PRINTER'S NO. 3026
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2126
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY MURT, DECEMBER 16, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, DECEMBER 16, 2019
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs,
further providing for veterans registry; and making an
editorial change.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 7 heading of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
CHAPTER 7
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
Section 2. Section 712(a), (c) and (f) of Title 51 are
amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
read:
ยง 712. Veterans registry.
(a) Establishment of veterans registry.--The department
shall establish a registry of veterans residing in this
Commonwealth in order to provide information on Federal, State
and local government benefits, programs and services available
to veterans and to link veterans with resources that can provide
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assistance. Upon registration, if permission is granted by the
registrant, the registrant's information shall be shared with
county directors of veterans affairs [and], other State agencies
and the State System of Higher Education.
* * *
(c) Duties of department.--The department shall provide
access to a paper and an online registry form which contain a
statement indicating the purpose for the registry. The forms
shall be developed to obtain the following information relating
to the veteran:
(1) Personal information, including title, first, middle
and last name.
(2) Age, gender, address and county of residence.
(3) Ten-digit phone number and e-mail address.
(4) Declaration of military service.
(5) Benefit and program information requests for various
benefits and programs for which veterans may be eligible.
(5.1) A statement as to whether the veteran is
interested in pursuing higher education, training programs or
professional development opportunities at institutions of
higher education within the State System of Higher Education.
The forms shall include a choice for the veteran to request
assistance with counseling and life changes through the
veteran's transition to a student of higher education.
(6) A signed statement, or, for online applicants, a box
that is checked, indicating that the veteran grants
permission for the department to store and share the
veteran's information with the county director of veterans
affairs for the county indicated [and with], other State
agencies and the State System of Higher Education to ensure
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that the Commonwealth provides the veteran assistance in
receiving earned benefits and information about opportunities
for higher education available at the State System of Higher
Education.
(7) The State agency which assisted the veteran.
* * *
(f) Report.--By January 1, 2018, and each January 1
thereafter, the department shall submit to the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report
on the registry which shall include:
(1) The total number of veterans registered with the
department annually.
(2) The number of registrants received by each State
agency.
(3) The number of veterans who choose not to be included
in the registry annually from each State agency.
(4) Outreach expenses incurred by the department.
(5) The number of registrants who expressed interest in
higher education under subsection (c)(5.1).
* * *
(h) Interagency agreement.--The department shall enter into
an interagency agreement with the State System of Higher
Education to establish and administer a veteran support and
partnership program that provides information from the registry
to the State System of Higher Education in order for the State
System of Higher Education to identify veterans and tailor
programs to best serve the veterans' needs for higher education.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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