<-1Amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), entitled,
2as amended, "An act relating to counties of the first, third,
3fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth classes; amending,
4revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating
5thereto; relating to imposition of excise taxes by counties,
6including authorizing imposition of an excise tax on the
7rental of motor vehicles by counties of the first class; and
8providing for regional renaissance initiatives," further
9providing for compilation of war records and the director of
10veterans' affairs.

<-11Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania 
12Consolidated Statutes, providing for county directors of 
13veterans' affairs.

14The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15hereby enacts as follows:

<-16Section 1. Section 1923(g) of the act of August 9, 1955
17(P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, amended October 4,
181978 (P.L.964, No.190), is amended and the section is amended by
19adding subsections to read:

20Section 1923. Compilation of War Records; Director of
21Veterans' Affairs.--* * *

1(f.1) (1) In order to be eligible for appointment as a
2director of veterans' affairs, a person must maintain a
3Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation with the Department
4of Military and Veterans Affairs or national association in
5accordance with the provisions of 38 CFR § 14.629 (relating to
6requirements for accreditation of service organization
7representatives; agents; and attorneys) as a condition of
8employment.

9(2) The county commissioners shall:

10(i) Appoint the director of veterans' affairs.

11(ii) Approve compensation for the director of veterans'
12affairs as set by the salary board.

13(iii) Provide office space, equipment and support staff in
14the courthouse or another centrally accessible location.

15(g) It shall also be the duty of the director of veterans
16affairs to:

17(1) Assist the county commissioners in administering the
18provisions of this subdivision which relate to the burial of
19deceased service persons and their surviving spouses and to
20[furnishing] furnish markers and [placing] place headstones on
21their graves.

22(2) Assist war veterans and their families in securing their
23rights as such in matters relating to their person, property and
24care of family, under any of the laws of this Commonwealth and
25of the United States[, and for such services the director of
26veterans affairs shall be entitled to his expenses incurred
27therein and additional compensation. Both expenses and
28compensation shall be subject to the approval of the salary
29board].

30(3) Assist the county commissioners in transmitting records

1of burial places of deceased service persons to the Department
2of Military and Veterans Affairs [of the Commonwealth], for the
3use of the Deputy Adjutant General [in charge of Veteran] for
4Veterans Affairs, and otherwise assist the commissioners in
5cooperating with the said deputy.

6(4) Serve as a local contact between the Department of
7Military and Veterans Affairs and persons in the armed forces of
8the United States, persons who were discharged from such service
9and the dependents of such persons.

10(5) Advise persons in the armed forces and veterans or their
11dependents of Federal, State and county veterans' benefits
12available to them.

13(6) Aid persons in the armed forces and veterans or their
14dependents in completing required Federal, State and local
15veterans' affairs forms in compliance with current regulations
16and policies.

17(7) Work under the direct supervision of the county
18commissioners and within the guidelines provided by the
19Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as determined by the
20United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

21(h) A director of veterans affairs shall participate in
22programs provided by the Department of Military and Veterans
23Affairs including:

24(1) Annual training and refresher courses provided by the
25Office of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs.

26(2) Five-year recertification as required by the United
27States Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans service
28officer accreditation.

29(i) The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office
30of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs shall

1establish a director of veterans affairs training program as
2agreed upon in accordance with the State Association of County
3Directors of Veterans Affairs, including:

4(1) Promulgation of rules and program procedures pursuant to
5the requirements of this subdivision.

6(2) Maintenance of training records.

7(3) Maintenance of competency scores for purposes of
8documenting and monitoring accreditation status.

9(4) Annual recertification and qualification.

10Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

<-11Section 1. Chapter 17 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
12Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:

13SUBCHAPTER D

14COUNTY DIRECTORS OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS

15Sec.

161731. Accreditation.

17§ 1731. Accreditation.

18(a) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible for appointment as
19a director of veterans' affairs in a county of this
20Commonwealth, a person must maintain a United States Department
21of Veterans Affairs accreditation in accordance with the
22provisions of 38 CFR § 14.629 (relating to requirements for
23accreditation of service organization representatives; agents;
24and attorneys) with one of the following:

25(1) The department.

26(2) A veterans' organization listed under section
271702(b) (relating to State Veterans' Commission).

28(b) Time.--

29(1) A person who is appointed as a director of veterans'
30affairs in a county of this Commonwealth shall have up to one

1year from the date of appointment to attain the training and
2certification required under this title.

3(2) A person who has been appointed as a director of
4veterans' affairs in a county of this Commonwealth prior to
5the effective date of this section shall have one year from
6the effective date of this section to attain the training and
7certification required under this title.

8(c) Additional duties.--In addition to the duties provided
9for under a statute other than this title, a director of
10veterans' affairs shall do all of the following:

11(1) Serve as a local contact between the United States
12Department of Veterans Affairs, the department and an
13individual in the armed forces of the United States, an
14individual who was discharged from the service and a
15dependent of the individual.

16(2) Advise an individual in the armed forces, a veteran
17or a dependent of the individual or veteran of available
18Federal, State and county veterans' benefits.

19(3) Aid an individual in the armed forces, a veteran or
20a dependent of the individual or veteran in completing
21required Federal, State and local veterans' affairs forms in
22compliance with current regulations and policies.

23(4) Work under the direct supervision of the county
24commissioners and within the guidelines provided by the
25department and the United States Department of Veterans
26Affairs.

27(5) Participate in programs provided by the department
28including:

29(i) Annual training and refresher courses provided
30by the Office of the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans

1Affairs.

2(ii) Five-year recertification as required by the
3United States Department of Veterans Affairs for
4veterans' service officer accreditation.

5(d) Office duties.--The Office of the Deputy Adjutant
6General for Veterans Affairs shall establish a county director
7of veterans affairs training program, agreed upon with the State
8Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs, which shall
9include the following:

10(1) Development of program guidelines and procedures as
11required under this subchapter.

12(2) Maintenance of training records.

13(3) Maintenance of competency scores for purposes of
14documenting and monitoring accreditation status.

15(4) Annual recertification and qualification.

16Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.