Bill > H3508

This bill: - Requires the Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health to develop educational materials on the health effects of exposure to open burn pits during overseas military deployments, and to make these materials available to healthcare providers and veterans. It also requires the Commissioner to monitor research on burn pit exposure and maintain a confidential database of affected service members and veterans. - Directs the Commissioner of Veterans' Services, Commissioner of Public Health, and Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard to contact National Guard members and Massachusetts veterans who may have been exposed to open burn pits, encourage them to register with the VA's Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, and provide them with information on the registry. - Establishes a Massachusetts National Guard Family Education Program that allows National Guard members to share their state tuition and fee waivers with their dependents. - Designates June 14th (U.S. Army birthday), September 18th (U.S. Air Force birthday), December 13th (National Guard birthday), and August 4th (U.S. Coast Guard birthday) as days of observance in Massachusetts. - Prohibits municipalities from publicly identifying veterans who owe overdue taxes, and requires them to communicate with veterans through the municipal veterans' service officer. - Requires funeral directors to provide information on veterans' funeral and burial benefits to all potential clients. - Allows the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to issue limited slot machine licenses to eligible veterans' organizations. - Requires the University of Massachusetts Medical School to develop a continuing education program for counselors at public colleges and universities on topics related to serving student service members and veterans. - Establishes a special commission to investigate and report on a suitable memorial for Deborah Samson, the official heroine of the Commonwealth. - Creates a Veteran Equality Review Board to review cases of veterans dishonorably discharged due to sexual orientation under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and make recommendations to the Secretary of Veterans' Services on their eligibility for state-based veterans' benefits.