Legislation

NGAMA Supported Legislation Passes on Last Day of 2018 Legislative Session

On 1 January 2019, the last day of the 2018 Legislative Session, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed S2611. This legislation had been a priority for NGAMA and the Association actively advocated for its passage. The legislation now awaits the signature of the Governor. Over the past 12 months the NGAMA Executive Committee, the NGAMA Legislative Committee and NGAMA members have been meeting with legislators, calling legislators and writing legislators urging their passage of this Bill.

This Legislation updated Chapter 33 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which governs the MA National Guard. The legislation was originally filed by Governor Baker. The update included a number of changes focused on improving The Massachusetts National Guard and taking care of our Service Members. These updates include:

  • DOUBLING the State Active Duty pay minimum for Soldiers and Airmen
  • Strengthening the NGAMA State Sponsored Life Insurance Program
  • Adding a Massachusetts Code of Military Justice to allow Commanders to maintain higher standards of discipline and morale in our formations
  • Updating Professional Licensing Requirements to bring in line with Federal Standards—this will help recruit the best talent available in our professional licensed corps such as JAG and AMEDD
  • Restoring discretion to Commander in Chief and TAG in arming Military Police
  • Streamlining management of Armories to provide better facilities for all of our Soldiers and Airmen

We thank our NGAMA Legislative Chairperson, CPT Danielle Sullivan, NGAMA Past President LTC Jay Oberton, the NGAMA Executive Committee for their support, NGAMA’s Insurance Administrator Austin Jenkins and all the members of our Association who responded to our Legislative Alerts and who wrote or called their State Legislators. Passage of this Legislation proves that NGAMA can be a force on Beacon Hill when we work to forward a united message.

Passage of this legislation is a great way to end the 2018 Legislative Session. We look forward to working with our Membership to accomplish more legislative victories in 2019.