THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BAKER, ROBBINS, SOLOBAY, MENSCH, PIPPY, D. WHITE, BROWNE, COSTA, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, FERLO, FONTANA, YAW AND YUDICHAK, JANUARY 31, 2011

REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 31, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled,

as amended, "An act relating to counties of the first, third,

fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth classes; amending,

revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating

thereto; relating to imposition of excise taxes by counties,

including authorizing imposition of an excise tax on the

rental of motor vehicles by counties of the first class; and

providing for regional renaissance initiatives," further

providing for compilation of war records and the director of

veterans affairs.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1923(g) of the act of August 9, 1955

(P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, amended October 4,

1978 (P.L.964, No.190), is amended and the section is amended by

adding subsections to read:

Section 1923.  Compilation of War Records; Director of

Veterans' Affairs.--* * *

(f.1)  (1)  In order to be eligible for appointment as a

director of veterans' affairs, a person must maintain a

Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation with the Department

of Military and Veterans Affairs or National Association in

accordance with the provisions of 38 CFR § 14.629 (relating to

requirements for accreditation of service organization

representatives; agents; and attorneys) as a condition of

employment.

(2)  The county commissioners shall:

(i)  Appoint the director of veterans' affairs.

(ii)  Approve compensation for the director of veterans'

affairs as set by the salary board.

(iii)  Provide office space, equipment and support staff in

the courthouse or another centrally accessible location.

(g)  It shall also be the duty of the director of veterans

affairs to:

(1)  Assist the county commissioners in administering the

provisions of this subdivision which relate to the burial of

deceased service persons and their surviving spouses and to

[furnishing] furnish markers and [placing] place headstones on

their graves.

(2)  Assist war veterans and their families in securing their

rights as such in matters relating to their person, property and

care of family, under any of the laws of this Commonwealth and

of the United States[, and for such services the director of

veterans affairs shall be entitled to his expenses incurred

therein and additional compensation. Both expenses and

compensation shall be subject to the approval of the salary

board].

(3)  Assist the county commissioners in transmitting records

of burial places of deceased service persons to the Department

of Military and Veterans Affairs [of the Commonwealth], for the

use of the Deputy Adjutant General [in charge of Veteran] for

Veterans Affairs, and otherwise assist the commissioners in

cooperating with the said deputy.

(4)  Serve as a local contact between the Department of

Military and Veterans Affairs and persons in the armed forces of

the United States who were discharged from such service and the

dependents of such persons.

(5)  Advise persons in the armed forces and veterans or their

dependents of Federal, State and county veterans' benefits

available to them.

(6)  Aid persons in the armed forces and veterans or their

dependents in completing required Federal, State and local

Veterans' Affairs forms in compliance with current regulations

and policies.

(7)  Work under the direct supervision of the county

commissioners and within the guidelines provided by the

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as determined by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(h)  A director of veterans affairs shall participate in

programs provided by the Department of Military and Veterans

Affairs including:

(1)  Annual training and refresher courses provided by the

Office of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs.

(2)  Five-year recertification as required by the United

States Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans service

officer accreditation.

(i)  The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office

of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs shall

establish a director of veterans affairs training program as

agreed upon in accordance with PSADVA including:

(1)  Promulgation of rules and program procedures pursuant to

the requirements of this subdivision.

(2)  Maintenance of training records.

(3)  Maintenance of competency scores for purposes of

documenting and monitoring accreditation status.

(4)  Annual recertification and qualification.

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