HB 2086 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, repealing provisions relating to advisory councils for veterans' homes; in the Adjutant General, further providing for general powers and duties of Adjutant General; in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, repealing provisions relating to veterans' home hall of fame; and providing for State veterans' homes and establishing the State Veterans' Home Board.

PRINTER'S NO.   2682

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2086
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY MARKOSEK, HILL-EVANS, McNEILL, PIELLI, PROBST,
        SANCHEZ, GUENST, K.HARRIS, HADDOCK, DOUGHERTY, NEILSON,
        D. WILLIAMS, PARKER AND FRANKEL, DECEMBER 9, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, DECEMBER 9, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in Department of Military and Veterans
 3      Affairs, repealing provisions relating to advisory councils
 4      for veterans' homes; in the Adjutant General, further
 5      providing for general powers and duties of Adjutant General;
 6      in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for
 7      Veterans' Affairs, repealing provisions relating to veterans'
 8      home hall of fame; and providing for State veterans' homes
 9      and establishing the State Veterans' Home Board.
10      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11   hereby enacts as follows:
12      Section 1.    Section 704 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
13   Consolidated Statutes is repealed:
14   [§ 704.   Advisory councils for veterans' homes.
15      (a)    Establishment of advisory council.--There is hereby
16   established an advisory council for each veterans' home operated
17   by the Commonwealth to provide stakeholders with a means to
18   advise the Adjutant General on the resident care, management,
19   operations and compliance of facilities and services in
20   veterans' homes to ensure high-quality health care and well-
 1   being for residents of veterans' homes. Each advisory council
 2   shall consist of 15 members and the Adjutant General or the
 3   Adjutant General's designee, who shall serve ex officio. The
 4   following shall apply:
 5            (1)   Ten of the members shall be appointed by the
 6      Governor from a list of nominations submitted to the Adjutant
 7      General by the Pennsylvania War Veterans' Council. Appointees
 8      under this paragraph shall be veterans from the local
 9      community of the veterans' home.
10            (2)   Three of the members shall be appointed by the
11      Governor from a list of nominations submitted to the Adjutant
12      General by current residents of the veterans' home and shall
13      include a family member of a current or former resident of
14      the veterans' home.
15            (3)   The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
16      President pro tempore of the Senate shall each appoint one
17      member from their respective bodies to serve on each council.
18            (4)   The department shall designate a subject matter
19      expert to attend each advisory council's meeting to provide
20      input on the resident care, management, operations and
21      compliance of facilities and services in each veterans' home.
22      (b)   Term of office and officers.--
23            (1)   Each member of the councils appointed from the
24      General Assembly shall serve for the duration of that General
25      Assembly. Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
26      thirteen members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term
27      of three years.
28            (2)   The initial thirteen members selected by the
29      Governor on or after the effective date of this paragraph
30      shall serve as follows: four members for one year, four

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 1      members for two years and five members for three years as
 2      designated by the Governor.
 3            (3)   Each council shall organize as soon as possible and
 4      shall annually elect a president, vice president and
 5      secretary from the voting members.
 6      (c)   Removal for cause.--The members appointed by the
 7   Governor may be removed by the Governor for cause.
 8      (d)   Quorum and time of meetings.--Six members of a council
 9   shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the
10   business of the council. Each advisory council shall meet at
11   least quarterly and at other times at the call of the president.
12   Each advisory council shall conduct meetings in accordance with
13   65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
14      (e)   Expenses.--Members of each advisory council shall
15   receive no compensation for their services but shall receive
16   reimbursement for their necessary and proper expenses for
17   attendance at meetings.
18      (f)   Power and duty of advisory councils.--Each veterans'
19   home advisory council shall advise the Adjutant General as to
20   the resident care, management, operation and the compliance of
21   facilities and services at their respective homes.
22      (g)   Annual reports.--Each advisory council shall submit an
23   annual report to the department that identifies the work of the
24   advisory council, includes an overall assessment of the resident
25   care, management, operations and compliance of facilities and
26   services in each veterans' home and provides recommendations.
27   The department shall submit a consolidated report on the annual
28   reports submitted by each advisory council under this subsection
29   to the Adjutant General and the chair and minority chair of the
30   Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the

