PRINTER'S NO. 370
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
447
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, DUSH, BARTOLOTTA AND SCHWANK,
FEBRUARY 24, 2023
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
FEBRUARY 24, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs,
establishing the PA VETConnect Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 714 . PA VETConnect Program .
(a) Establishment.--The PA VETConnect Program is
established.
(b) Participants.--The program may include Federal agencies,
State agencies, county directors of veterans' affairs, veterans'
service organizations, accredited postsecondary educational and
technical institutions, the health care provider community,
businesses and nonprofit organizations.
(c) Purpose.--The program shall:
(1) Improve the health and well-being of veterans and
the families of veterans through referrals, community
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engagement and consistent network communication.
(2) Organize participants under subsection (b) to
cooperate with network partners to provide for proactive
solutions to address the problems faced by veterans.
(d) Requirements.--Program requirements shall be determined
by the department and information shall be disseminated to the
greatest extent possible on how to best navigate and utilize
available resources to improve the health and well-being of
veterans and the families of veterans.
(e) Duties of department.--The department shall develop the
program, which shall contain a mission statement that shall be
clearly communicated to network advocates, partners and
participants under subsection (b). The department shall:
(1) Coordinate with Federal agencies, State agencies,
county directors of veterans' affairs, veterans' service
organizations, accredited postsecondary educational and
technical institutions, the health care provider community,
businesses and nonprofit organizations, identified by the
department, that provide programs, initiatives, reintegration
outreach and related services to veterans and the families of
veterans.
(2) Provide Welcome Home to Pennsylvania information to
recently separated service members.
(3) Provide information regarding program initiatives,
resources, training opportunities, veterans' service
organizations and services available to be utilized by
individuals or groups who support veterans and their families
as volunteers and offer outreach and support for veterans.
(4) Coordinate with county directors of veterans'
affairs by providing information of veterans who request
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support for Federal and State benefits and programs.
(5) Coordinate with veterans' service officers from
veterans' service officer grant programs or other veterans'
service officers to assist veterans in applying for Federal
veteran benefits.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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