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PRINTER'S NO. 209
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
247
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY SAINATO, BARRAR, MURT, JAMES, MATZIE, BOBACK,
LONGIETTI, BARBIN, MILLARD, THOMAS, READSHAW, McNEILL AND
DEASY, JANUARY 31, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 31, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 75 (Vehicles) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs, further providing for Pennsylvania
Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund; in State Veterans' Commission
and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further
providing for Veterans' Trust Fund; in Pennsylvania Veterans'
Memorial Commission, repealing provisions relating to the
Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund and to expiration;
and, in registration of vehicles, further providing for
Pennsylvania monument registration plate.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 710 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 710. Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust
Fund.
(a) [Administration.--] Establishment and administration.--
There is established a separate fund in the State Treasury to be
known as the Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust
Fund. The [separate fund in the State Treasury known as the
Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund] fund shall be
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administered by the [State Veterans' Commission] department, and
all moneys in the fund are appropriated to the [State Veterans'
Commission] department on a continuing basis[.] for the purposes
provided for under subsection (b). The State Veterans'
Commission shall assist the department in accordance with
section 1704(1) (relating to specific powers and duties).
(b) Purpose.--The moneys in the fund shall be used for the
promotion, administration, operation [and], maintenance and
completion of the [Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial on the
grounds of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery] monuments and
memorials dedicated to Pennsylvania veterans and military units
and other costs incidental thereto as approved by the
department. [Moneys in the fund may be used to pay any
construction costs which have not been paid on the effective
date of this section.]
(c) Contributions and solicitation of funds.--
(1) The [State Veterans' Commission] department is
authorized:
(i) To accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, gifts,
donations, legacies and usages of money from individuals,
organizations, public or private corporations and other
similar entities.
(ii) To solicit and raise moneys from public and
private sources.
(2) All money received or raised under this subsection
shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the
fund.
(3) The department may use up to 2% of the available
funds as of October 31 of each calendar year to administer
the fund in accordance with this section.
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(d) Operation and maintenance.--Money must be granted for
the operation and maintenance of monuments as designated by the
department in consultation with the State Veterans' Commission.
At a minimum, the following monuments will receive funding, as
needed, for operation and maintenance:
(1) The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial on the grounds
of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
(2) American battle monuments located overseas
officially owned or recognized by the Commonwealth.
(3) Pennsylvania unit monuments and markers within the
Gettysburg National Military Park.
(4) Other Pennsylvania military memorials and monuments
as designated or recognized by the department.
Section 2. Section 1721(c)(5) of Title 51, amended October
4, 2016 (P.L.882, No.109), is amended to read:
§ 1721. Veterans' Trust Fund.
* * *
(c) Authorized purposes.--The department may expend money
from the Veterans' Trust Fund for the following purposes:
* * *
[(5) Assistance to operate, maintain and repair
Pennsylvania monuments honoring Pennsylvania service members
and veterans who served in the United States or overseas.]
* * *
Section 3. Sections 1905 and 1906 of Title 51 are repealed:
[§ 1905. Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund.
(a) Establishment and administration.--There is hereby
established a separate fund in the State Treasury to be known as
the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. The fund shall
be administered by the commission, and all moneys in the fund
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are appropriated to the commission on a continuing basis.
(b) Purpose.--The moneys in the fund shall be used for the
selection, design, construction, operation and maintenance of an
appropriate physical monument on the grounds of the Indiantown
Gap National Cemetery and other costs incidental thereto.
(c) Contributions and solicitation of funds.--
(1) The commission is authorized:
(i) To accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, gifts,
donations, legacies and usages of money from individuals,
organizations, public or private corporations and other
similar entities.
(ii) To solicit and raise moneys from public and
private sources.
(2) All money received or raised under this subsection
shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the
fund.
§ 1906. Expiration.
Sections 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904 of this chapter shall
expire June 30, 2005.]
Section 4. Section 1353.1(c) and (d) of Title 75 are amended
to read:
§ 1353.1. Pennsylvania monument registration plate.
* * *
(c) Proceeds.--The [Veterans' Trust] Pennsylvania Veterans'
Monuments and Memorial Trust Fund shall receive $23 of the fee
paid by the applicant for the registration plate under
subsection (a).
(d) Use of proceeds.--Proceeds under subsection (c) shall be
used exclusively to provide grants to nonprofit organizations
for the cleaning, repair and restoration of Pennsylvania
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monuments and memorials by the Gettysburg National Military
Park. A grant under this subsection may not be used to pay for
the cost of cleaning, repair or restoration of the grounds
surrounding a Pennsylvania monument or memorial.
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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