Bill > H3643

This bill aims to address the exposure of veterans and service members to certain airborne hazards, particularly those related to open burn pits during overseas deployments. The key provisions are: 1. The Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Veterans Services and the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, will develop and distribute educational materials about the health effects associated with exposure to open burn pits, information on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, and resources to assist with the registration process. 2. The Commissioner of Veterans Services, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Adjutant General will collaborate to contact all members of the Massachusetts National Guard and known veterans and service members residing in Massachusetts who may be eligible to participate in the Registry, and provide them with the necessary information and resources to do so. 3. The Adjutant General and the Commissioner of Veterans Services will encourage the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to enhance and simplify the registration process for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, including making identification verification available at VA community-based outpatient clinics in Massachusetts, creating a paper registration option, and allowing deceased veterans' family members to participate on their behalf. 4. The Adjutant General will request that the periodic health assessment for Massachusetts National Guard members identify whether they were deployed to a location that would make them eligible for the Registry and whether they were exposed to open burn pits, and automatically register those who were potentially exposed.

Military Affairs and Security

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H3643