MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) AND VEHICLE CODE (75 PA.C.S.) - FUNDS FOR VETERANS' TRUST FUND, CONTRIBUTIONS TO VETERANS' TRUST FUND AND SPECIAL PLATES FOR VETERANS
	Act of Oct. 24, 2012, P.L. 1602, No. 194	Cl. 51

Session of 2012

No. 2012-194

 

SB 1531

 

AN ACT

 

Amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, providing for funds for Veterans' Trust Fund; in registration of vehicles, providing for contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund; and, in registration of vehicles, further providing for special plates for veterans.

 

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

 

Section 1.  Chapter 17 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

SUBCHAPTER C

FUNDS

Sec.

1721.  Veterans' Trust Fund.

§ 1721.  Veterans' Trust Fund.

(a)  Source of revenue.--In addition to transfers under section 1719-G of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, the Veterans' Trust Fund shall include funds from the following sources:

(1)  Proceeds paid by the Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1320 (relating to contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund).

(2)  Amounts payable to the fund under 75 Pa.C.S § 1364(b) (relating to special plates for veterans).

(3)  Grants, gifts, donations and other payments from a person or government entity.

(4)  Money appropriated to the fund.

(b)  Appropriation.--Money in the fund is appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for purposes set forth in subsection (c).

(c)  Authorized purposes.--The department may expend money from the Veterans' Trust Fund for the following purposes:

(1)  Grants for programs or projects to support Pennsylvania veterans and their families to:

(i)  the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation;

(ii)  veterans' service organizations; and

(iii)  other Statewide charitable organizations.

(2)  Grants or funding for new, innovative and expanded activities or programs operated by a county director of veterans affairs or the State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs.

(3)  Grants to Statewide veterans' service organizations in addition to the grants authorized and funded under section 9304 (relating to grants to veterans' service officer programs).

(4)  Assistance to Pennsylvania veterans in need of shelter or other necessities of living to the extent that other funds or resources are not available.

(5)  Assistance to operate, maintain and repair Pennsylvania monuments honoring Pennsylvania service members and veterans who served in the United States or overseas.

(6)  Payments to the Motor License Fund for actual costs incurred by the Department of Transportation to implement 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1320 (relating to contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund) and 1510 (relating to issuance and content of driver's license).

(d)  Contributions.--The department may solicit and accept gifts, donations, legacies and other money for deposit into the fund from a person or a government entity on behalf of the Commonwealth.

(e)  Operation.--The department shall adopt a statement of policy for the maintenance and use of the fund within 60 days of the effective date of this section. The policy shall be published as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, but shall not be subject to review under section 205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law, sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act or the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.

(f)  Report.--By July 31, 2013, and every year thereafter, the department shall submit to the chairman and minority chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report detailing the Veterans' Trust Fund revenues and expenditures in the prior fiscal year and describing the activities, programs and projects which received funds.

Section 1.1.  Title 75 is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 1320.  Contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund.

(a)  Option.--Within one year of the effective date of this section, the department shall provide for all of the following:

(1)  Ability of an applicant for an original or renewal driver's license or identification card to make a contribution of $3 to the Veterans' Trust Fund.

(2)  Ability of an applicant for a renewal vehicle registration to make a contribution of $3 to the Veterans' Trust Fund.

(b)  Implementation.--

(1)  A contribution under subsection (a) shall be added, as appropriate, to the regular fee for:

(i)  an original or renewal driver's license or identification card; and

(ii)  a renewal of a vehicle registration.

(2)  One contribution under subsection (a) may be made for:

(i)  each issuance or renewal of a driver's license or identification card; and

(ii)  each renewal vehicle registration.

(c)  Use.--Contributions under subsection (a) shall be used exclusively for purposes set forth in 51 Pa.C.S. § 1721(c) (relating to Veterans' Trust Fund).

(d)  Deposits.--

(1)  The department shall determine on a monthly basis the total amount collected under this section and report the amount to the State Treasurer.

(2)  The State Treasurer shall transfer the amount collected to the Veterans' Trust Fund.

(e)  Reimbursement.--The Veterans' Trust Fund shall reimburse the Motor License Fund for the actual costs incurred by the department in the administration of this section.

Section 2.  Section 1364 of Title 75 is amended to read:

§ 1364.  Special plates for veterans.

(a)  Honorably discharged veterans.--Upon application of any person who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces as defined in 51 Pa.C.S. § 7301 (relating to definitions), accompanied by a fee of $20 which shall be in addition to the annual registration fee and by such documentation as the department shall require, the department shall issue to the person a special registration plate designating the vehicle as belonging to a person who is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States. The special registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds.

(b)  Honoring our veterans.--Upon application of any person, accompanied by a fee of $35 which shall be in addition to the annual registration fee and by such documentation as the department shall require, the department shall issue to the person a special registration plate designating the vehicle as belonging to a person who is honoring veterans of the armed forces of the United States. The special registration plate may be used only on a passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds. The Veterans' Trust Fund shall receive $15 of the fee paid by the applicant for the plate.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 30 days.

 

APPROVED--The 24th day of October, A.D. 2012.

 

TOM CORBETT