PRINTER'S NO. 296
No. 293 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, HELFRICK, LEMMOND, BELAN, WAGNER, CONTI, COSTA, GERLACH, HOLL, KASUNIC, LAVALLE, MELLOW, MUSTO, O'PAKE, RHOADES, SALVATORE, SCHWARTZ, STOUT, TOMLINSON AND BOSCOLA, FEBRUARY 2, 1999
REFERRED TO MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, FEBRUARY 2, 1999
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania 2 Consolidated Statutes, creating the Veterans' Transportation 3 Assistance Program in the Department of Military Affairs. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated 7 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read: 8 CHAPTER 88 9 VETERANS' TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 10 Sec. 11 8801. Short title of chapter. 12 8802. Definitions. 13 8803. Veterans' Transportation Assistance Program. 14 8804. Eligibility. 15 8805. County transportation companies. 16 8806. Regulations. 17 § 8801. Short title of chapter.
1 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Veterans' 2 Transportation Assistance Act. 3 § 8802. Definitions. 4 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter 5 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the 6 context clearly indicates otherwise: 7 "Commission." The State Veterans' Commission established 8 under section 1702 (relating to State Veterans' Commission). 9 "Eligible veteran." A former member of the military or naval 10 service of the United States, or women's organization officially 11 connected therewith, who: 12 (1) served during a period of war or armed conflict and 13 was honorably discharged; or 14 (2) as a result of peacetime hostile fire or terrorist 15 attack, as determined by the department, suffered a service- 16 connected disability as certified by the United States 17 Veterans Administration and was honorably discharged from the 18 armed forces. 19 "Program." The Veterans' Transportation Assistance Program 20 established under this chapter. 21 § 8803. Veterans' Transportation Assistance Program. 22 (a) Program established.--The Veterans' Transportation 23 Assistance Program is hereby established in the department. 24 (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to provide 25 assistance to eligible veterans who need transportation to 26 medical appointments at United States Veterans Administration 27 medical centers or other health care facilities or providers. 28 (c) Relation to other programs.--The program shall 29 supplement existing transportation assistance programs for 30 senior citizens and disabled residents of this Commonwealth. 19990S0293B0296 - 2 -
1 § 8804. Eligibility. 2 (a) Eligibility requirements.--In order to qualify for the 3 program, applicants must demonstrate that: 4 (1) They are eligible veterans. 5 (2) They are residents of this Commonwealth. 6 (3) They are unable to provide for their own 7 transportation because of financial hardship or disability. 8 (4) They do not qualify for an existing transportation 9 assistance program. 10 (5) No existing transportation assistance program is 11 adequate to meet their needs. 12 (b) Review of applications.--The commission shall review the 13 applications and may approve applicants for the program. The 14 commission may place conditions and restrictions on the 15 approval. Participants in the program must demonstrate annually 16 that they are eligible for the program. 17 (c) Appeal of commission decision.--Any aggrieved applicant 18 may appeal the decision of the commission to the Adjutant 19 General under the provisions of Title 2 (relating to 20 administrative law and procedure). 21 § 8805. County transportation companies. 22 The department shall contract with county transportation 23 systems or other local transportation organizations, as defined 24 in 74 Pa.C.S. § 1301 (relating to definitions), to provide the 25 services under the program. The department shall reimburse the 26 county transportation system or the local transportation 27 organization for the services it provides under the program. 28 § 8806. Regulations. 29 The department shall promulgate regulations as may be 30 necessary to implement the program. 19990S0293B0296 - 3 -
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. L30L51JS/19990S0293B0296 - 4 -