PRINTER'S NO. 3214
No. 2240 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY FAIRCHILD, ARGALL, BAKER, BARRAR, BASTIAN,
BENNINGHOFF, BOBACK, BOYD, BRENNAN, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CLYMER,
COHEN, CUTLER, DALLY, DENLINGER, EVERETT, GEIST, GEORGE,
GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HARHAI, HARPER, HARRIS,
HELM, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, JAMES, KENNEY,
KILLION, KING, LENTZ, MANTZ, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICOZZIE,
R. MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, NAILOR, PASHINSKI, PETRARCA,
PETRONE, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, RUBLEY,
SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SIPTROTH, SONNEY, SURRA, J. TAYLOR, THOMAS,
VULAKOVICH, WANSACZ, J. WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD AND YUDICHAK,
FEBRUARY 11, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for veterans.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
7 as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to
8 read:
9 Section 215. Veterans.--(a) The department shall make a
10 good faith effort to determine whether an applicant for cash or
11 medical assistance is a veteran. While in the process of making
12 its determination, the department shall dispense benefits to the
13 applicant, if otherwise eligible.
1 (b) As a condition of eligibility to receive cash or medical
2 assistance, an applicant who is a veteran shall be required to
3 contact a veteran service officer accredited and recognized by
4 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department
5 of Military and Veterans Affairs or the county director of
6 veterans affairs in which the applicant resides in order to
7 determine the applicant's eligibility for veteran's benefits or
8 to file a veteran claims packet.
9 (c) An applicant who is a veteran shall provide proof of
10 compliance with this section and the department shall, to the
11 greatest extent possible, require the applicant to provide
12 information on the final determination of eligibility for
13 veteran benefits and the type of benefits the veteran is
14 entitled to receive.
15 (d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
16 shall have the following meanings:
17 "Assistance" means money, services and payment for medical
18 coverage for needy persons who are residents of this
19 Commonwealth, are in need of assistance and meet all conditions
20 of eligibility.
21 "Veteran claims packet" means an application requesting a
22 determination or entitlement or evidencing a belief in
23 entitlement to a benefit as provided for in 38 CFR (relating to
24 pensions, bonuses, and veterans' relief) or 51 Pa.C.S. (relating
25 to military affairs).
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
K7L67JKL/20080H2240B3214 - 2 -