PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 264

PRINTER'S NO.  950

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

254

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY FAIRCHILD, ADOLPH, BAKER, BARRAR, BEAR, BEYER, BOYD, BRENNAN, CIVERA, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, DENLINGER, EACHUS, EVERETT, FLECK, FRANKEL, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARKINS, HARRIS, HELM, HESS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MICCARELLI, MILLER, MOUL, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, RAPP, REICHLEY, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STERN, VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ, YUDICHAK, ROCK, CAUSER AND MICOZZIE, FEBRUARY 4, 2009

  

  

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 11, 2009   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An

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act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public

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welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for veterans.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known

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as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to

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read:

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Section 215.  Veterans.--(a)  The department shall make a

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good faith effort to determine whether an applicant for cash or

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medical assistance is a veteran. While in the process of making

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its determination, the department shall dispense benefits to the

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applicant, if otherwise eligible.

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(b)  As a condition of eligibility to receive cash or medical

 


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assistance, unless there is good cause not to do so, an

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applicant who is a veteran shall be required to contact a

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veteran service officer accredited and recognized by the United

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States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of

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Military and Veterans Affairs or the county director of veterans

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affairs in which the applicant resides in order to determine the

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applicant's eligibility for veteran's benefits or to file a

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veteran claims packet. The department shall develop a standard

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form to be used by a veteran service officer to verify the

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applicant's eligibility for veteran benefits.

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(c)  An applicant who is a veteran shall provide proof of

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compliance with this section and the department shall, to the

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greatest extent possible, require the applicant to provide

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information on the final determination of eligibility for

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veteran benefits and the type of benefits the veteran is

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entitled to receive.

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(d)  As used in this section, the following words and phrases

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shall have the following meanings:

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"Assistance" means money, services and payment for medical

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coverage for needy persons who are residents of this

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Commonwealth, are in need of assistance and meet all conditions

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of eligibility.

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"Veteran claims packet" means an application requesting a

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determination or entitlement or evidencing a belief in

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entitlement to a benefit as provided for in 38 CFR (relating to

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pensions, bonuses, and veterans' relief) or 51 Pa.C.S. (relating

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to military affairs).

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

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