HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1030, 1512, 2099 PRINTER'S NO. 2131
No. 902 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY STOUT, BODACK, LINCOLN, PECORA, JUBELIRER, LOEPER,
PRICE AND BELL, JULY 10, 1979
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SEPTEMBER 29, 1980
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for TUITION CREDIT <--
3 AT CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR MEMBERS OF THE
4 NATIONAL GUARD AND FOR an increase in the amount of pension
5 for blind veterans.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 SECTION 1. TITLE 51, ACT OF NOVEMBER 25, 1970 (P.L.707, <--
9 NO.230), KNOWN AS THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IS
10 AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
11 § 3104. TUITION CREDIT.
12 (A) ELIGIBILITY.--A NONTECHNICIAN MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
13 NATIONAL GUARD IN AN ENLISTED GRADE, WARRANT OFFICER, WO1 OR
14 WO2, OR OFFICERS IN THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT OR FIRST
15 LIEUTENANT AFTER COMPLETING A MINIMUM ENLISTMENT PERIOD AS
16 DEFINED BY THE GUARD, WHO ENROLLS IN A PENNSYLVANIA INSTITUTION
17 OF HIGHER LEARNING, WITH DEGREE GRANTING STATUS AS APPROVED BY
1 THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SHALL RECEIVE A GRANT OF ONE-HALF
2 THE COST OF THE CREDIT, WITH A MAXIMUM OF $40 PER CREDIT WHILE
3 SATISFACTORILY ENROLLED, WITH A MAXIMUM OF SIX CREDITS PER
4 QUARTER OR SEMESTER OR 12 CREDITS PER YEAR.
5 (B) PAYMENT.--GRANTS SHALL BE PAID ONLY UPON CERTIFICATION
6 EACH QUARTER OR SEMESTER BY THE ADJUTANT GENERAL THAT THE
7 STUDENT IS A CURRENT MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE
8 PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD AND THAT HIS CURRENT ENLISTMENT
9 EXTENDS BEYOND THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CURRENT QUARTER OR
10 SEMESTER.
11 (C) ADMINISTRATION.--THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS
12 SHALL ADMINISTER THE EDUCATIONAL GRANTS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION
13 FROM AN APPROPRIATION MADE ANNUALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS
14 PURPOSE. THE GRANT PROGRAM SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF THE
15 APPROPRIATION.
16 Section 1 2. Section 7701 of Title 51, act of November 25, <--
17 1970 (P.L.707, No.230), known as the Pennsylvania Consolidated
18 Statutes, is amended to read:
19 § 7701. Blind veteran's pension.
20 (a) Definition.--As used in this section the term "blind
21 veteran" shall mean any person who served in the military or
22 naval forces of the United States, or any woman's organization
23 officially connected therewith, at any time, and who gave the
24 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as his or her place of residence
25 at the time of entering the military or naval forces of the
26 United States, and who while performing duties connected with
27 such service suffered an injury or incurred a disease which
28 resulted in blindness to the extent that he or she has 3/60 or
29 10/200 or less normal vision. The term "blind veteran" shall not
30 include any person separated from the military or naval forces
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1 of the United States, or any woman's organization officially
2 connected therewith, under other than honorable conditions.
3 (b) Amount and eligibility.--In addition to any other
4 assistance provided by the Commonwealth and in addition to any
5 compensation provided by the Federal Government, every blind
6 veteran shall be paid a pension of [$50] $100 per month.
7 Applications for such pensions shall be made to and in the form
8 prescribed by the department. The Adjutant General shall have
9 the power, and it shall be his duty to determine the eligibility
10 of every applicant for a pension, and his decision in the matter
11 shall be final.
12 Section 2 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1980 1981. <--
13 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT AS FOLLOWS: <--
14 (1) SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JULY 1, 1981.
15 (2) SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND
16 PAYMENTS MADE HEREUNDER SHALL BE RETROACTIVE TO JULY 1, 1980.
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