Pennsylvania Act 2001-109 — MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) - AMEND PARALYZED VETERAN'S PENSIONS ELIGIBILITY

Act text

MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) - AMEND PARALYZED VETERAN'S
                           PENSIONS ELIGIBILITY
                 Act of Dec. 17, 2001, P.L. 925, No. 109              Cl. 51
                             Session of 2001
                               No. 2001-109

     HB 453

                                  AN ACT

     Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
        Consolidated Statutes, further providing for eligibility for
        paralyzed veteran's pension.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Section 7702 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
     Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
      § 7702.  Paralyzed veteran's pension.
        (a)  Amount and eligibility.--In addition to any other
     assistance provided by the Commonwealth and in addition to any
     compensation provided by the Federal Government, every paralyzed
     veteran shall be paid a pension of $150 per month. Applications
     for the pensions shall be made to and in the form prescribed by
     the department. The Adjutant General shall determine the
     eligibility of every applicant for a pension, and his decision
     in the matter shall be final.
        (b)  Regulations.--The Adjutant General shall promulgate such
     regulations as may be necessary to implement this program.
        (c)  Definition.--As used in this section the term "paralyzed
     veteran" means any person who served in the military or naval
     forces of the United States, or any woman's organization
     officially connected therewith, [during an established war or
     armed conflict service dates,] and who gave this Commonwealth as
     his or her place of residence at the time of entering the
     military or naval forces of the United States [and is currently
     a resident of this Commonwealth] and who, while performing
     duties connected with [that] such service, suffered an injury or
     incurred a disease which resulted in the loss or loss of use of
     two or more extremities. The term does not include any person
     separated from the military or naval forces of the United
     States, or any woman's organization officially connected
     therewith, under other than honorable conditions. [The term
     shall include persons who have been paralyzed as a result of
     peacetime combat-related actions as defined by the Department of
     Military Affairs. The department shall, by regulation, establish
     criteria to determine eligibility based on participation in a
     peacetime combat-related situation, which shall include, but not
     be limited to, hostile fire or terrorist attack.]
        Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002, or
     immediately, whichever is later.

     APPROVED--The 17th day of December, A. D. 2001.

     MARK S. SCHWEIKER