1Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, providing for exclusion of veterans'
3benefits from income calculations.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:

8CHAPTER 97

9VETERANS' BENEFITS EXCLUDED FROM

10INCOME CALCULATIONS

11Sec.

129701. Definitions.

139702. Veterans' benefits excluded from income calculations for
14Commonwealth programs.

15§ 9701. Definitions.

16The following words and phrases when used in this chapter

1shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
2context clearly indicates otherwise:

3"Veterans' benefit." A service-connected compensation or
4benefit of any kind provided to a veteran by a Federal or State
5agency or authorized under Federal or State law, including, but
6not limited to, pensions, disability payments and rebates.

7§ 9702. Veterans' benefits excluded from income calculations
8for Commonwealth programs.

9(a) General rule.--All veterans' benefits shall be excluded
10from calculations of income or assets for determining
11eligibility for any Commonwealth benefit program, tax exemption,
12fee exemption or rebate.

13(b) Extension to spouses.--The exclusion under subsection
14(a) shall apply to an unmarried surviving spouse upon the death
15of a veteran for any veterans' benefit the unmarried surviving
16spouse is entitled to receive under applicable Federal or State
17law.

18Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.