HB 1144 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in veterans' pensions and benefits, further providing for blind veteran's pension and for amputee and paralyzed veteran's pension.

PRINTER'S NO.     1265

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1144
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY D. WILLIAMS, SOLOMON, GILLEN, WATRO, McNEILL,
        HANBIDGE, WAXMAN, JAMES, HILL-EVANS, GUENST, DONAHUE, VENKAT,
        PIELLI, MERSKI, MALAGARI, PROBST, PICKETT, CERRATO, SANCHEZ,
        KENYATTA, MAYES, BANTA, HADDOCK, NEILSON AND KHAN,
        APRIL 4, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, APRIL 4, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in veterans' pensions and benefits,
 3      further providing for blind veteran's pension and for amputee
 4      and paralyzed veteran's pension.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Sections 7701 and 7702(a) and (c) of Title 51 of
 8   the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
 9   § 7701.   Blind veteran's pension.
10      (a)    [Definition.--As used in this section the term "blind
11   veteran" shall mean any person who served in the military or
12   naval forces of the United States, or any woman's organization
13   officially connected therewith, at any time, and who gave the
14   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as his or her place of residence
15   at the time of entering the military or naval forces of the
16   United States, and who while performing duties connected with
17   such service suffered an injury or incurred a disease which
 1   resulted in blindness to the extent that he or she has 3/60 or
 2   10/200 or less normal vision. The term "blind veteran" shall not
 3   include any person separated from the military or naval forces
 4   of the United States, or any woman's organization officially
 5   connected therewith, under other than honorable conditions.]
 6   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and
 7   phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
 8   unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 9      "Blind veteran."   A veteran who is a current permanent
10   resident of this Commonwealth or who gave this Commonwealth as
11   the veteran's place of residence at the time of entering the
12   armed forces of the United States, including a reserve component
13   or the National Guard, and who, while performing duties
14   connected with such service, suffered an injury or incurred a
15   disease which resulted in blindness to the extent that the
16   veteran has 3/60 or 10/200 or less normal vision.
17      "Discharge papers or separation documents."    As defined in
18   section 7101.2 (relating to definitions).
19      "Veteran."   An individual who served, as evidenced by the
20   veteran's discharge papers or separation documents or statement
21   of service, in the armed forces of the United States, including
22   a reserve component or the National Guard, after a period of
23   active duty, other than active duty for training, whose last
24   discharge or release was under conditions other than
25   dishonorable as specified under section 104 (relating to
26   character of discharge).
27      (b)   Amount and eligibility.--In addition to any other
28   assistance provided by the Commonwealth and in addition to any
29   compensation provided by the Federal Government, every blind
30   veteran shall be paid a pension of [$150] $200 per month.

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 1   Applications for such pensions shall be made to and in the form
 2   prescribed by the department. The Adjutant General shall have
 3   the power, and it shall be his duty to determine the eligibility
 4   of every applicant for a pension, and his decision in the matter
 5   shall be final.
 6      (c)    Regulations.--The Adjutant General shall promulgate such
 7   regulations as may be necessary to implement this program.
 8   § 7702.    Amputee and paralyzed veteran's pension.
 9      (a)    Amount and eligibility.--In addition to any other
10   assistance provided by the Commonwealth and in addition to any
11   compensation provided by the Federal Government, every amputee
12   and paralyzed veteran shall be paid a pension of [$150] $200 per
13   month. Applications for the pensions shall be made to and in the
14   form prescribed by the department. The Adjutant General shall
15   determine the eligibility of every applicant for a pension, and
16   his decision in the matter shall be final.
17      * * *
18      (c)    [Definition.--As used in this section the term "amputee
19   and paralyzed veteran" means any person who served in the
20   military or naval forces of the United States, or any woman's
21   organization officially connected therewith, and who gave this
22   Commonwealth as his or her place of residence at the time of
23   entering the military or naval forces of the United States and
24   who, while performing duties connected with such service,
25   suffered an injury or incurred a disease which resulted in the
26   loss or the permanent and severe or complete paralysis of two or
27   more limbs, being defined as having at least two limbs with a
28   40% disability compensation rating or higher in each limb as
29   determined and certified by the United States Department of
30   Veterans Affairs in accordance with 38 CFR Ch. 1 Pt. 4 (relating

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 1   to schedule for rating disabilities), or its successor. The term
 2   does not include any person separated from the military or naval
 3   forces of the United States under other than honorable
 4   conditions.] Definitions.--As used in this section, the
 5   following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to
 6   them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates
 7   otherwise:
 8      "Amputee and paralyzed veteran."   A veteran who is a current
 9   permanent resident of this Commonwealth or who gave this
10   Commonwealth as the veteran's place of residence at the time of
11   entering the armed forces of the United States, including a
12   reserve component or the National Guard, and who, while
13   performing duties connected with such service, suffered an
14   injury or incurred a disease which resulted in the loss or the
15   permanent and severe or complete paralysis of two or more limbs,
16   being defined as having at least two limbs with a 40% disability
17   compensation rating or higher in each limb as determined and
18   certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in
19   accordance with 38 CFR Ch. 1 Pt. 4 (relating to schedule for
20   rating disabilities).
21      "Veteran."   As defined in section 7701 (relating to blind
22   veteran's pension).
23      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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