Pennsylvania § 1721 - Veterans' Trust Fund.

§ 1721. Veterans' Trust Fund.

(a) Source of revenue.--In addition to transfers under section 1719-G of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, the Veterans' Trust Fund shall include funds from the following sources:

(1) Proceeds paid by the Department of Transportation under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1320 (relating to contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund).

(2) Amounts payable to the fund under 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1361 (relating to special motorcycle plates related to veterans) and 1364(b) (relating to special plates for veterans).

(2.1) Fines collected and payable to the fund under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6701 (relating to wearing of uniforms and insignia and misrepresentation of military service or honors).

(3) Grants, gifts, donations and other payments from a person or government entity.

(4) Money appropriated to the fund.

(b) Appropriation.--Money in the fund is appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for purposes set forth in subsection (c).

(c) Authorized purposes.--The department may expend money from the Veterans' Trust Fund for the following purposes:

(1) Grants for programs or projects to support Pennsylvania veterans and their families to:

(i) (Deleted by amendment);

(ii) veterans' service organizations; and

(iii) other charitable organizations with a primary mission to serve Pennsylvania veterans.

(2) Grants or funding for new, innovative and expanded activities or programs operated by a county director of veterans affairs or the State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs.

(3) (Deleted by amendment).

(4) Assistance to Pennsylvania veterans in need of shelter or other necessities of living to the extent that other funds or resources are not available under Chapter 85 (relating to veterans' temporary assistance).

(5) (Deleted by amendment).

(6) Payments to the Motor License Fund for actual costs incurred by the Department of Transportation to implement 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1320 (relating to contributions to Veterans' Trust Fund) and 1510 (relating to issuance and content of driver's license).

(7) Department-sponsored training and informational programs for Pennsylvania veterans. No more than 10% of the balance in the fund as of October 1 of the previous year may be used for this purpose.

(d) Contributions.--The department may solicit and accept gifts, donations, legacies and other money for deposit into the fund from a person, a foundation, a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)), an estate, a veterans' service organization or a government entity on behalf of the Commonwealth.

(e) Operation.--The department shall adopt a statement of policy for the maintenance and use of the fund within 60 days of the effective date of this section. The policy shall be published as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, but shall not be subject to review under section 205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law, sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act or the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act.

(f) Report.--By July 31, 2013, and every year thereafter, the department shall submit to the chairman and minority chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report detailing the Veterans' Trust Fund revenues and expenditures in the prior fiscal year and describing the activities, programs and projects which received funds.

(July 8, 2015, P.L.120, No.18, eff. 60 days; Oct. 4, 2016, P.L.882, No.109, eff. imd.; June 28, 2018, P.L.432, No.64, eff. 60 days; July 2, 2019, P.L.393, No.62, eff. 60 days)

2019 Amendment. Act 62 added subsec. (a)(2.1).

2018 Amendment. Act 64 deleted subsec. (c)(5).

2016 Amendment. Act 109 amended subsecs. (c) and (d).

2015 Amendment. Act 18 amended subsec. (a).

Cross References. Section 1721 is referred to in section 6701 of Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses); section 1320 of Title 75 (Vehicles).