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 1   Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs
 2   and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of
 3   Representatives no later than January 30, 2026, and each year
 4   thereafter.]
 5      Section 2.     Section 902 introductory paragraph, (10) and (14)
 6   of Title 51 are amended to read:
 7   § 902.   General powers and duties of Adjutant General.
 8      The Adjutant General as head of the department is responsible
 9   to the Commonwealth and to the Governor for the organization and
10   functioning of [said] the department, and the performance and
11   carrying out of all the duties, powers and responsibilities
12   given or delegated. In addition [he] the Adjutant General is
13   hereby authorized and directed to:
14            * * *
15            [(10)   Make such bylaws, rules and regulations for the
16      management, general direction and control of the property of
17      the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home or homes
18      wherever situate.]
19            * * *
20            [(14)   Authorize the admittance of any member of a group
21      which has been granted veterans status by the Secretary of
22      Defense and any spouse of a member to State veterans' homes,
23      using admission criteria and procedures as established by the
24      department by regulation.]
25      Section 3.     Section 1705 of Title 51 is repealed:
26   [§ 1705.    Veterans' home hall of fame.
27      (a)     General rule.--Each veterans' home operated by the
28   Commonwealth shall establish and dedicate a hall of fame to
29   recognize and honor the military achievements of outstanding
30   veterans who have completed honorable, active duty military

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 1   service and who reside or resided in the geographic region
 2   served by the veterans' home. The area or space in the veterans'
 3   home dedicated to the hall of fame may be used for other
 4   purposes.
 5      (b)   Selection of inductees.--The advisory council for each
 6   veterans' home shall, consistent with the guidelines established
 7   by the commission in subsection (c), nominate eligible veterans
 8   for induction into the hall of fame by the commission and
 9   perform such other duties relating to the hall of fame as
10   approved by the commission. Any Medal of Honor recipient shall
11   be automatically inducted into the hall of fame.
12      (c)   Oversight.--The commission shall develop guidelines for
13   the halls of fame. The guidelines shall include, but not be
14   limited to:
15            (1)   Eligibility criteria for qualified candidates.
16            (2)   Procedures for nomination of candidates and
17      selection of inductees.
18            (3)   Ceremonies to officially honor the inductees.
19            (4)   Manner of recognizing or presenting the inductees in
20      the halls of fame.
21            (5)   Maintenance of the halls of fame.
22            (6)   Duties of the advisory councils of the veterans'
23      homes relating to the halls of fame.
24      (d)   Documentation.--Each eligible veteran or his or her
25   representative shall be responsible for obtaining the
26   documentation necessary to establish his or her eligibility from
27   the National Archives in Washington, D.C., or the National
28   Personnel Record Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
29      (e)   Centralized list.--The State Veterans' Commission shall
30   keep a centralized list of all hall of fame inductees from all

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 1   regional veterans' homes.]
 2      Section 4.    Title 51 is amended by adding a chapter to read:
 3                                  CHAPTER 20
 4                             STATE VETERANS' HOMES
 5   Sec.
 6   2001.   Definitions.
 7   2002.   State veterans' homes.
 8   2003.   State Veterans' Home Board.
 9   2004.   Admissions.
10   2005.   Resident rights.
11   2006.   Local advisory councils.
12   2007.   State veterans' home hall of fame.
13   § 2001.    Definitions.
14      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
15   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16   context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      "Adjutant General."      The Adjutant General of the
18   Commonwealth.
19      "Admission committee."      An admission committee at each State
20   veterans' home responsible for determining whether the home is
21   able to meet the needs of applicants and monitoring the home's
22   waiting list for admission.
23      "Board."     The State Veterans' Home Board established under
24   section 2003 (relating to State Veterans' Home Board).
25      "Commandant."      The administrator of a State veterans' home
26   who is licensed to operate the home in accordance with the laws
27   of this Commonwealth.
28      "Commission."      The State Veterans' Commission.
29      "Council."    A local advisory council authorized by this
30   chapter.

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 1      "Eligible veteran."    An individual who served in the Armed
 2   Forces of the United States, including the National Guard or a
 3   reserve component, or the Pennsylvania military forces who was
 4   discharged or released from service under other than
 5   dishonorable conditions and who meets the admissions criteria
 6   prescribed by this chapter and established by the board.
 7      "Nursing care."    Care for an individual who is not acutely
 8   ill and not in need of hospital or personal care but who
 9   requires the services of a registered nurse or licensed
10   practical nurse.
11      "Personal care."    Shelter, sustenance and incidental medical
12   care to assist an individual who is disabled by age or disease
13   but who is not in need of hospitalization or nursing care
14   services to attain physical, mental and social well-being
15   through special rehabilitative programs.
16      "Personal care home."     As defined in section 1001 of the act
17   of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services
18   Code.
19      "Resident."     An individual who is admitted to and resides in
20   a State veterans' home.
21      "Resident representative."      As defined in 42 CFR 483.5
22   (relating to definitions).
23      "State veterans' home" or "home."      A nursing home or personal
24   care home operated by the board for the provision of nursing
25   care, personal care or other health care services to eligible
26   veterans.
27   § 2002.   State veterans' homes.
28      State veterans' homes shall be established, operated and
29   maintained by the board. The homes shall provide care to
30   eligible veterans and their spouses in compliance with Federal

