually to the governor, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate and the house committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs on the activities of the office, including, but not limited to, an analysis of the delivery of services to veterans and recommendations for changes in agency procedures which would enable the commonwealth to better provide services to and for veterans and their families and priorities for implementation of those changes to services. The report shall be made public on the website of the veteran advocate.

Source: Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)URL: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVII/Chapter115BFetched: 10/20/2026