PRINTER'S NO. 3112
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1960
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHWEYER, ROZZI, READSHAW, CUTLER, SCHREIBER,
MACKENZIE, O'BRIEN, ACOSTA, BRIGGS, SCHLOSSBERG, YOUNGBLOOD,
THOMAS, FREEMAN, D. COSTA, COHEN, V. BROWN, PAYNE, BULLOCK,
DeLUCA, SIMS, DAVIS, DRISCOLL, DEAN, KORTZ, RADER, GIBBONS,
HARHAI, MAHONEY, KINSEY, MASSER, KILLION, KRUEGER-BRANEKY,
KIM, HARHART, JOZWIAK, FARINA AND WATSON, APRIL 7, 2016
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 7, 2016
AN ACT
Establishing the Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant Program;
conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs; and establishing the Veteran
Suicide Prevention Fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Veteran
Suicide Prevention Program Act.
Section 2. Declaration of policy.
The General Assembly finds and declares that it is critical
to ensure that all United States military veterans in this
Commonwealth and their loved ones have the necessary resources
and support when dealing with the invisible wounds of war and
that struggling veterans are able to receive needed assistance
before reaching a point of despair and taking the irrevocable
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step of taking their own lives.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs of the Commonwealth.
"Eligible entity." Includes:
(1) A not-for-profit organization.
(2) A local government agency.
(3) A veterans' service organization.
(4) A private organization.
"Fund." The Veteran Suicide Prevention Fund established in
section 5.
"Program." The Veteran Suicide Prevention Grant Program
established in section 4.
Section 4. Program.
(a) Program established.--The Veteran Suicide Prevention
Grant Program is established. The program shall be administered
by the department in accordance with this act. The goal of the
program is to provide funding for community-based services,
programs and activities that will reduce the rate of suicide
among veterans in this Commonwealth.
(b) Award of grants.--The department may award grants
annually to eligible entities. Grant funds shall be used to
support programs and activities designed to prevent veteran
suicide, including the following:
(1) Suicide prevention support groups.
(2) Depression screenings.
(3) Suicide prevention or crisis hotline.
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(4) Suicide prevention education and outreach.
(5) Any other related services that provide suicide
prevention and support to veterans and their families.
(c) Amount.--The amount of a grant may not exceed $25,000
for each eligible entity approved by the department.
(d) Compliance.--The department shall document compliance of
each grant recipient with the requirements of this act.
(e) Application forms.--Grant application forms shall be
developed by the department and made available on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 5. Veteran Suicide Prevention Fund.
(a) Fund established.--The Veteran Suicide Prevention Fund
is established in the State Treasury.
(b) Source of fund money.--The fund shall consist of revenue
from fees allocated under this section and gifts, grants,
bequests or devises from any source, including funds from the
Federal Government and the State government.
(c) Fee increase.--The fee imposed by the Department of
Health for each of the following shall be increased by $2:
(1) The issuance of a certified copy of a birth record
under section 609-A(6) of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
(2) The issuance of a certified copy of a death record
under section 609-A(6) of The Administrative Code of 1929.
(d) Allocation.--The additional amounts collected by the
Department of Health in accordance with subsection (c) shall be
allocated to the fund.
(e) Deposits.--
(1) The Department of Health shall determine on a
monthly basis the amount to be allocated under subsection (d)
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and report the amount to the State Treasurer.
(2) The State Treasurer shall transfer the amount
collected to the fund.
(f) Use of fund money.--Money in the fund shall be used
exclusively for the program, and no more than 5% may be expended
for costs of the department in administering the program.
Section 6. Restriction.
Grant funds may not be used for the capital needs of an
eligible entity.
Section 7. Department authority.
The department may promulgate regulations and issue
guidelines and directives as deemed necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act.
Section 8. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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