How Gov. Healey's 'Hero Act' aims to help veterans

BRAINTREE – Gov. Maura Healey has filed legislation seeking to boost veterans benefits and make them the best in the nation.

"We want to make sure that everyone who served is well served by the Commonwealth," Healey said.

She said it is the most comprehensive piece of legislation to help veterans introduced in the state in at least 20 years.

"And it is what you deserve," Healey told an audience that included many veterans.

Flanked by state officials and representatives of veterans' groups with a backdrop of the flags of the branches of the armed services, the governor made the announcement Thursday afternoon at the newly opened Foster School Veterans Center. The location serves veterans from Braintree, Holbrook and Avon, and houses two local veterans organizations.

Named the HERO Act , standing for An Act Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members, it would expand several benefits including reimbursement for visits to outpatient behavioral health providers, increase the annual disabled veteran annuity from $2,000 to $2,500, increase the tax credit for small businesses who hire chronically unemployed veterans, increase access to the active-duty buyback program for public service pensions, and would allow cities and towns to increase property tax exemptions. It would also eliminate the fee for veteran license plates and create a new woman veteran plate.

Jon Santiago, the state's secretary of veterans affairs, said the bill would also increase inclusion and modernize services. He said it is based on conversations with veterans around the state.

"This bill is just the start of the conversation," Santiago said.

The bill would also broaden the state definition of veteran to align with the one used by the federal government, the definition of dependent to comply with the one used by the family court and expand the scope of the veterans equality review board to include veterans discharged for post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, mental health conditions or due to HIV.

It would also initiate a study of alternative therapies for veteran mental health disorders, a pilot program for LGBTQ+ couples denied IVF reimbursement by the Veterans Health Administration and would codify medical and dental benefits for veterans.

"We need to do everything to help veterans heal and thrive," Healey said.

The governor also commended the town for adapting the former school as a center for veterans services and organizations, calling it "a noble and necessary repurposing" of the building.

Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros said the opening of the center shows "our commitment to veterans runs deep."

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Veterans would see improved benefits under proposed Massachusetts 'Hero Act'