PRINTER'S NO. 89
No. 67 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY ERICKSON, PUNT, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, COSTA, STOUT,
WAUGH, ORIE, KITCHEN, O'PAKE, D. WHITE, CORMAN, RHOADES,
GREENLEAF, FERLO, REGOLA, BROWNE, PIPPY, MELLOW, STACK,
LOGAN, FUMO AND WOZNIAK, FEBRUARY 9, 2007
REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
FEBRUARY 9, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of April 12, 2006 (P.L.67, No.22), entitled "An
2 act providing a bonus to Pennsylvanians who are United States
3 Merchant Marine veterans who served during World War II;
4 imposing certain duties on the Adjutant General; providing
5 penalties; and making an appropriation," further defining
6 "Merchant Marine veteran who served during World War II"; and
7 further providing for application for bonus, for United
8 States Merchant Marine World War II Veterans' Fund and for
9 expiration of act.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. The definition of "Merchant Marine veteran who
13 served during World War II" in section 2 of the act of April 12,
14 2006 (P.L.67, No.22), known as the Merchant Marine World War II
15 Veterans Bonus Act, is amended to read:
16 Section 2. Definitions.
17 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
18 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
19 context clearly indicates otherwise:
20 * * *
1 "Merchant Marine veteran who served during World War II."
2 (1) The term includes any individual who served active
3 duty, including training, in the United States Merchant
4 Marine between December 7, 1941, and [August 15, 1945]
5 December 31, 1946.
6 (2) The term does not include:
7 (i) any individual at any time during such period,
8 or thereafter, separated from the oceangoing United
9 States Merchant Marine under other than honorable
10 conditions;
11 (ii) any individual who renounced his United States
12 citizenship during such period; or
13 (iii) any individual who, during such period,
14 refused on conscientious, political, religious or other
15 grounds to be subject to military discipline.
16 Section 2. Sections 4(a) and (c), 9(c) and 11 of the act are
17 amended to read:
18 Section 4. Application for bonus.
19 (a) General rule.--Application for compensation shall be
20 made to the Adjutant General on such forms and in such manner as
21 the Adjutant General prescribes. A federally issued DD-214 form
22 evidencing honorable discharge from service in the United States
23 Merchant Marine for a period including any portion of the period
24 from December 7, 1941, through [August 15, 1945] December 31,
25 1946, shall be deemed sufficient evidence of qualifying service.
26 The Adjutant General shall assist applicants in obtaining copies
27 of Federal DD-214 forms should the applicant desire assistance.
28 * * *
29 (c) Acceptance and consideration of applications.--The
30 Adjutant General shall not accept or consider any application
20070S0067B0089 - 2 -
1 filed with the Adjutant General after December 31, [2006] 2007.
2 The decisions of the Adjutant General in consideration of
3 applications shall be final and not subject to review by any
4 court or by any other officer.
5 Section 9. United States Merchant Marine World War II Veterans'
6 Bonus Fund.
7 * * *
8 (c) Lapsing of funds.--Any moneys appropriated to the fund
9 remaining unexpended or unencumbered on June 30, [2007] 2008,
10 shall lapse into the General Fund.
11 Section 11. Expiration.
12 This act shall expire on June 30, [2007] 2008.
13 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
L18L51DMS/20070S0067B0089 - 3 -