PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 2059
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1815
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY PENNYCUICK, HILL-EVANS, SMITH, RYAN, MENTZER,
GUENST, HAMM, McNEILL, CIRESI, KERWIN, PICKETT, SHUSTERMAN,
BERNSTINE, POLINCHOCK, M. MACKENZIE, MIHALEK, R. MACKENZIE,
WHEELAND, C. WILLIAMS, SAPPEY AND DRISCOLL, AUGUST 31, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, AUGUST 31, 2021
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, further providing for exemptions and special
provisions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
That section 2(c) of Article VIII be amended to read:
ยง 2. Exemptions and special provisions.
* * *
(c) Citizens and residents of this Commonwealth, who [served
in any war or armed conflict in which the United States was
engaged and] served as a member of the armed forces of the
United States, including a reserve component or National Guard,
and were [honorably] discharged or released under honorable
[circumstances] conditions from active service and recognized by
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the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as eligible for
benefits, shall be exempt from the payment of all real property
taxes upon the residence occupied by the said citizens and
residents of this Commonwealth imposed by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or any of its political subdivisions if, as a
result of military service, they are blind, paraplegic or double
or quadruple amputees or have a service-connected disability
declared or rated by the United States [Veterans Administration]
Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor to be a total or
100% permanent disability, and if the State Veterans' Commission
determines that such persons are in need of the tax exemptions
[granted herein.] based on the economic circumstances that exist
at the member's place of residence. Compensation received by the
member for an injury due to service as indicated in this section
may not be considered by the State Veterans' Commission. This
exemption shall be extended to the unmarried surviving spouse
upon the death of an eligible veteran and to the surviving
spouse of a member of the armed forces of the United States,
including a reserve component or National Guard, who was killed
in action and died as a result of injuries received while in
active service or who is missing in action or presumed dead in a
written finding provided that the State Veterans' Commission
determines that such person is in need of the exemption.
Section 2. (a) Upon the first passage by the General
Assembly of this proposed constitutional amendment, the
Secretary of the Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to
comply with the advertising requirements of section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the
required advertisements to two newspapers in every county in
which such newspapers are published in sufficient time after
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passage of this proposed constitutional amendment.
(b) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of this
proposed constitutional amendment, the Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall proceed immediately to comply with the
advertising requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania and shall transmit the required
advertisements to two newspapers in every county in which such
newspapers are published in sufficient time after passage of
this proposed constitutional amendment. The Secretary of the
Commonwealth shall submit this proposed constitutional amendment
to the qualified electors of this Commonwealth at the first
primary, general or municipal election which meets the
requirements of and is in conformance with section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and which occurs at least
three months after the proposed constitutional amendment is
passed by the General Assembly.
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