Regular Session 2017-2018 House Bill 0247 P.N. 0209

PRINTER'S NO. 209

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

247

Session of

2017

INTRODUCED BY SAINATO, BARRAR, MURT, JAMES, MATZIE, BOBACK,

LONGIETTI, BARBIN, MILLARD, THOMAS, READSHAW, McNEILL AND

DEASY, JANUARY 31, 2017

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 31, 2017

AN ACT

Amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 75 (Vehicles) of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military

and Veterans Affairs, further providing for Pennsylvania

Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund; in State Veterans' Commission

and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further

providing for Veterans' Trust Fund; in Pennsylvania Veterans'

Memorial Commission, repealing provisions relating to the

Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund and to expiration;

and, in registration of vehicles, further providing for

Pennsylvania monument registration plate.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 710 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 710. Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust

Fund.

(a) [Administration.--] Establishment and administration.--

There is established a separate fund in the State Treasury to be

known as the Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust

Fund. The [separate fund in the State Treasury known as the

Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund] fund shall be

administered by the [State Veterans' Commission] department, and

all moneys in the fund are appropriated to the [State Veterans'

Commission] department on a continuing basis[.] for the purposes

provided for under subsection (b). The State Veterans'

Commission shall assist the department in accordance with

section 1704(1) (relating to specific powers and duties).

(b) Purpose.--The moneys in the fund shall be used for the

promotion, administration, operation [and], maintenance and

completion of the [Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial on the

grounds of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery] monuments and

memorials dedicated to Pennsylvania veterans and military units

and other costs incidental thereto as approved by the

department. [Moneys in the fund may be used to pay any

construction costs which have not been paid on the effective

date of this section.]

(1) The [State Veterans' Commission] department is

authorized:

(i) To accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, gifts,

donations, legacies and usages of money from individuals,

organizations, public or private corporations and other

similar entities.

(ii) To solicit and raise moneys from public and

private sources.

(2) All money received or raised under this subsection

shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the

fund.

(3) The department may use up to 2% of the available

funds as of October 31 of each calendar year to administer

the fund in accordance with this section.

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(d) Operation and maintenance.--Money must be granted for

the operation and maintenance of monuments as designated by the

department in consultation with the State Veterans' Commission.

At a minimum, the following monuments will receive funding, as

needed, for operation and maintenance:

(1) The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial on the grounds

of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

(2) American battle monuments located overseas

officially owned or recognized by the Commonwealth.

(3) Pennsylvania unit monuments and markers within the

Gettysburg National Military Park.

(4) Other Pennsylvania military memorials and monuments

as designated or recognized by the department.

Section 2. Section 1721(c)(5) of Title 51, amended October

4, 2016 (P.L.882, No.109), is amended to read:

§ 1721. Veterans' Trust Fund.

* * *

from the Veterans' Trust Fund for the following purposes:

* * *

[(5) Assistance to operate, maintain and repair

Pennsylvania monuments honoring Pennsylvania service members

and veterans who served in the United States or overseas.]

* * *

Section 3. Sections 1905 and 1906 of Title 51 are repealed:

[§ 1905. Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund.

(a) Establishment and administration.--There is hereby

established a separate fund in the State Treasury to be known as

the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. The fund shall

be administered by the commission, and all moneys in the fund

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are appropriated to the commission on a continuing basis.

(b) Purpose.--The moneys in the fund shall be used for the

selection, design, construction, operation and maintenance of an

appropriate physical monument on the grounds of the Indiantown

Gap National Cemetery and other costs incidental thereto.

(1) The commission is authorized:

(i) To accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, gifts,

donations, legacies and usages of money from individuals,

organizations, public or private corporations and other

similar entities.

(ii) To solicit and raise moneys from public and

private sources.

(2) All money received or raised under this subsection

shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the

fund.

§ 1906. Expiration.

Sections 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904 of this chapter shall

expire June 30, 2005.]

Section 4. Section 1353.1(c) and (d) of Title 75 are amended

to read:

§ 1353.1. Pennsylvania monument registration plate.

* * *

Monuments and Memorial Trust Fund shall receive $23 of the fee

paid by the applicant for the registration plate under

subsection (a).

(d) Use of proceeds.--Proceeds under subsection (c) shall be

used exclusively to provide grants to nonprofit organizations

for the cleaning, repair and restoration of Pennsylvania

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monuments and memorials by the Gettysburg National Military

Park. A grant under this subsection may not be used to pay for

the cost of cleaning, repair or restoration of the grounds

surrounding a Pennsylvania monument or memorial.

Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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