*** Merchant Marine World War II Veterans Bonus Act -- The Senate unanimously approved legislation that creates the Merchant Marine World War II Veterans Bonus Act.
House Bill 58 provides a $500 bonus to Pennsylvanians who served in the U. S. Merchant Marines during World War II.
The bonus is not subject to any attachment or tax. Anyone who collects or attempts to collect a fee for helping a veteran obtain this benefit could be fined or imprisoned.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 22 of 2006.
*** Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act -- The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 599, which funds the state‘s $25 million grant program for volunteer fire and emergency service companies for another year.
The grants are used to make building repairs, purchase new equipment, for training and to make debt payments.
The program, first established in 2000, was slated to become permanent and funded with gaming proceeds. However, the State Supreme Court in 2005 struck down that provision in the gaming law.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 13 of 2006.
*** Military Leaves of Absence The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1069, which provides further leaves of absences for government employees who are also in the military.
Activated reservists and members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are entitled up to 15 days of additional military leave of absence each year.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 62 of 2005.
*** Amendment to Military Family Relief Assistance Program The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 1179, which offers an amendment to the Military Family Relief Assistance Program.
This bill sets up an account and distributes funds to service men and women or their family members who are in financial need as a direct result of their military service.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 65 of 2005.
*** Bonus to Persian Gulf Veterans The Senate voted 48-1 in favor of House Bill 1820, which provides a bonus to military veterans who served in the Persian Gulf Conflict, or their beneficiaries.
Qualified veterans receive $75 for each month of active duty service in the Persian Gulf Conflict, with a maximum limit of $525. Prisoners of war receive an additional $5,000 bonus. A beneficiary of a soldier who died in combat, or as a result of service-connected injuries, also receives an additional $5,000.
If the veteran has died, payment would be made first to the spouse, second to the children, and last to the parents.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 29 of 2006.
*** Exemptions for Military, Veterans The Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2296, which states that people entering military service would not forfeit his or her current license and would be exempt from any continuing educational requirements or in-service training requirements.
The legislation also includes language relating to the disabled veterans real estate tax exemption; clarifies that the veterans may own the dwelling with his or her spouse; and creates a rebuttable presumption that an applicant with an income of $75,000 a year or less is in need of the exemption.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 161 of 2006.
* Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption The Senate voted unanimously on legislation that would have further provided for disabled veterans‘ real estate tax exemptions and for duty of commissions.
Senate Bill 19 states that any resident who is a disabled veteran will be exempt from the paying all real estate taxes on any building, including the land upon which it stands, that is occupied by that person if the person owns it alone, with his or her spouse or as an estate.
The measure also assumed that an applicant with annual income of $75,000 or less has a need for the exemption.
The bill died in the House.
*** Educational Assistance for National Guard Personnel The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 358, which allows active duty National Guard personnel to extend their participation in the
Educational Assistance Program.
The program currently provides members with tuition grants to pay for up to five years, or 10 semesters of college, which the members are required to complete during their term of service. This Democratic-sponsored bill extends the grants by each month the guardsman is deployed on active duty.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 82 of 2005.
* Subsidized Childcare for National Guard Families The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 682, which would have given Pennsylvania National Guard families top priority in obtaining subsidized childcare.
A family with at least one parent who has been ordered to active federal or state duty in the Pennsylvania National Guard would have been given preference for placement in state subsidized child care. Other eligibility requirements included being a state resident and having a household income that is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty income guideline.
Under the Democratic-sponsored bill, a family would have paid a weekly co-payment of $5 to $25, depending on income, and the state would cover the remaining cost.
The bill died in the House.
*** Health Benefits for Students in National Guard, Reserves The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 869, which extends health insurance benefits for certain military personnel who were covered under their parents‘ insurance and were full-time students at the time of deployment.
To qualify, the student must be a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard or the Reserve who are called to active duty or active state duty, other than for training, for a period of 30 or more consecutive
days. Coverage is extended for a period equal to how long the student was on active duty or until they are no longer a full-time student.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 83 of 2005.
*** Exemptions for Families of Deceased Soldiers The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 1043, which further provides for the exemption of tuition costs and fees for children and spouses of deceased soldiers.
This waiver will apply to all Pennsylvania State-owned colleges, universities, approved trade schools, State-related institutions of higher learning or community colleges in the commonwealth for a period not exceeding eight semesters or four years, whichever is greater.
A spouse will be eligible for a waiver of tuition costs and fees for a period not exceeding ten years from the date the member is killed or dies or until the spouse remarries, whichever occurs first.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 105 of 2006.
*** Educational Assistance for Disabled National Guard Member The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 1081, which ensures that veterans of the National Guard disabled in the line of duty remain
eligible for the Educational Assistance Program. The bill spells out the eligibility requirements for Pennsylvania National Guard members who are eligible to receive a public service educational grant and a full-time student assistance grant.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 44 of 2006.
*** Leaves of Absence for Guard Members -- The Senate unanimously voted on legislation that further provides certain leaves of absence for Pennsylvania National Guard members.
Senate Bill 1266 states that when state officers and employees who are members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are ordered to or volunteer for active duty service away from home for more than 30 consecutive days, they are entitled to up to 15 days of additional military leave of absence in any one year without loss of pay, time and efficiency rating.
This act shall be retroactive to January 1, 2005, for officers and employees who did not previously qualify.
The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 150 of 2006.
* Contracting with Veteran-owned Businesses The Senate voted unanimously on legislation amending that would have added a chapter providing for contracting with veteran-owned businesses and to impose certain duties upon the Department of General Services.
Senate Bill 1353 defined a ―veteran‖ as an individual who was a member of the armed services of the United States, including, but not limited to, the National Guard, who has received an honorable discharge and who is domiciled in Pennsylvania.
The measure defined a ―veteran-owned business‖ as a business that is owned or controlled by a majority of persons who are veterans.
The bill died in the House.
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