HB 1110 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for military sexual trauma awareness; and imposing duties on the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

PRINTER'S NO.   1178

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1110
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY SHUSTERMAN, MADDEN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI, FREEMAN,
        PROBST, GUENST, SANCHEZ, KAZEEM, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, D. WILLIAMS,
        K.HARRIS, RIVERA, FRIEL AND HOWARD, MARCH 31, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 31, 2025


                                     AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, providing for military sexual trauma
 3      awareness; and imposing duties on the Department of Military
 4      and Veterans Affairs.
 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 100
10                      MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS
11   Sec.
12   10001.   Definitions.
13   10002.   Military sexual trauma awareness campaign.
14   10003.   Evaluation and report.
15   § 10001.   Definitions.
16      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
17   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 1      "Campaign."     The military sexual trauma awareness campaign
 2   described under section 10002 (relating to military sexual
 3   trauma awareness campaign).
 4      "Military sexual trauma."     The experience of sexual assault
 5   or harassment during military service.
 6      "Post-traumatic stress injury."      As defined in 35 Pa.C.S. §
 7   75A01 (relating to definitions).
 8   § 10002.    Military sexual trauma awareness campaign.
 9      (a)     Implementation.--No later than 180 days after the
10   effective date of this subsection, the department shall
11   implement a campaign to increase public understanding of
12   military sexual trauma to:
13            (1)   Promote awareness of the issue of military sexual
14      trauma and acceptance for survivors.
15            (2)   Encourage active military members who have
16      experienced military sexual trauma to officially report any
17      occurrence of military sexual trauma.
18            (3)   Provide information about military sexual trauma
19      support resources that are available to active military
20      members and veterans.
21      (b)     Consultation.--To administer the campaign and ensure
22   that the messages of the campaign are effectively tailored, the
23   department shall consult with the following:
24            (1)   Advocacy groups focused on promoting awareness of
25      military sexual trauma.
26            (2)   Crisis counselors and other mental health
27      professionals specializing in military sexual trauma or post-
28      traumatic stress injuries.
29            (3)   Veterans with lived experiences of military sexual
30      trauma.

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 1      (c)     Materials and resources.--
 2            (1)   To administer the campaign, the department:
 3                  (i)    Shall utilize a variety of materials and support
 4            resources, including print media, social media graphics,
 5            posters and displays, which shall be:
 6                         (A)   Posted on the publicly accessible Internet
 7                  website of the department.
 8                         (B)   Designed to be mobile-friendly.
 9                         (C)   Available in multiple languages, as deemed
10                  necessary by the department.
11                         (D)   Designed to ensure effective communication
12                  with the diverse populations and cultures across this
13                  Commonwealth.
14                  (ii)    May utilize existing materials and resources,
15            including military sexual trauma-related materials and
16            resources developed by the United States Department of
17            Veterans Affairs.
18            (2)   All materials and resources that are produced by the
19      department for the campaign must comply with the act of
20      December 20, 2015 (P.L.497, No.90), known as the Taxpayer-
21      Funded Advertising Transparency Act.
22   § 10003.    Evaluation and report.
23      (a)     Initial report.--Within 180 days of the effective date
24   of this subsection, the department shall submit a report to the
25   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and
26   Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the
27   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and
28   Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of
29   Representatives. The department shall ensure that the report
30   includes, at a minimum, the following:

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 1            (1)   A comprehensive review of the department's efforts
 2      to raise awareness of military sexual trauma and support
 3      resources, detailing activities, key metrics utilized and
 4      budget allocations and expenditures.
 5            (2)   Insights or recommendations from the consultations
 6      specified under section 10002(b) (relating to military sexual
 7      trauma awareness campaign).
 8            (3)   A summary of ongoing or planned initiatives to
 9      further promote awareness of military sexual trauma and
10      support resources developed or used to support individuals
11      with military sexual trauma.
12      (b)   Updated report.--Within one year of the submission of
13   the report under subsection (a), the department shall submit an
14   updated report to the chairperson and minority chairperson of
15   the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the
16   Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
17   Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the
18   House of Representatives. The department shall ensure that the
19   updated report includes the following:
20            (1)   Information on new campaigns or initiatives to raise
21      awareness of military sexual trauma and support resources.
22            (2)   The impact of the new campaigns or initiatives under
23      paragraph (1) on the utilization of in-State military sexual
24      trauma support resources.
25      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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