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 1   and State law.
 2   § 2003.    State Veterans' Home Board.
 3      (a)     Establishment.--The State Veterans' Home Board is
 4   established within the department for administrative purposes.
 5   The board shall exercise its powers and duties independently as
 6   an autonomous entity within the department and report to the
 7   Governor on matters concerning State veterans' homes.
 8      (b)     Membership.--The board shall consist of the following
 9   members:
10             (1)   The Adjutant General or a designee.
11             (2)   The Secretary of Health or a designee.
12             (3)   The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
13             (4)   Two nursing home administrators who shall be
14      appointed by the Governor.
15             (5)   Two licensed health care professionals with clinical
16      experience in nursing homes who shall be appointed by the
17      Governor.
18             (6)   Three residents of separate State veterans' homes
19      who shall be appointed by the Governor.
20             (7)   One qualified infection preventionist with clinical
21      experience in nursing homes who shall be appointed by the
22      Governor.
23      (c)     Terms of office.--
24             (1)   Members of the board appointed by the Governor shall
25      serve a term of four years. The initial members appointed
26      under subsection (b)(4), (5), (6) and (7) shall serve as
27      follows:
28                   (i)    one resident shall serve an initial term of one
29             year;
30                   (ii)   one nursing home administrator, one licensed

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 1            health care professional with clinical experience in
 2            nursing homes and one resident shall serve an initial
 3            term of two years;
 4                  (iii)    one nursing home administrator, one licensed
 5            health care professional with clinical experience in
 6            nursing homes and one resident shall serve an initial
 7            term of three years; and
 8                  (iv)    the qualified infection preventionist shall
 9            serve an initial term of one year.
10            (2)   Upon completion of a term of a member who was
11      appointed under subsection (b)(6), the Governor may not
12      appoint the succeeding member from the same State veterans'
13      home as the previous outgoing member or the sitting resident
14      members of the board.
15            (3)   Board members may be removed by the Governor for
16      cause at any time.
17      (d)   Officers.--The board shall annually elect a chair and
18   vice chair. The chair may not be a public official appointed by
19   the Governor and subject to consent of the Senate.
20      (e)   Vacancies.--Upon the death, resignation, removal or
21   disqualification of a member of the board under subsection (b)
22   (4), (5), (6) or (7), the Governor shall appoint a successor to
23   serve for the unexpired term.
24      (f)   Expenses.--Members of the board may not receive
25   compensation for their services but shall be entitled to
26   reimbursement for all necessary travel and other reasonable
27   expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
28      (g)   Meetings.--The board shall meet at least twice quarterly
29   and at other times at the call of the chair. The physical or
30   remote presence of five board members shall constitute a quorum.

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 1   Action of the board must be approved by a majority vote of the
 2   members present at a meeting.
 3      (h)   Powers and duties.--The board shall have the following
 4   powers and duties:
 5            (1)    Operate State veterans' homes.
 6            (2)    Ensure that the highest quality of care is provided
 7      at State veterans' homes.
 8            (3)    Promulgate rules and regulations necessary and
 9      appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter,
10      including the amendment and rescission of rules and
11      regulations promulgated prior to the effective date of this
12      section by the department or Adjutant General.
13            (4)    Appoint for each State veterans' home a commandant
14      who shall be licensed in this Commonwealth as a nursing home
15      administrator. When selecting a commandant, the board shall
16      give preference to veterans.
17            (5)    Visit and review the operation of State veterans'
18      homes.
19            (6)    Employ and contract with sufficient and qualified
20      staff necessary for the operation of the board and the State
21      veterans' homes, including two infection control nurses at
22      each State veterans' home.
23            (7)    Establish requirements for minimum hours of direct
24      care for residents who require nursing care.
25            (8)    Accept, on behalf of the Commonwealth, Federal funds
26      and other funding, including gifts, grants and donations, to
27      operate State veterans' homes.
28            (9)    Procure insurance against loss in connection with
29      property or other assets under the authority of the board.
30            (10)    Obtain information about issues of resident care

