Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness 2019-2020

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The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met Tuesday, October 6, 2020 and unanimously reported out the following bill as amended:

HB 1673 (Farry) − Volunteer Firefighters Length of Service Award Program – authorizes volunteer fire relief associations (VFRAs) to establish length of service award programs (LOSAPs) and other recruitment and retention activities and materials and enhances the State Fire Commissioner’s role in determining eligible uses of VFRA funds.

Amendment 07579 (Regan) (Omnibus Fire Provisions) – unanimously adopted

The amendment does the following:

• Makes changes to the Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (VLAP), including provisions from Senator Muth’s SB 796 (increasing the loan amounts for various types of loans) and Senator Lindsey Williams’ SB 785 (expand the program to career fire departments)
• If the General Assembly pass identical language next session, there will be a question on the next ballot, asking voters whether they approve of career fire companies being eligible for loans
• Revamps the responsibilities of the State Fire Commissioner
• Makes them report directly to the Governor, instead of Lt. Governor
• Makes them the administrator for a variety of grant and loan programs
• Tasks them with hiring regional technical advisors to assist individual fire departments with grants and regionalization
• Tasks them with establishing state guidelines for training
• Allows volunteer fire relief association funds to be used: 1) for length of service award programs (LOSAPs) (taken from Senator Dinniman’s SB 447) and 2) on equipment, materials, apparatuses, etc. used by paid firefighters in combined departments (taken from Senator Boscola’s SB 932)
• Re-authorizes the Fire and EMS Grant Program until June 30, 2024, and adds to the list of allowable expenses
• Permits counties and school districts to offer up to 100% property tax credits to first responders

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met Monday, September 21, 2020, and voted on the following legislation:

SB 1246 (Vogel & Regan) – Medals of Commendation for Law Enforcement – Unanimously reported as amended

Amendment 07145 (Regan) would ensure eligibility of County Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs – Unanimously adopted

HB 2022 (Kaufer) – Veterans’ Outreach and Support Network – Reported as committed by a 7-4 vote, with Senate Democrats voting in the negative

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 to consider the following resolution:

SR 291, PN 1492 (Mastriano) – Commemorates Pennsylvania’s contribution to Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.  The resolution was reported without amendment (unanimous).

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, January 27, 2020 to consider the following:

SB 932, PN 1358 (Boscola) – This bill amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) to allow volunteer firefighters’ relief associations to have members from volunteer fire companies or fire companies that are a combination of a volunteer fire company and a paid fire company.  This would allow relief association funds to be spent on both volunteer and paid fire fighters within a combined fire company. The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

SB 987, PN 1450 (Hutchinson) – This bill amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) to restructure the office of the State Fire Commissioner and subject the position to Senate confirmation.  Senator Iovino offered amendment A04583, which would not require Senator confirmation for the State Fire Commissioner.  The amendment failed by on a party-line vote of 4-7.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

SB 996, PN 1461 (Brooks) – This bill amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) to Exempt ambulance drivers from EMS requirements.  The bill was reported as committed on a party-line vote of 7-4.

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 to consider the following:

SB 276, PN 227 (J. Ward) – An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs), in veterans’ pensions and benefits, further providing for blind veteran’s pension and for amputee and paralyzed veteran’s pension.  The bill increases the pension from $150 per month to $180 per month.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

SB 952, PN 1370 (Regan) – This bill amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to clarify the Veterans Preference Law.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

SB 957, PN 1380 (Bartolotta) – This bill amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to direct the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to create a Veterans Business Logo.  Senator Regan offered amendment A03920, which directs any proceeds from fines to be deposited into the Veterans Trust Fund.  The amendment was unanimously agreed to and the bill was reported from committee as amended (also unanimous).

HB 630, PN 625 (Day) – This bill amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to extend employment protections for Pennsylvania residents who are members of another state’s National Guard.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

HB 1050, PN 1779 (Burns) – This bill guarantees in-state tuition at public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania for dependents of members of the military, veterans, and civilian defense employees in cases where the family relocates between the time the student accepts admission and the first semester begins.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 to consider the following:

HR 470, PN 2422 (Mihalek) – This is a concurrent resolution recognizing October 13, 2019 as the 244^th birthday of the United States Navy.  The resolution was reported as committed (unanimous).

