Pennsylvania Act 2024-70 — MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) - PA VETCONNECT PROGRAM

Act text

Session of 2024

No. 2024-70

SB 447

AN ACT

Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs, establishing the PA VETConnect Program.

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:

§ 714. PA VETConnect Program.

(a) Establishment.--The PA VETConnect Program is established.

(b) Participants.--The program may include Federal agencies, State agencies, county directors of veterans' affairs, veterans' service organizations, accredited postsecondary educational and technical institutions, the health care provider community, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

(c) Purpose.--The program shall:

(1) Improve the health and well-being of veterans and the families of veterans through referrals, community engagement and consistent network communication.

(2) Organize participants under subsection (b) to cooperate with network partners to provide for proactive solutions to address the problems faced by veterans.

(d) Requirements.--Program requirements shall be determined by the department and information shall be disseminated to the greatest extent possible on how to best navigate and utilize available resources to improve the health and well-being of veterans and the families of veterans.

(e) Duties of department.--The department shall develop and administer the program, which shall contain a mission statement that shall be clearly communicated to network advocates, partners and participants under subsection (b). The department shall:

(1) Coordinate with Federal agencies, State agencies, county directors of veterans' affairs, veterans' service organizations, accredited postsecondary educational and technical institutions, the health care provider community, businesses and nonprofit organizations, identified by the department, that provide programs, initiatives, reintegration outreach and related services to veterans and the families of veterans.

(2) Provide Pennsylvania Salutes You for Your Service information to recently separated service members.

(3) Provide information regarding program initiatives, resources, training opportunities, veterans' service organizations and services available to be utilized by individuals or groups who support veterans and their families as volunteers and offer outreach and support for veterans.

(4) Coordinate with county directors of veterans' affairs by providing information of veterans who request support for Federal and State benefits and programs.

(5) Coordinate with veterans' service officers from veterans' service officer grant programs or other veterans' service officers to assist veterans in applying for Federal veterans benefits.

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

APPROVED--The 17th day of July, A.D. 2024.

JOSH SHAPIRO