Pennsylvania Act 2026-42 — MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) - BURIAL BENEFITS

Act text

Session of 2026

No. 2026-42

SB 130

AN ACT

Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, providing for burial benefits.

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

Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 705.1. Burial benefits.

(a) Notice of deceased serviceperson to county.--

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a licensed funeral director, funeral entity or cemetery company shall, within 96 hours of receipt of the remains of a deceased serviceperson, notify the county director of veterans affairs of a deceased serviceperson having legal residence in the county at the time of death and provide the family of the deceased serviceperson with the contact information for the county director of veterans affairs.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall only apply to a cemetery company if the cemetery company provides interment for the cremated remains of a deceased serviceperson for whom a licensed funeral director or funeral entity provided no goods or services.

(b) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Cemetery company." As defined in 9 Pa.C.S. § 101 (relating to definitions).

"Deceased serviceperson." As defined in 16 Pa.C.S. § 15508 (relating to definitions).

"Funeral entity." As defined in 49 Pa. Code § 13.1 (relating to definitions).

"Licensed funeral director." As defined in 49 Pa. Code § 13.1.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 20th day of July, A.D. 2026.

JOSH SHAPIRO