THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY HORNAMAN, BENNINGHOFF, BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, DEASY, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GOODMAN, HALUSKA, HUTCHINSON, KIRKLAND, KULA, MAHONEY, MICOZZIE, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, PETRARCA, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SABATINA, K. SMITH, SONNEY, SWANGER, WAGNER, YOUNGBLOOD, FLECK, HESS, MURT AND FARRY, JANUARY 27, 2011

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 23, 2012   

AN ACT

Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in veterans' pensions and benefits,

further providing for blind veteran's pension and for

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paralyzed veteran's pension.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 7702 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

Section 1.  Sections 7701(b) and 7702 of Title 51 of the

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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 7701.  Blind veteran's pension.

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(b)  Amount and eligibility.--In addition to any other

assistance provided by the Commonwealth and in addition to any

compensation provided by the Federal Government, every blind

veteran shall be paid a pension of [$150] $200 per month.

Applications for such pensions shall be made to and in the form

prescribed by the department. The Adjutant General shall have

the power, and it shall be his duty to determine the eligibility

of every applicant for a pension, and his decision in the matter

shall be final.

§ 7702.  Paralyzed veteran's pension.

(a)  Amount and eligibility.--In addition to any other

assistance provided by the Commonwealth and in addition to any

compensation provided by the Federal Government, every paralyzed

veteran shall be paid a pension of [$150] $200 per month.

Applications for the pensions shall be made to and in the form

prescribed by the department. The Adjutant General shall

determine the eligibility of every applicant for a pension, and

his decision in the matter shall be final.

(b)  Regulations.--The Adjutant General shall promulgate such

regulations as may be necessary to implement this program.

(c)  Definition.--As used in this section the term "paralyzed

veteran" means any person who served in the military or naval

forces of the United States, or any woman's organization

officially connected therewith, and who gave this Commonwealth

as his or her place of residence at the time of entering the

military or naval forces of the United States and who, while

performing duties connected with such service, suffered an

injury or incurred a disease which resulted in the veteran's 

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being considered paralyzed and rated with a 100% service-

connected disability, as determined and certified by the United

States Department of Veterans Affairs, due to the loss or total 

loss of use of two or more extremities. The term does not

include any person separated from the military or naval forces

of the United States, or any woman's organization officially

connected therewith, under other than honorable conditions.

injury or incurred a disease which resulted in:

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(1)  prior to the effective date of this paragraph, the

loss or loss of use of two or more extremities; or

(2)  on or after the effective date of this paragraph,

the veteran being considered paralyzed and rated with a 100%

service-connected disability, as determined and certified by

the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, due to the

loss or total loss of use of two or more extremities.

The term does not include any person separated from the military

or naval forces of the United States, or any woman's

organization officially connected therewith, under other than

honorable conditions.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.