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, June 24, 2019 to consider the following:

SR 170, PN 979 – (Iovino/Regan) – Establishes a task force to study regionalization of Veterans’ services.  Amendment #02342 was adopted unanimously, which allows the President Pro-Temp to appoint two members, instead of one, to the task force.  The bill was reported from committee as amended (unanimous).

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 to consider the following:

SB 92 (Bartolotta/Vogel) – Constitutional Amendment: disabled veterans property tax exemption based on proportion of disability.   Amendment 02128 was offered (Regan).  The amendment removes a war-time requirement & standardizes the “discharge” language.  The amendment was approved unanimously.  The legislation was approved unanimously as amended.

SB 447 (Dinniman) – Title 35/Health & Safety:  fire relief funds permitted for Length of Service Award Program.  Approved unanimously.

SR 169 (Browne) – Designates Purple Hearts Day – August 7^th.  Approved unanimously.

HB 1324 (Barrar/Sainato) – Title 51/Military Affairs:  Military Family Education Program.  A technical amendment (#02143) was offered by Sen. Regan.  Approved unanimously.  The legislation was approved unanimously as amended.

Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness met on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 to consider the following:

SR 140, PN 844 (DiSanto) – The resolution urges the Congress of the United States to ensure the United States Department of Veterans Affairs implements the letter and spirit of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 and provide veterans in Pennsylvania the care they deserve.  The resolution was unanimously reported as committed.

HB 233, PN 203 (O’Neal) – The bill would amend the Second Class County Code to ensure proper upkeep of the graves of Pennsylvania veterans, while enhancing current law to require cemeteries to remove flags when they become unsightly or weatherworn after Veteran’s Day, and have the flags be American made.  The bill was unanimously reported as committed.

HB 859, PN 973 (Barrar) – This legislation re-authorizes Chapter 53, 911 Emergency Communication Services, under Title 35 (Health and Safety).  Senator Regan offered amendment A01507, which merges the provisions of SB 127 with this bill and reauthorizes the Commonwealth’s emergency management code through January 31, 2024.  The amendment was approved unanimously, and the bill was reported from committee as amended (also unanimous).

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 to consider the following:

SB 223, PN 407 (Phillips-Hill) – Amends the Pharmacy Act of 1961, Section 8 to allow EMS providers to leave a dose of naloxone with a family member, friend or another individual of a patient who has experienced an opioid-related overdose event.  The bill was reported unanimously.

HB 807, PN 900 (Ryan) – An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to provide compensation of uniformed military service to the Commonwealth.  The legislation establishes that the annual salary of Deputy Adjutant Generals, and General Officers in command positions, should match the officer’s federally-recognized base pay for rank and time of service.  The bill was reported unanimously.

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, April 30, 2019 to consider the following:

SB 589, PN 650 (Regan, L. Williams) – This bill amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to create the Military Family Education Program.  This program allows Pennsylvania National Guard Members to assign an education grant to a family member if the Guard Member meets certain eligibility requirements and signs a promissory note obligating them to an additional six-year commitment.  Senator Regan offered amendment A00883, which places limits on tuition charges.  The amendment passed unanimously, and the bill was reported from committee as amended (also unanimous).

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 to consider the following:

SB 139, PN 115 (J Ward) – Price Gouging Act Modifications: This bill makes modifications to the Price Gouging Act.  This bill was reported out of committee with one no vote.

SB 146, PN 120 (Brooks) – Online Fire Training: This bill provides for online fire training for both volunteer and career fire fighters.  This bill was reported unanimously as amended (technical amendment).

SB 298, PN 260 (Baker) – Stolen Valor Fines to Veterans Trust Fund: This bill requires any fines collected for stolen valor offenses be deposited into the Veterans Trust Fund.  This bill was reported unanimously out of committee.

SB 439, PN 417 (Regan) – Heart and Lung Act – Law Enforcement Coverage: This bill covers several additional classes of law enforcement officers under the Heart and Lung Act.  The bill was reported unanimously as amended.  The bill was amended to cover Probations Officers under the Heart and Lung Act.

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 to consider the following:

SB 127, PN 90 (Regan and L. Williams) – This legislation re-authorizes the Chapter 53, 911 Emergency Communication Services, under Title 35 (Health and Safety), with several amendments.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).

SB 128, PN 91 (Regan and L. Williams) – This legislation amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) by mandating the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs act as a liaison for the Civil Air Patrol. The legislation also repeals language in Title 74 (Transportation) pertaining to the Civil Air Patrol.  The bill was reported as committed (unanimous).