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 1    from Department of Health surveys, resident complaints, staff
 2    reports and other sources.
 3          (11)   Determine locations of new State veterans' homes. A
 4    location for a new home must be at least 60 miles from an
 5    existing home, unless the existing home has maintained at
 6    least 85% occupancy over the past three years, in which case
 7    the location for the new home must be within 25 miles of the
 8    existing home. This paragraph does not apply to new buildings
 9    or facilities within existing campuses of homes.
10          (12)   Review clinical recordkeeping practices to ensure
11    compliance with Federal and State law.
12          (13)   Establish standards for regular staff trainings on
13    fire safety, hazardous materials and chemical storage.
14          (14)   Collaborate with commandants to establish
15    permanent, regularly updated crisis management plans at each
16    State veterans' home.
17          (15)   Notify the General Assembly and the Governor of
18    problems, including administrative issues, resident safety
19    concerns and issues with staffing.
20          (16)   Provide or contract with a third party to provide
21    optional estate planning services to each resident and
22    resident representative.
23    (i)   Report.--
24          (1)    The board shall biannually submit a report on the
25    operation of State veterans' homes to the Governor, the chair
26    and minority chair of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
27    Preparedness Committee of the Senate, the chair and minority
28    chair of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
29    Committee of the House of Representatives, the chair and
30    minority chair of the Health and Human Services Committee of

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 1      the Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Health
 2      Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall
 3      include:
 4                   (i)    Information concerning the extent to which each
 5             State veterans' home is in compliance with Federal and
 6             State law.
 7                   (ii)    Action taken by the board to ensure that each
 8             State veterans' home is in compliance with Federal and
 9             State law.
10                   (iii)    The number of resident and staff complaints
11             and the resolution or planned resolution to the
12             complaints.
13                   (iv)    The number of staff employed at each State
14             veterans' home and the extent to which staffing levels
15             are or are not sufficient.
16                   (v)    Statistics about the residents of each State
17             veterans' home.
18                   (vi)    Information about the expenditure of funds.
19                   (vii)    Information about a new home that is expected
20             to open within the next year.
21                   (viii)    Recommendations for improvement at each State
22             veterans' home.
23                   (ix)    Other matters that the board deems pertinent.
24             (2)   Information in the report that may identify a
25      particular staff member or resident may not be made publicly
26      available.
27             (3)   The board shall post the report on the board's
28      publicly accessible Internet website. The board may redact
29      any information that is subject to paragraph (2).
30   § 2004.    Admissions.

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 1      (a)   Eligibility.--Subject to subsection (b), an individual
 2   is eligible for admission to a State veterans' home if the
 3   individual meets the following eligibility criteria:
 4            (1)   The individual must be an eligible veteran, spouse
 5      of an eligible veteran or surviving spouse of an eligible
 6      veteran.
 7            (2)   The individual must be a resident of this
 8      Commonwealth upon application for admission. An eligible
 9      veteran who resides in another state may apply for admission
10      if this Commonwealth was listed as the eligible veteran's
11      home of record upon entry into service.
12            (3)   The individual must be approved for admission by the
13      admission committee at the home. The board shall establish a
14      procedure by which a denial of admission may be appealed to
15      the council of the home.
16      (b)   Ineligibility.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the
17   following individuals are ineligible for admission to a State
18   veterans' home:
19            (1)   An individual who creates a reasonable threat to the
20      health, safety or welfare of themselves or others.
21            (2)   An individual who requires treatment or levels of
22      care that are not available at the home or reasonably
23      available in the immediate vicinity of the home. Unless the
24      requirements for treatment or levels of care exceed what is
25      available at the home or treatment or care options reasonably
26      available within the immediate vicinity of the home, an
27      individual may not be denied admission solely on the basis of
28      a mental health condition.
29      (c)   Applications.--The board shall develop an application
30   for admission to a State veterans' home and shall make the

