Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness 2021-2022
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness met on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 and reported out the following:
HR188 (Hennessey): The resolution extends the Governor’s Emergency Declaration related to the Forbes Avenue/Fern Hollow Bridge Collapse until September 30, 2022.
The resolution was unanimously reported as committed.
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness met off the floor on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 to consider the following concurrent resolution:
HR173 (Boback): extends the Governor’s Emergency Declaration related to the Forbes Avenue/Fern Hollow Bridge Collapse until March 31, 2022
Unanimously reported as committed
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness met on Monday, February 7 to consider the following bills:
SB 1016 (Sen. Mastriano) would amend Title 51 (Military Affairs) to provide the ability to recognize civilians and members of the military of a friendly foreign nation with awarding of the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal and the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal.
Unanimously reported as committed
SB 1027 (Sen. Stefano) — Would amend the Child Labor Act to allow a an individual 17 years of age or older to engage in training for an interior firefighting module with live burns if they have permission to engage in training from a fire chief and a parent/guardian – and are under supervision of a credentialed PA State Fire Academy instructor.
Unanimously reported as committed
SB 1028 (Sen. Stefano) — would make PA the 27th state to establish the Purple Star School Program which is a state-sponsored recognition designed to acknowledge a public or charter school that has committed to supporting the unique social-emotional needs of a student who is a dependent of an active or former member of the US Armed Forces on active duty; the Pennsylvania National Guard; or a reserve force of the US Armed Forces.
Amendment A03586 (Stefano): Permits nonpublic schools to participate in Purple Star School Program (Adopted unanimously)
Unanimously reported as amended.
SB 1047 (Sen. Gebhard) – would remove The Adjunct General (TAG) as a voting member from the State Armory Board and transition the board into an advisory body for the TAG. The bill also provides for the rental and lease of state armories and Fort Indiantown Gap properties to government and nonprofit agencies.
Amendment A03617 (Stefano): Technical (Adopted unanimously)
Unanimously reported as amended
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee held a public hearing on Monday, October 25, 2021 to explore legal parameters for redistricting nationally and in Pennsylvania:
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 to consider the following bills:
HB 1598 (Boback) – PEMA Flood plain management administration — amended to delete duplicative language that was inserted into the Administrative Code (Act 70 of 2021).
HB 941 (Burns) – Guaranteed in-state tuition for reassigned military families
SB 849 (Stefano) – Vet Preference clarification
SR 164 (Robinson) – concurrent resolution re 250th anniversary of Navy and USCM in Philadelphia in 2025
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee held a public hearing on Monday, September 13, 2021 on the “Next Generation of Firefighters”
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, June 21, 2021, and took action as follows:
Approved the nominations of Major General Mark Schindler for Adjutant General and the promotion of Brigadier General Benjamin Cason (PA Air National Guard) for Major General.
Unanimous.
HB 196 (Day) – Approved HB 196 (Day) providing for employment protections to Pennsylvania residents who are members of a National Guard or Reserve unit while deployed in another state.
Unanimous.
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, June 14, 2021, and took action as follows:
Confirmations unanimously reported from Committee, namely promotions of the following PA National Guard Officers:
- Colonel Scott Coradi, PA Air National Guard (being promoted to Brigadier General)
- Colonel Patrick Monahan, PA Army National Guard (being promoted to Brigadier General)
- Colonel John Pippy, PA Army National Guard (being promoted to Brigadier General)
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met Off the Floor on Wednesday, June 10, 2021 to consider H.R. 106 which was amended and reported out along party lines.
HR 106 – (Benninghoff) – ends the Governor’s Emergency Declaration immediately – all Democrats voted in the negative on Amendment A01563 and on HR 106 as amended
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met Tuesday, June 8, 2021 and reported the following bills from committee.
All bills were reported favorably by unanimous vote.
SB 578 (Bartolotta) Constitutional Amendment re Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption – Unanimous
SB 739 (Stefano) Career Fire Companies added to Fire & EMS loans – Adopted unanimously as amended
With Amendment A01515
SB 740 (Stefano) EMSOF Formula Delay – Unanimous
The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 to consider the following bills:
SB 433 (Stefano & Collett) which establishes the Keystone Youth Challenge Fund
A00483 was a technical amendment to adjust incorrect dates in the bill
SB 248 (Phillips Hill) which establishes two Veteran Recognition Days: March 6th as Persian Gulf War Veterans Day and October 7th as Global War on Terrorism Veterans Day
SB 455 (Bartolotta) which creates a Veteran-Owned Business Logo
SB433 was reported out of Committee unanimously as amended. The remaining bills were reported out of Committee unanimously.
The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, February 22, 2021 and unanimously reported out the following bills as amended:
The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met Wednesday, February 3, 2021:
Senator Katie Muth
Committee Chair