Trial Engrossment of Amendment A04275 to House Bill 1626 P.N. 2728, Regular Session 2023-2024

A04275

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1626

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY DEASY, KINSEY, STAATS, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS,

MADDEN, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, DELLOSO, CONKLIN, MARKOSEK,

N. NELSON, PISCIOTTANO, D. WILLIAMS, FIEDLER, BRENNAN,

CERRATO, MULLINS, BOROWSKI AND PROBST, AUGUST 29, 2023

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,

MARCH 18, 2024

AN ACT

Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs,

establishing the PA VETConnect Program; providing for

veterans' benefits and services workplace posting; and making

an editorial change.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Part V heading of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 714 . PA VETConnect Program .

(a) Establishment.--The PA VETConnect Program is

established.

(b) Participants.--The program may include Federal agencies,

State agencies, county directors of veterans affairs, veterans'

service organizations, accredited postsecondary educational and

technical institutions, the health care provider community,

businesses and nonprofit organizations.

(1) Improve the health and well-being of veterans and

the families of veterans through referrals, community

engagement and consistent network communication.

(2) Organize participants under subsection (b) to

cooperate with network partners to provide for proactive

solutions to address the problems faced by veterans.

(d) Requirements.--Program requirements shall be determined

by the department and information shall be disseminated to the

greatest extent possible on how to best navigate and utilize

available resources to improve the health and well-being of

veterans and the families of veterans.

(e) Duties of department.--The department shall develop and

administer the program, which shall contain a mission statement

that shall be clearly communicated to network advocates,

partners and participants under subsection (b). The department

shall:

(1) Coordinate with Federal agencies, State agencies,

county directors of veterans affairs, veterans' service

organizations, accredited postsecondary educational and

technical institutions, the health care provider community,

businesses and nonprofit organizations, identified by the

department, that provide programs, initiatives, reintegration

outreach and related services to veterans and the families of

veterans.

(2) Provide Pennsylvania Salutes You for Your Service

information to recently separated service members.

(3) Provide information regarding program initiatives,

A04275 - 2 -

resources, training opportunities, veterans' service

organizations and services available to be utilized by

individuals or groups who support veterans and their families

as volunteers and offer outreach and support for veterans.

(4) Coordinate with county directors of veterans affairs

by providing information of veterans who request support for

Federal and State benefits and programs.

(5) Coordinate with veterans' service officers from

veterans' service officer grant programs or other veterans'

service officers to assist veterans in applying for Federal

veteran benefits.

Section 2. Part V heading of Title 51 is amended to read:

PART V

EMPLOYMENT [PREFERENCES] AND PENSIONS

Section 2 3. Title 51 is amended by adding a chapter to

read:

CHAPTER 74

VETERANS' BENEFITS AND SERVICES WORKPLACE POSTING

Sec.

7401. Definitions.

7402. Workplace posting.

§ 7401. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Employer." An employer with a worksite in this Commonwealth

at which more than 50 full-time employees are employed.

"Full-time employee." An individual that is employed by an

employer and works at least 40 hours per week.

"Workplace posting." The posting created by the department

A04275 - 3 -

under section 7402(a) (relating to workplace posting).

§ 7402. Workplace posting.

(a) Creation.--The department shall create a standardized

workplace posting for placement by an employer. The department

may provide the workplace posting to each employer or may place

the workplace posting on its publicly accessible Internet

website so that an employer can print a copy of the workplace

posting.

(b) Placement.--The workplace posting shall be displayed in

a conspicuous area accessible to employees.

(A) CREATION.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREATE A STANDARDIZED

WORKPLACE POSTING FOR PLACEMENT BY AN EMPLOYER. THE DEPARTMENT

SHALL PROVIDE THE WORKPLACE POSTING TO EACH EMPLOYER AND PLACE

THE WORKPLACE POSTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE

INTERNET WEBSITE SO THAT AN EMPLOYER CAN PRINT A COPY OF THE

WORKPLACE POSTING.

(B) PLACEMENT.--THE WORKPLACE POSTING:

(1) SHALL, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UNDER PARAGRAPH (2), BE

DISPLAYED BY THE EMPLOYER IN A CONSPICUOUS AREA ACCESSIBLE TO

EMPLOYEES.

(2) MAY BE PLACED ON AN EMPLOYER'S INTERNET WEBSITE

WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE TO EMPLOYEES.

following:

(1) Contact and website information for the department.

(2) Substance abuse and mental health treatment

information.

(3) Educational, workforce and training resources.

(4) Tax benefit information.

(5) Pennsylvania driver's license and nondriver

A04275 - 4 -

identification card designation information.

(6) Eligibility information for unemployment insurance

benefits under Federal and State law.

(7) Legal services information.

(8) Contact information for the United States Department

of Veterans Affairs Crisis Line.

(9) Contact information for county directors of veterans

affairs.

Section 3 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

A04275 - 5 -