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 1   application available at each State veterans' home and on the
 2   board's publicly accessible Internet website.
 3      (d)    Voluntary admissions.--
 4             (1)   An individual may not be required to accept an offer
 5      of admission to a State veterans' home.
 6             (2)   An individual may not be admitted or readmitted to a
 7      home against the will of the individual.
 8             (3)   An acceptance of an offer of admission may not be
 9      conditioned on the surrender of any personal property.
10   § 2005.    Resident rights.
11      (a)    Complaints.--
12             (1)   A resident of a State veterans' home has the right
13      to access a formal complaint process.
14             (2)   The commandant of a State veterans' home shall
15      inform each individual in writing at the time of admission to
16      the State veterans' home of the individual's right to
17      complain to the commandant or the board about care,
18      accommodations, services and other matters.
19             (3)   A resident may make complaints or recommend changes
20      to policies to staff, the commandant, the board and to other
21      individuals free from coercion, discrimination and
22      retaliation.
23      (b)    Privacy.--
24             (1)   A resident has a right to a presumption of privacy
25      of the resident's persons and property against unreasonable
26      intrusion, searches and seizures.
27             (2)   A resident and the resident's representative shall
28      be informed in writing of the reasons necessitating a search
29      of the resident's room or property by staff of the State
30      veterans' home and may be present during the search if the

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 1    resident or resident's representative requests to be present.
 2          (3)   If staff of the State veterans' home takes a
 3    resident's property or other item, the State veterans' home
 4    shall provide to the resident and the resident's
 5    representative a written receipt describing the property or
 6    items taken.
 7          (4)   Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to
 8    restrict staff of the State veterans' home from entering a
 9    resident's room to provide care, maintenance, housekeeping or
10    other services.
11          (5)   Unauthorized searches or seizures of resident
12    property by a member of the staff may be grounds for
13    dismissal of the member.
14    (c)   Transfers and discharges.--
15          (1)   A State veterans' home shall inform a resident and
16    the resident's representative in writing of a transfer or
17    discharge of a resident and the reasons for the transfer or
18    discharge.
19          (2)   Except where the health or safety of a resident in
20    the State veterans' home would be endangered or an urgent
21    transfer or discharge is required because of the resident's
22    medical needs, notice of transfer or discharge shall be
23    provided at least 30 days before the planned transfer or
24    discharge.
25          (3)   The board may establish additional standards for
26    transfers and discharges of residents.
27    (d)   Property of discharged residents.--
28          (1)   At discharge of a resident, the commandant shall
29    hold any unclaimed property of the resident for 12 months.
30    During that time period, the commandant shall promptly give

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 1      notice to the resident and the resident's representative
 2      about the unclaimed property.
 3             (2)   If the resident or the resident's representative has
 4      not claimed the unclaimed property at the expiration of 12
 5      months after the discharge of the resident, the unclaimed
 6      property shall be deemed to be the property of the State
 7      veterans' home and shall be subject to the home's control and
 8      disposal and not subject to Article XIII.1 of the act of
 9      April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code.
10      (e)    Property of deceased residents.--
11             (1)   At death of a resident, the commandant shall hold
12      any unclaimed property of the resident for 12 months. During
13      that time period, the commandant shall promptly give notice
14      to the resident's representative or next of kin about the
15      unclaimed property.
16             (2)   If no resident representative or next of kin has
17      claimed the unclaimed property at the expiration of 12 months
18      after death of the resident, the unclaimed property shall be
19      deemed to be the property of the State veterans' home and
20      shall be subject to the home's control and disposal and not
21      subject to Article XIII.1 of The Fiscal Code.
22   § 2006.    Local advisory councils.
23      (a)    Establishment of advisory council.--An advisory council
24   shall be established for each State veterans' home to provide
25   stakeholders with a means to advise the Adjutant General on the
26   resident care management, operations and compliance of
27   facilities and services in State veterans' homes to ensure high-
28   quality health care and well-being for residents of State
29   veterans' homes.
30      (b)    Membership.--Each advisory council shall consist of the

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 1   members provided under this subsection and the Adjutant General
 2   or the Adjutant General's designee, who shall serve ex officio.
 3   The following shall apply:
 4            (1)   Ten of the members shall be appointed by the
 5      Governor from a list of nominations submitted to the Adjutant
 6      General by the Pennsylvania War Veterans' Council. Appointees
 7      under this paragraph shall be veterans from the local
 8      community of the State veterans' home.
 9            (2)   Three of the members shall be appointed by the
10      Governor from a list of nominations submitted to the Adjutant
11      General by current residents of the State veterans' home and
12      shall include a family member of a current or former resident
13      of the State veterans' home.
14            (3)   The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
15      President pro tempore of the Senate shall each appoint one
16      member from their respective bodies to serve on each advisory
17      council.
18            (4)   The department shall designate a subject matter
19      expert to attend each advisory council's meeting to provide
20      input on the resident care, management, operations and
21      compliance of facilities and services in each State veterans'
22      home.
23      (c)   Term of office and officers.--
24            (1)   Each member of an advisory council appointed from
25      the General Assembly shall serve for the duration of that
26      General Assembly. Except as provided under paragraph (2), the
27      members appointed by the Governor shall serve a term of three
28      years.
29            (2)   The initial 13 members appointed by the Governor
30      shall serve as follows, as designated by the Governor:

