Pennsylvania Act 2019-60 — MILITARY AND VETERANS CODE (51 PA.C.S.) AND TRANSPORTATION (74 PA.C.S.) - CIVIL AIR PATROL AND AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT

Act text

Session of 2019

No. 2019-60

SB 128

AN ACT

Amending Titles 51 (Military Affairs) and 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs, providing for Civil Air Patrol; and, in authority of Department of Transportation, further providing for authority of department.

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:

§ 713. Civil Air Patrol.

(a) Liaison.--The department shall be a liaison for the Civil Air Patrol and shall, notwithstanding any law, provide administrative support in accordance with this section and within the limits of authorized appropriations.

(b) Supervision.--The department shall:

(1) Receive, grant and supervise the expenditure of State funds appropriated by the General Assembly or secured by the Commonwealth for the use and benefit of the Civil Air Patrol within this Commonwealth.

(2) Supervise the maintenance and use of Commonwealth facilities used by the Civil Air Patrol.

(3) Receive, from the Commonwealth or the Commonwealth's instrumentalities, requests for approval for assistance by the Civil Air Patrol in natural or man-made disasters or emergency situations. A requested and approved mission must be approved or denied in accordance with Federal procedures and in consultation with the Adjutant General or the Adjutant General's designee and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to limit, diminish or impair an authority, right or agreement validly established and existing on the effective date of this section.

(d) 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:

"Assistance." The term shall include, but is not limited to, the following missions:

(1) Search and rescue.

(2) Disaster relief support.

(3) Homeland security.

(4) Emergency transport services.

(5) Communications support.

Section 2. Section 5301(b)(5) of Title 74 is repealed:

§ 5301. Authority of department.

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(b) Specific powers.--The department is authorized to:

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[(5) Expend Commonwealth funds for search and rescue operations and organ transport by the civil air patrol, and educational materials and equipment related thereto.]

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Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 2nd day of July, A.D. 2019.

TOM WOLF