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S 2485

Requires the office of renewable energy siting and electric transmission to establish a mapping, installation and efficiency plan for the purpose of building new electric transmission lines

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

Protects disabled veterans' medical privacy in public hiring by barring use of military medical or personnel records, allows DD-214, and funds required medical exams.

REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES
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Bill Summary · S 2485

Summary — S.2485 (Massachusetts): An Act Relative to Military Personnel and Medical Records

Note: The bill text submitted with S.2485 concerns military personnel and medical records (a Massachusetts bill filed by Senator Michael F. Rush). The title and some sponsor metadata provided separately appear inconsistent with that text. This summary is based on the bill language in the docket (Senate No. 2485, filed 1/13/2025).

Purpose

To amend Section 26 of Chapter 31 of the Massachusetts General Laws to (1) protect the medical privacy of disabled veterans during public-sector hiring and (2) clarify who may require medical examinations and who must bear the cost of such examinations.

Key provisions

  • Amends the third paragraph of Section 26, Chapter 31.
  • Medical certificate requirement:
    • The administrator (presumably the appointing authority’s administrator under Chapter 31) may require a disabled veteran to present a physician’s certificate, from a physician approved by the administrator, stating the veteran’s disability does not incapacitate them from performing the duties of the position for which they are eligible.
    • The Commonwealth must pay the cost of any physical examination required for issuing such certificate.
  • Restriction on requesting records for employment:
    • An appointing authority shall not require, request, or accept an individual’s military medical record or military personnel service record for the purpose of employment.
    • An appointing authority may require, request, or accept the DD‑214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty).
    • An appointing authority may not impose terms or conditions for hiring or continued employment that would force an individual to present their military medical record or personnel service record; however, requiring a DD‑214 is permitted.
    • Exception: if the DD‑214 shows a discharge characterization other than honorable, the appointing authority may require military service records.
  • Scope:
    • The paragraph applies to all civil and non‑civil service municipal hiring authorities (i.e., both municipal civil-service and non-civil-service hiring bodies).

Who is affected

  • Disabled veterans seeking public employment with Commonwealth agencies and municipal employers.
  • State and municipal appointing authorities and hiring officials (civil and non‑civil service).
  • Physicians who may be approved to certify fitness for duty.
  • The Commonwealth (financial responsibility for required physical exams).

Procedural status and timeline (from provided actions)

  • Filed (docketed) as Senate No. 2485: 1/13/2025.
  • Referred to Veterans and Federal Affairs: 2/27/2025.
  • Passed Senate: 6/13/2025; delivered to Assembly same day and referred to Governmental Employees.
  • Other listed actions include committee referrals, hearings and committee reports; some metadata show later referrals (e.g., to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions), suggesting multiple readings/referrals across chambers and committees. (See official legislative clerk for final status.)

Potential impacts

  • Strengthens veterans’ medical privacy by preventing routine collection of military medical records/personnel files as a condition of public employment.
  • Preserves the ability of employers to verify service via DD‑214, while limiting deeper intrusions except when DD‑214 shows an other‑than‑honorable discharge.
  • Shifts the cost of required medical examinations for certification of fitness onto the Commonwealth, reducing a potential financial barrier for disabled veterans.
  • May require updating hiring policies and training for municipal and state appointing authorities to ensure compliance.

Notes / Caveats

  • The bill text governs Massachusetts state law (Chapter 31). Some of the additional metadata supplied (title about renewable energy siting, or lists of federal senators as sponsors) appears unrelated to the bill text; the petitioner and presenter in the bill text is Michael F. Rush (Norfolk and Suffolk). Consult the official Massachusetts legislative website for authoritative text, amendments, and final disposition.

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

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