BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to unanimously vote to provide enhanced safety, stability, and educational opportunities for military families, and to position the Commonwealth for greater federal defense investment and economic growth around its six military bases.
An Act to enhance access, inclusion, support and equity for military connected families, known as the EASE Act, would guarantee that a child of a military family would have a seat in the classroom at their current school in Massachusetts, even if their parent or guardian is temporarily transferred elsewhere on official orders. If a military family moves permanently and arrives in a Massachusetts community, the bill also requires a timely and seamless transition for students who receive special education services.
The Senate also passed legislation to clarify into state law that the Adjutant General—Massachusetts’ highest-ranking military officer—has command of all troops in the state National Guard while carrying out the orders of the Governor. The bill also ensures that National Guard members receive training on how to identify whether or not orders violate Constitutional or statutory rights.
Lastly, the Senate approved legislation to honor Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day each year on September 22. The bill acknowledges that suicide among service members and veterans is an epidemic and calls for annual recognition with a proclamation from the Governor.
“Massachusetts has a strong record of supporting our nation’s veterans, servicemembers, and military families who have sacrificed so much for us,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “These three bills build upon our previous legislation to ensure that we are doing as much as possible to support those who have taken up the call to defend our freedoms.”
The EASE Act also updates state law to boost Massachusetts’ standing on the Department of Defense scorecard, a key metric that the federal government uses when deciding where to increase or maintain its spending for military bases. Increasing this investment from the federal government supports thousands of jobs and builds up the regional economies around the state’s major military bases.
To strengthen public safety and increase access to justice around military bases, the EASE Act allows certain information from the military to be admissible as evidence in state courts for people seeking temporary domestic violence restraining orders. The bill also allows for federal judges to transfer juvenile cases to Massachusetts courts for offenses that occur on military bases. The EASE Act also directs National Guard leadership to track and report suicide data among veterans of the Massachusetts National Guard.
After passing in the state Senate, these bills now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
