PRINTER'S NO. 1697
No. 1401 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, BELL, BRIGHTBILL, HELFRICK, MUSTO,
PECORA, ROBBINS, SALVATORE, STAPLETON AND TILGHMAN,
OCTOBER 28, 1993
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
OCTOBER 28, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, creating the Veterans' Transportation
3 Assistance Program in the Department of Military Affairs.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
8 CHAPTER 88
9 VETERANS' TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
10 Sec.
11 8801. Short title of chapter.
12 8802. Definitions.
13 8803. Veterans' Transportation Assistance Program.
14 8804. Eligibility.
15 8805. County transportation companies.
16 8806. Regulations.
17 § 8801. Short title of chapter.
1 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Veterans'
2 Transportation Assistance Act.
3 § 8802. Definitions.
4 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
5 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
6 context clearly indicates otherwise:
7 "Commission." The State Veterans' Commission established
8 under section 1702 (relating to State Veterans' Commission).
9 "Eligible veteran." A former member of the military or naval
10 service of the United States, or women's organization officially
11 connected therewith, who:
12 (1) served during a period of war or armed conflict and
13 was honorably discharged; or
14 (2) as a result of peacetime hostile fire or terrorist
15 attack, as determined by the department, suffered a service-
16 connected disability as certified by the United States
17 Veterans Administration and was honorably discharged from the
18 armed forces.
19 "Program." The Veterans' Transportation Assistance Program
20 established under this chapter.
21 § 8803. Veterans' Transportation Assistance Program.
22 (a) Program established.--The Veterans' Transportation
23 Assistance Program is hereby established in the department.
24 (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to provide
25 assistance to eligible veterans who need transportation to
26 medical appointments at United States Veterans Administration
27 medical centers or other health care facilities or providers.
28 (c) Relation to other programs.--The program shall
29 supplement existing transportation assistance programs for
30 senior citizens and disabled residents of this Commonwealth.
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1 § 8804. Eligibility.
2 (a) Eligibility requirements.--In order to qualify for the
3 program, an applicant must demonstrate that:
4 (1) They are eligible veterans.
5 (2) They are residents of this Commonwealth.
6 (3) They are unable to provide for their own
7 transportation because of financial hardship or disability.
8 (4) They do not qualify for an existing transportation
9 assistance program.
10 (5) No existing transportation assistance program is
11 adequate to meet their needs.
12 (b) Review of applications.--The commission shall review the
13 applications and may approve an applicant for the program. The
14 commission may place conditions and restrictions on the
15 approval. Participants in the program must demonstrate annually
16 that they are eligible for the program.
17 (c) Appeal of commission decision.--Any aggrieved applicant
18 may appeal the decision of the commission to the Adjutant
19 General under the provisions of Title 2 (relating to
20 administrative law and procedure).
21 § 8805. County transportation companies.
22 The department shall contract with county transportation
23 systems or other local transportation organizations, as defined
24 in 74 Pa.C.S. § 1301 (relating to definitions), to provide the
25 services under the program. The department shall reimburse the
26 county transportation system or the local transportation
27 organization for the services it provides under the program.
28 § 8806. Regulations.
29 The department shall promulgate regulations as may be
30 necessary to implement the program.
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1 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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