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 1                  (i)    Four members for one year.
 2                  (ii)    Four members for two years.
 3                  (iii)    Five members for three years.
 4            (3)   Each advisory council shall organize as soon as
 5      possible and shall annually elect a president, vice president
 6      and secretary from the voting members.
 7      (d)   Removal for cause.--The members appointed by the
 8   Governor may be removed by the Governor for cause.
 9      (e)   Quorum and time of meetings.--
10            (1)   Six members of an advisory council shall constitute
11      a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the
12      advisory council.
13            (2)   Each advisory council shall meet at least quarterly
14      and at other times at the call of the president.
15            (3)   Each advisory council shall conduct meetings in
16      accordance with 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
17      (f)   Expenses.--Members of an advisory council may not
18   receive compensation for their services but shall receive
19   reimbursement for their necessary and proper expenses for
20   attendance at meetings.
21      (g)   Powers and duties of advisory councils.--Each advisory
22   council shall have the following powers and duties:
23            (1)   Advise the Adjutant General as to the resident care,
24      management, operation and compliance of facilities and
25      services at their respective State veterans' homes.
26            (2)   Advise the commandant and the board regarding
27      quality of care and resident and staff safety concerns at the
28      State veterans' home.
29            (3)   Nominate qualifying veterans for induction to the
30      veterans' hall of fame maintained at the State veterans' home

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 1      consistent with guidelines established by the commission and
 2      perform other duties relating to the hall of fame.
 3      (h)    Annual reports.--Each advisory council shall submit an
 4   annual report to the department that identifies the work of the
 5   advisory council, includes an overall assessment of the resident
 6   care, management, operations and compliance of facilities and
 7   services in each State veterans' home and provides
 8   recommendations. The department shall submit a consolidated
 9   report on the annual reports submitted by each advisory council
10   under this subsection to the Adjutant General and the
11   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and
12   Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the
13   chairperson and minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and
14   Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives
15   no later than January 30, 2026, and each year thereafter.
16   § 2007.   State veterans' home hall of fame.
17      (a)    Duty to establish and maintain.--Each State veterans'
18   home shall establish, dedicate and maintain a hall of fame to
19   recognize and honor the military achievements of outstanding
20   veterans who reside or resided in the geographic region served
21   by the State veterans' home. The area or space in the State
22   veterans' home dedicated to the hall of fame may be used for
23   other purposes.
24      (b)    Selection of inductees.--The council shall, consistent
25   with the guidelines established by the commission under
26   subsection (c), nominate qualifying veterans for induction into
27   the hall of fame by the commission and perform other duties
28   relating to the hall of fame as approved by the commission. A
29   Medal of Honor recipient shall be automatically inducted into
30   the hall of fame.

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 1      (c)   Oversight.--The commission shall develop guidelines for
 2   the hall of fame. The guidelines shall include:
 3            (1)   Eligibility criteria for a qualifying veteran.
 4            (2)   The procedure for nomination of a qualifying veteran
 5      and selection of an inductee.
 6            (3)   The ceremony to officially honor an inductee.
 7            (4)   The manner of recognizing or presenting an inductee
 8      in the hall of fame.
 9            (5)   Maintenance of the hall of fame.
10            (6)   The duties of a council relating to the hall of
11      fame.
12      (d)   Documentation.--A qualifying veteran or a representative
13   of a qualifying veteran must obtain and submit the documentation
14   necessary to establish the qualifying veteran's eligibility from
15   the National Archives in Washington, DC, or the National
16   Personnel Record Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
17      (e)   Centralized list.--The commission shall keep a
18   centralized list of all hall of fame inductees from all State
19   veterans' homes.
20      Section 5.    Any and all regulations are abrogated to the
21   extent of any inconsistency with this act.
22      Section 6.    This act shall take effect in 180 days.




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