PRINTER'S NO. 2251
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1964
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, MILLARD, HILL-EVANS, GUENST, LEWIS
DELROSSO, RYAN, HELM, PENNYCUICK, MIZGORSKI AND SCHLEGEL
CULVER, OCTOBER 8, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, OCTOBER 8, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Adjutant General, further providing
for general powers and duties of Adjutant General; and, in
State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for
Veterans' Affairs, further providing for qualifications and
status and for specific duties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 902(10) of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is repealed:
§ 902. General powers and duties of Adjutant General.
The Adjutant General as head of the department is responsible
to the Commonwealth and to the Governor for the organization and
functioning of said department, and the performance and carrying
out of all the duties, powers and responsibilities given or
delegated. In addition he is hereby authorized and directed to:
* * *
[(10) Make such bylaws, rules and regulations for the
management, general direction and control of the property of
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the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home or homes
wherever situate.]
* * *
Section 2. Sections 1711 and 1712 of Title 51 are amended to
read:
§ 1711. Qualifications and status.
(a) [Deputy Adjutants General.--] Office of Deputy Adjutant
General for Veterans' Affairs.--The Office of Deputy Adjutant
General for Veterans' Affairs is established within the
department for administrative purposes only and shall report to
the Governor on all matters concerning veterans and their
families in this Commonwealth and shall work in consultation
with the advisory board. In addition to such other Deputy
Adjutants General as may be named in the department, there shall
be a Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, who shall
perform the duties under section 1712 (relating to specific
duties) [and such other duties as the Adjutant General may
assign].
(b) Appointment.--The Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans'
Affairs shall be [selected and appointed as other Deputy
Adjutants General are selected and appointed. He shall be a
veteran and an active member of at least one of the veterans'
organizations listed under section 1702(b) (relating to State
Veterans' Commission).] appointed by the Governor from the list
of applicants provided by the advisory board.
(c) Compensation.--The compensation of the Deputy Adjutant
General for Veterans' Affairs shall be as established by law.
(d) Status.--[The Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans'
Affairs shall be accorded all the rights, emoluments and
privileges, except pay and allowances, of a brigadier general in
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the Pennsylvania Guard and shall be addressed as "General."] The
qualifications of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans'
Affairs shall be as follows:
(1) Must be a veteran with at least eight years of
service in the armed forces of the United States, which shall
include service in a reserve component or National Guard, and
discharged or released from service under honorable
conditions.
(2) Must possess a current and valid license related to
the administration of a nursing home, personal care home or
long-term care facility.
(3) Must have at least a four-year degree in business or
administration.
(4) Must possess a current and valid certification or
license at or above a paramedic or advanced emergency medical
technician.
(5) Must have acquired consecutively not less than two
years' experience in an administrative capacity.
§ 1712. Specific duties.
In addition to such other duties as may be provided by law or
as assigned by the [Adjutant General] Governor, the Deputy
Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs shall have the following
specific duties:
(1) To recommend to [the Adjutant General and] the
Governor, with the advice of the [State Veterans' Commission]
commission and the advisory board, new legislation and
amendments to existing statutes concerning veterans and their
activities for consideration by the General Assembly.
(2) To cooperate with all Federal and State departments
and agencies in the interest of veterans.
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(3) To aid in filing and prosecuting claims of
Pennsylvania's veterans and their dependents under Federal or
State laws or regulations.
(4) To aid veterans in seeking employment or
reemployment after their [honorable discharge from] service
in the armed forces of the United States[.], including a
reserve component or National Guard, in which their discharge
or release from service was under conditions other than
dishonorable.
(5) To aid veterans requiring medical care in securing
hospitalization provided by a Federal or State [medical or
care] health care facility.
(6) To aid in the rehabilitation of injured, wounded or
compensable veterans in educational institutions or
vocational training institutions for which they may be
eligible by law.
(7) To cooperate with and advise the Department of
Education with respect to vocational training programs for
veterans and their dependents, particularly programs suited
to casualties.
(8) To administer relief provided by the Commonwealth
for veterans and their dependents.
(9) To administer the distribution [under the direction
of the Adjutant General] of any compensation to veterans or
their dependents that has been or may be granted by the
Commonwealth.
(10) To investigate and report to the Governor and the
commission the work of other State agencies in administering
laws affecting veterans and their dependents.
(11) To investigate, compile and maintain complete and
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accurate data concerning veterans of the armed forces of the
United States, including a reserve component or National
Guard, and all State and municipal activities related
thereto.
(12) To compile from the records transmitted from the
various counties of this Commonwealth a record of the burial
places in this Commonwealth of deceased veterans, including
such information as the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans'
Affairs or his designee deems necessary and appropriate.
(13) To disseminate information concerning
Pennsylvania's veterans and Pennsylvania's veterans' programs
to the advisory board, to veterans' organizations, to the
public press and other media and to the general public.
(14) To biannually submit, through the Adjutant General,
to the Governor and the advisory board a report of State
activities on behalf of veterans.
(15) To serve as a clearinghouse for all problems or
issues related to Pennsylvania's veterans and their
dependents.
(16) To serve as Executive Secretary of the [State
Veterans' Commission] commission.
(17) To appoint, in consultation with the advisory
board, the commandant of a veterans' home.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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