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SD 336

An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Patrick O'Connor and 1 co-sponsor

Designates September 22 as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day with an annual governor-issued proclamation to promote awareness and preventi

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 336

Summary of Senate Bill 336 (SD 336): An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day

Overview

SD 336 would designate September 22nd each year as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The bill adds a new statutory provision requiring the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing this observance, with the aim of acknowledging the suicide risk among service members and veterans, promoting awareness, and encouraging suicide prevention efforts.

  • Bill number: SD 336
  • Title: An Act designating veterans suicide awareness and remembrance day
  • Status: House concurred (as of the latest available actions)
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Classification: proposed bill (State Administration and Regulatory Oversight)

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to:
- Acknowledge that suicide among service members and veterans is an epidemic.
- Foster awareness of suicide risk within the military and veteran communities.
- Call for suicide prevention measures specifically targeting service members and veterans.
- Honor fallen service members and veterans and their families.
- Encourage observance of the day by Massachusetts residents in an appropriate manner.

Key provisions

  • Insertion of a new statutory section (designated as Section 15AAAAAAA) into Chapter 6 of the General Laws, after Section 15ZZZZZZ.
  • The new section requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation setting apart September 22nd as Military Service Members and Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.
  • The proclamation’s purposes include recognizing fallen service members and veterans and their families, acknowledging suicide as an epidemic among service members and veterans, fostering awareness, and calling for suicide prevention measures.
  • The Governor is to recommend that the day be observed by the people of the Commonwealth in an appropriate manner.

Impact and who would be affected

  • Affected entities: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, state agencies, local governments, veterans, current service members, and their families.
  • The bill does not establish a paid holiday or funding; rather, it creates an annual ceremonial observance through a gubernatorial proclamation.
  • Public awareness and educational initiatives could be encouraged as a result of the designation and observance.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Legislative actions:
    • Filed and referred to the Senate Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight on February 27, 2025.
    • House concurred on February 27, 2025.
  • If enacted into law, the Governor would issue the annual proclamation each September 22, with observance encouraged statewide.

Observations

  • The initiative centers on awareness, recognition, and prevention, rather than creation of new programs or funding.
  • The exact scope of “observed in an appropriate manner” is left to guidance and local adaptation.
  • The bill reflects a commemorative mechanism to elevate attention to veteran and service member suicide prevention within Massachusetts.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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