Bill > S2205

This bill allows the cities of Newburyport and Amesbury, along with the towns of Merrimac and Salisbury, to form a regional veterans' services district, known as the Hines/Shay Veterans’ District, even though existing state law (General Laws, chapter 115, section 10) typically restricts such districts to adjacent municipalities and limits participation to only one city. The bill specifically waives these restrictions for this particular district, which will provide services to veterans. A key provision is that the district can continue to operate as long as the combined population of Newburyport and Amesbury, based on the most recent U.S. Census, does not exceed 50,000; if it does, the district members must hold a meeting to plan how to reform the district to comply with this population limit while ensuring veterans continue to receive services during any transition. This act will become effective immediately upon its passage.