Gov. Corbett has signed them into law, a package of bills aimed at helping the state’s veterans, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
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House Bill 2428 offers a special designation on Pennsylvania driver’s licenses for veterans who served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including reserve units or the National Guard, and who were discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable. The cost of the regular renewal remains the same, but there’s no additional cost to the veteran for the special designation mark. |
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House Bill 2591 brings the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) into compliance with the Federal Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Act of 2008 (HEART) and conforms Pennsylvania law regarding pension credit for military leave for state employees and SERS members with federal law. |
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Senate Bill 623 encourages state agencies to contract with veteran-owned small businesses. Under the new law, the Department of General Services has an annual statewide goal of not less than 3 percent participation in statewide contracts entered into by the department with veteran-owned small businesses, and provides training to help veteran-owned businesses learn how to apply for state contracts. The governor signed Senate Bill 623 into law this week. |
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Senate Bill 1531 establishes guidelines and funding for the Pennsylvania Veterans’ Trust Fund, which administers grants to the PA Veterans Foundation and other veterans’ and charitable organizations for the purposes of providing benefits to veterans and their families. Revenue for the fund will come from proceeds paid by PennDOT from sales of a special “Honor Our Veterans” license plate and from contributions from a voluntary $3 check-off from driver license and vehicle registration renewals. |
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Senate Bill 1255 enacts the Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act to simplify the process of absentee voting for United States military and overseas civilians in state elections conducted in Pennsylvania. |
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Senate Bill 1442 updates the Pennsylvania Code of Military Justice, which enforces order and discipline upon the Pennsylvania National Guardsmen who are not in active federal service under Title 10 of the United States Code. The code has not been extensively updated since 1975, and many of the current provisions date back to the Military Code of 1949. The law also establishes a State Military Justice Fund to pay expenses incurred in the administration of military justice and funded by fees and other monies paid to the Commonwealth under the Pennsylvania Code of Military Justice. |