PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3214 PRINTER'S NO. 3594
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
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,
APRIL 9, 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. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP A <--
9 STANDARD FORM TO BE USED BY A VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER TO VERIFY
10 THE APPLICANT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR VETERAN BENEFITS.
11 (c) An applicant who is a veteran shall provide proof of
12 compliance with this section and the department shall, to the
13 greatest extent possible, require the applicant to provide
14 information on the final determination of eligibility for
15 veteran benefits and the type of benefits the veteran is
16 entitled to receive.
17 (d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
18 shall have the following meanings:
19 "Assistance" means money, services and payment for medical
20 coverage for needy persons who are residents of this
21 Commonwealth, are in need of assistance and meet all conditions
22 of eligibility.
23 "Veteran claims packet" means an application requesting a
24 determination or entitlement or evidencing a belief in
25 entitlement to a benefit as provided for in 38 CFR (relating to
26 pensions, bonuses, and veterans' relief) or 51 Pa.C.S. (relating
27 to military affairs).
28 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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