1Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in educational gratuity program,
3further providing for definitions, for educational gratuity
4payments and for eligibility and qualification requirements.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Sections 8701, 8702 and 8703 of Title 51 of the
8Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

9§ 8701. Definitions.

10The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
11shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12context clearly indicates otherwise:

13"Commission." The State Veterans' Commission established
14under section 1702 (relating to State Veterans' Commission).

15"Deceased veteran." A person who served in the armed forces
16of the United States or a women's organization officially
17connected with the armed forces of the United States, who:

18(1) was killed in action or died as a result of wounds

1incurred during a period of war or armed conflict or as a
2result of hostile fire or terrorist attack during peacetime,
3as determined by the department; or

4(2) died in service during a period of war or armed
5conflict.

6"Disabled veteran." A person who served in the armed forces
7of the United States or a women's organization officially
8connected with the armed forces of the United States who:

9(1) was honorably discharged from the armed forces of
10the United States and certified by the United States
11Veterans' Administration as a 100% disabled veteran as a
12result of any of the following:

13(i) service during a period of war or armed
14conflict; or

15(ii) hostile fire or terrorist attack, as determined
16by the department, during peacetime; or

17(2) was honorably discharged from the military or naval
18forces of the United States and died as a result of any of
19the following:

20(i) a service-connected disability, as certified by
21the United States Veterans' Administration, incurred
22during a period of war or armed conflict; or

23(ii) peacetime hostile fire or terrorist attack, as
24determined by the department.

25"Educational institution." Any college or university of the
26State System of Higher Education, a State-aided educational or
27training institution of a secondary or college grade or other
28institution of higher education, a business school, a trade
29school, a hospital school providing training for nurses, an
30institution providing courses in beauty culture, art, radio or

1undertaking or embalming, or such other educational training
2within this Commonwealth approved by the commission.

3["Eligible disabled or deceased veteran." A person who
4served in the military or naval forces of the United States, or
5a women's organization officially connected therewith, who:

6(1) was killed in action or died as a result of wounds
7incurred during a period of war or armed conflict or as a
8result of hostile fire or terrorist attack during peacetime
9(as determined by the Department of Military Affairs);

10(2) died in service during a period of war or armed
11conflict;

12(3) was honorably discharged from the military or naval
13forces of the United States and certified by the United
14States Veterans' Administration as a 100% disabled veteran as
15a result of service during a period of war or armed conflict
16or as a result of hostile fire or terrorist attack (as
17determined by the Department of Military Affairs) during
18peacetime; or

19(4) was honorably discharged from the military or naval
20forces of the United States and died as a result of a
21service-connected disability (as certified by the United
22States Veterans' Administration) incurred during a period of
23war or armed conflict or as a result of peacetime hostile
24fire or terrorist attack (as determined by the Department of
25Military Affairs).]

26"Qualified child." Any child [meeting] of a deceased 
27veteran or disabled veteran who meets the requirements of
28section 8703 (relating to eligibility and qualification
29requirements).

30§ 8702. Educational gratuity payments.

1(a) General rule.--The commission shall make educational
2gratuity payments not exceeding [$500] $1,000 per term or
3semester per qualified child to each approved educational
4institution upon submission by that approved educational
5institution of proof that bills have been incurred or contracted
6covering matriculation fees and other necessary fees, tuition,
7board, room rent, books and supplies for a qualified child in a
8definite amount for the school year.

9(b) Records.--The commission shall attach the proof
10submitted under subsection (a) to the requisition prepared for
11payment out of appropriations made by the General Assembly for
12purposes of the educational gratuity payments.

13(c) Duration of payments.--Whenever a qualified child is
14completing an educational or training course and becomes [23] 25
15years of age before completing the course, the educational
16gratuity payment may be paid until the course is completed. No
17educational gratuity payments may be made for any qualified
18child for a period longer than [four] five scholastic years,
19provided, however, that the department may adjust the payments
20per term or semester per child so that the total payments do not
21exceed the amount of the appropriation.

22§ 8703. Eligibility and qualification requirements.

23(a) Eligibility standards.--The following requirements shall
24be used to determine the eligibility of applicants for
25educational gratuity payments. The applicant shall be:

26(1) Not less than 16 years of age nor more than [23] 25
27years of age.

28(2) The child of [an eligible disabled] a disabled
29veteran or deceased veteran.

30(3) A resident of this Commonwealth for a period of

1[five years] one year immediately preceding the date the
2application was filed.

3(b) Qualification determination.--The commission shall
4determine qualified applicants based on the following
5requirements:

6(1) The applicant meets the requirements of subsection
7(a).

8(2) The applicant is attending an approved educational
9institution.

10(3) The applicant demonstrates a financial need for the
11educational gratuity.

12(c) Appeal.--Any aggrieved applicant may appeal the decision
13of the commission to the Adjutant General under the provisions
14of Title 2 (relating to administrative law and procedure).

15Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.