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PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 979, 1053
PRINTER'S NO. 1349
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
170
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY IOVINO, REGAN, HUGHES, L. WILLIAMS, FONTANA,
BLAKE, VOGEL, KEARNEY, BAKER, PHILLIPS-HILL, COLLETT, MUTH,
SANTARSIERO, MASTRIANO, FOLMER, COSTA, SCHWANK, SABATINA,
MENSCH, YUDICHAK, J. WARD, AUMENT, BROWNE, BREWSTER, BOSCOLA,
FARNESE, STREET, TARTAGLIONE, BARTOLOTTA, KILLION, LAUGHLIN,
BROOKS, YAW, LEACH, DINNIMAN, K. WARD, HAYWOOD AND
A. WILLIAMS, JUNE 17, 2019
AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 30, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Establishing a task force on services for veterans, including
the coordination of services in this Commonwealth among
Federal, State, local and nonprofit programs aimed at serving
veterans, and directing the Joint State Government Commission
to establish an advisory committee to the task force and
conduct a comprehensive review and analysis of services for
veterans.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is home to the fourth largest
veteran population in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Federal dollars expended per Pennsylvania
veteran ranks 45th in the nation; and
WHEREAS, The disparity nationally in expenditures has led to
the establishment of thousands of veterans' service entities;
and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth ranks within the top five states
in the number of nonprofit veteran organizations; and
WHEREAS, The sheer number of veterans' service organizations
across this Commonwealth has made the coordination of services,
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cooperation and oversight difficult; and
WHEREAS, Navigating and availing services may be especially
difficult for the veteran; and
WHEREAS, The 2014 needs assessment from the Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs found that "challenges in meeting
veterans' needs lay not with what is available, but how it is
available" and that the "flow of information to veterans about
available services, benefits, and programs is overwhelming in
both volume and presentation"; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate establish a task force on services
for veterans, including the coordination of services in this
Commonwealth among Federal, State, local and nonprofit programs
aimed at serving veterans; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of the following:
(1) The chair and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs
and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate.
(2) Two members of the Senate appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate.
(3) One member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
Leader of the Senate;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
establish an advisory committee to the task force consisting of
the following members:
(1) The Adjutant General of the Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Health of the Commonwealth or a
designee.
(3) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(4) The Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs or a
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designee.
(5) The Secretary of Labor and Industry or a designee.
(6) The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth or a
designee.
(7) The chair of the Pennsylvania State Veterans'
Commission.
(8) A representative from a veterans' service
organization.
(9) The executive director of the Veterans Leadership
Program of Western Pennsylvania.
(10) The executive director of a multiservice center for
veterans.
(11) An individual who works for the Clearinghouse for
Military Family Readiness at The Pennsylvania State
University.
(12) An individual who directs research at an institute
for veterans and military families.
(13) An individual who serves as the director of
veterans' services for a county in this Commonwealth.
(14) An individual who serves as the director of a human
services department for a county in this Commonwealth.
(15) An individual who is employed by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(16) An individual who is a professional provider of
community care with an expertise in veterans' issues.
(17) An individual who is an expert on veterans with
disabilities.
(18) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO REPRESENTS A COUNTYWIDE VETERANS'
ASSISTANCE NETWORK.
(18) (19) Two male individuals who served in any branch
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of the United States Armed Forces after the events of
September 11, 2001, and are residents of this Commonwealth.
(19) (20) Two female individuals who served in any
branch of the United States Armed Forces after the events of
September 11, 2001, and are residents of this Commonwealth;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, working
with the advisory committee, conduct a comprehensive review and
analysis of laws, regulations, policies and procedures of this
Commonwealth and other states regarding the coordination of
services between Federal, State, local and nonprofit programs
aimed at serving veterans; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the review and analysis include the
identification of the following:
(1) Veterans' service networks and collaborative
organizations operating in this Commonwealth.
(2) Models currently being utilized for
interorganizational communication within the veterans'
service community in this Commonwealth and other states.
(3) Technological platforms currently being used to
collect, store and exchange data among the veterans' service
community in this Commonwealth and other states.
(4) National, state or local models that support
comprehensive access and navigation of veterans' services
being utilized.
(5) Any other areas recommended by the task force
relating to the coordination of services among the veterans'
service organizations;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force recommend changes, when
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necessary, to State laws, regulations, practices and procedures
relating to improved coordination of services in this
Commonwealth among Federal, State, local and nonprofit programs
aimed at serving veterans; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of the task force's findings and recommendations to the
Senate within one year of the establishment of the advisory
committee under this resolution.
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