HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 16 PRINTER'S NO. 1681
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 126
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, BAKER, STEFANO, ROBINSON, DUSH AND
MUTH, JANUARY 9, 2023
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 4, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for the exclusion of
3 veterans' benefit payments from income for Commonwealth
4 programs.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
8 Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
9 CHAPTER 99
10 VETERANS' BENEFIT PAYMENT EXCLUSION
11 Sec.
12 9901. Definitions.
13 9902. Exclusion.
14 § 9901. Definitions.
15 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
16 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17 context clearly indicates otherwise:
18 "Commonwealth program." A program administered by the
 1 Commonwealth that requires, as a condition for eligibility, the
2 inclusion of an individual's income. THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE A <--
3 FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES A STATE TO MEET FEDERAL
4 CRITERIA.
5 "Veteran." An individual who served in the United States
6 Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard,
7 and who was discharged or released from that service under
8 conditions other than dishonorable.
9 "Veterans' benefit payment." Compensation or payment
10 received by a veteran that is directly related to or the result
11 of the veteran's service-connected disability as determined by
12 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or benefits
13 provided to a veteran by a Commonwealth agency or authorized
14 under the laws of this Commonwealth.
15 § 9902. Exclusion.
16 (a) Income exclusion.--One hundred percent of a veterans'
17 benefit payment may not be included as income for any
18 Commonwealth program.
19 (B) RESOURCES.--NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, <--
20 UNSPENT VETERANS' BENEFIT PAYMENTS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A
21 RESOURCE IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR A COMMONWEALTH PROGRAM
22 UNDER SECTION 432.5 OF THE ACT OF JUNE 13, 1967 (P.L.31, NO.21),
23 KNOWN AS THE HUMAN SERVICES CODE.
24 (b) (C) Extension to spouses.--The exclusion under <--
25 subsection (a) shall apply to an unmarried surviving spouse upon
26 the death of a veteran for any compensation or payment the
27 unmarried surviving spouse is entitled to receive.
28 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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