HB 1626 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military Affairs, establishing the PA VETConnect Program; providing for veterans' benefits and services workplace posting; and making an editorial change.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.NOS.

19111911, 2728 PRINTER'S NO.

27283057 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

1626 2023 INTRODUCED BY DEASY, KINSEY, STAATS, HOHENSTEIN, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, DELLOSO, CONKLIN, MARKOSEK, N.

WILLIAMS, FIEDLER, BRENNAN, CERRATO, MULLINS, BOROWSKIBOROWSKI, PROBST, POWELL AND PROBST,MADSEN, AUGUST 29, 2023 AS REPORTEDAMENDED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANSSECOND AFFAIRSCONSIDERATION, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ASMAY AMENDED,6, MARCH 18, 2024 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providingIN forDEPARTMENT veterans'OF benefitsMILITARY andAFFAIRS, services<-- workplaceESTABLISHING posting;THE PA VETCONNECT PROGRAM;

providing for veterans' benefits and services workplace posting;

Part V heading of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

PARTSECTION V1. EMPLOYMENT [PREFERENCES] AND PENSIONS Section 2.

TitleTITLE 51 isOF amendedTHE byPENNSYLVANIA addingCONSOLIDATED a<-- chapterSTATUTES toIS read:AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:

§ 714.

PA VETCONNECT PROGRAM.

(A) ESTABLISHMENT.--THE PA VETCONNECT PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED.

(B) PARTICIPANTS.--THE PROGRAM MAY INCLUDE FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES, COUNTY DIRECTORS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VETERANS' SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, ACCREDITED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS, THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

(C) PURPOSE.--THE PROGRAM SHALL:

(1) IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS THROUGH REFERRALS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CONSISTENT NETWORK COMMUNICATION.

(2) ORGANIZE PARTICIPANTS UNDER SUBSECTION (B) TO COOPERATE WITH NETWORK PARTNERS TO PROVIDE FOR PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS FACED BY VETERANS.

(D) REQUIREMENTS.--PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND INFORMATION SHALL BE DISSEMINATED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE ON HOW TO BEST NAVIGATE AND UTILIZE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS.

(E) DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, WHICH SHALL CONTAIN A MISSION STATEMENT THAT SHALL BE CLEARLY COMMUNICATED TO NETWORK ADVOCATES, PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS UNDER SUBSECTION (B).

THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(1) COORDINATE WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, STATE AGENCIES, COUNTY DIRECTORS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VETERANS' SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, ACCREDITED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS, THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT, THAT PROVIDE PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, REINTEGRATION OUTREACH AND RELATED SERVICES TO VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES OF VETERANS.

(2) PROVIDE PENNSYLVANIA SALUTES YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE INFORMATION TO RECENTLY SEPARATED SERVICE MEMBERS.

(3) PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRAM INITIATIVES, 20230HB1626PN3057 - 2 - RESOURCES, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, VETERANS' SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO BE UTILIZED BY INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS WHO SUPPORT VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS VOLUNTEERS AND OFFER OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FOR VETERANS.

(4) COORDINATE WITH COUNTY DIRECTORS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BY PROVIDING INFORMATION OF VETERANS WHO REQUEST SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL AND STATE BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS.

(5) COORDINATE WITH VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICERS FROM VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICER GRANT PROGRAMS OR OTHER VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICERS TO ASSIST VETERANS IN APPLYING FOR FEDERAL VETERAN BENEFITS.

SECTION 2.

PART V HEADING OF TITLE 51 IS AMENDED TO READ:

PART V EMPLOYMENT [PREFERENCES] AND PENSIONS Section 2 3.

Title 51 is amended by adding a chapter to <-- read:

"Workplace posting." The posting created by the department 20230HB1626PN3057 - 3 - under section 7402(a) (relating to workplace posting).

(a) Creation.--The department shall create a standardized <-- workplace posting for placement by an employer.

The department may<-- shall provide the workplace posting to each employer orand may place the workplace posting on itsthe department's publicly accessible DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY SHALL PLACE THE WORKPLACE <-- POSTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE Internet website so that an employer can print a copy of the workplace posting.

(b) Placement.--The workplace postingposting: shall be displayed in a conspicuous area accessible to employees.

(A)<-- CREATION.--THE(1) DEPARTMENTShall, SHALLexcept CREATEas Aprovided STANDARDIZEDunder <--paragraph WORKPLACE(2), POSTINGbe FORdisplayed PLACEMENTby BYthe ANemployer EMPLOYER.in a conspicuous area accessible to employees.

THE(2) DEPARTMENTMay SHALLbe PROVIDEplaced THEon WORKPLACEan POSTINGemployer's TOInternet EACHwebsite EMPLOYERwhich ANDis PLACEaccessible THEto WORKPLACEemployees. POSTING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE SO THAT AN EMPLOYER CAN PRINT A COPY OF THE WORKPLACE POSTING.

(B) PLACEMENT.--THE WORKPLACE POSTING:POSTING SHALL BE DISPLAYED BY <-- AN EMPLOYER IN A CONSPICUOUS AREA ACCESSIBLE TO EMPLOYEES.

(1)(c) SHALL,Contents.--The EXCEPTworkplace ASposting PROVIDEDshall UNDERinclude PARAGRAPHthe (2),following: BE DISPLAYED BY THE EMPLOYER IN A CONSPICUOUS AREA ACCESSIBLE TO EMPLOYEES.

(2) MAY BE PLACED ON AN EMPLOYER'S INTERNET WEBSITE WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE TO EMPLOYEES.

20230HB1626PN2728 - 2 - (c) Contents.--The workplace posting shall include the following:

(2) Substance abuse and mental health treatment <-- information.

(8)(2) ContactINFORMATION informationAND forCONTACTS theFOR UnitedA StatesRANGE DepartmentOF ofFEDERAL VeteransAND Affairs<-- Crisis20230HB1626PN3057 Line.- 4 - COMMONWEALTH BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS AND VETERANS' FAMILIES.