Pennsylvania Act 2018-64 — MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) - PENNSYLVANIA VETERANS' MEMORIAL TRUST FUND, VETERANS' TRUST FUND, PENNSYLVANIA VETERANS' MEMORIAL TRUST FUND EXPIRATION AND PENNSYLVANIA MONUMENT REGISTRATION PLATE

Act text

Session of 2018

No. 2018-64

SB 552

AN ACT

Amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs, further providing for Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund; in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, further providing for Veterans' Trust Fund; in Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Commission, repealing provisions relating to the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund and to expiration; and, in registration of vehicles, further providing for Pennsylvania monument registration plate.

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

Section 1. Section 710 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 710. Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust Fund.

(a) [Administration.--] Establishment and administration.--There is established a separate fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust Fund. The [separate fund in the State Treasury known as the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund] fund shall be administered by the [State Veterans' Commission] department , and all moneys in the fund are appropriated to the [State Veterans' Commission] department on a continuing basis[.] for the purposes provided for under subsection (b). The State Veterans' Commission shall assist the department in accordance with section 1704(1) (relating to specific powers and duties).

(b) Purpose.--The moneys in the fund shall be used for the promotion, administration, operation [and] , maintenance and completion of the [Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial on the grounds of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery] monuments and memorials dedicated to Pennsylvania veterans and military units and other costs incidental thereto as approved by the department. [Moneys in the fund may be used to pay any construction costs which have not been paid on the effective date of this section.]

(c) Contributions and solicitation of funds.--

(1) The [State Veterans' Commission] department is authorized:

(i) To accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, gifts, donations, legacies and usages of money from individuals, organizations, public or private corporations and other similar entities.

(ii) To solicit and raise moneys from public and private sources.

(2) All money received or raised under this subsection shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the fund.

(3) The department may use up to 2% of the available funds as of October 31 of each calendar year to administer the fund in accordance with this section.

(d) Operation and maintenance.--Money must be granted for the operation and maintenance of monuments as designated by the department in consultation with the State Veterans' Commission. At a minimum, the following monuments will receive funding, as needed, for operation and maintenance:

(1) The Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial on the grounds of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.

(2) American battle monuments located overseas officially owned or recognized by the Commonwealth.

(3) Pennsylvania unit monuments and markers within the Gettysburg National Military Park.

(4) Other Pennsylvania military memorials and monuments as designated or recognized by the department.

Section 2. Section 1721(c)(5) of Title 51 is amended to read:

§ 1721. Veterans' Trust Fund.

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(c) Authorized purposes.--The department may expend money from the Veterans' Trust Fund for the following purposes:

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[(5) Assistance to operate, maintain and repair Pennsylvania monuments honoring Pennsylvania service members and veterans who served in the United States or overseas.]

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Section 3. Sections 1905 and 1906 of Title 51 are repealed:

[§ 1905. Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund.

(a) Establishment and administration.--There is hereby established a separate fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund. The fund shall be administered by the commission, and all moneys in the fund are appropriated to the commission on a continuing basis.

(b) Purpose.--The moneys in the fund shall be used for the selection, design, construction, operation and maintenance of an appropriate physical monument on the grounds of the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery and other costs incidental thereto.

(c) Contributions and solicitation of funds.--

(1) The commission is authorized:

(i) To accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, gifts, donations, legacies and usages of money from individuals, organizations, public or private corporations and other similar entities.

(ii) To solicit and raise moneys from public and private sources.

(2) All money received or raised under this subsection shall be paid into the State Treasury and credited to the fund.

§ 1906. Expiration.

Sections 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1904 of this chapter shall expire June 30, 2005.]

Section 4. Section 1353.1(c) and (d) of Title 75 are amended to read:

§ 1353.1. Pennsylvania monument registration plate.

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(c) Proceeds.--The [Veterans' Trust] Pennsylvania Veterans' Monuments and Memorial Trust Fund shall receive $23 of the fee paid by the applicant for the registration plate under subsection (a).

(d) Use of proceeds.--Proceeds under subsection (c) shall be used exclusively to provide grants to nonprofit organizations for the cleaning, repair and restoration of Pennsylvania monuments and memorials by the Gettysburg National Military Park. A grant under this subsection may not be used to pay for the cost of cleaning, repair or restoration of the grounds surrounding a Pennsylvania monument or memorial .

Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 28th day of June, A.D. 2018.

TOM WOLF