HB 993 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for consolidated annual report; in veteran-owned small businesses, providing for veteran-owned business logotype; and imposing a penalty.

PRINTER'S NO.   1077

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 993
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY INGLIS, BASHLINE, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, KHAN,
        M. MACKENZIE, McNEILL, SOLOMON, PIELLI, MALAGARI, RIVERA,
        BENHAM, SANCHEZ, GAYDOS, KENYATTA, VENKAT, BOROWSKI, STEELE,
        MAYES, WEBSTER AND RUSNOCK, MARCH 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
        PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in veteran-owned small businesses,
 3      providing for veteran-owned business logotype; and imposing a
 4      penalty.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    Chapter 96 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
 9                               SUBCHAPTER D
10                      VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS LOGOTYPE
11   Sec.
12   9621.   Definitions.
13   9622.   Veteran-owned business logotype.
14   § 9621.   Definitions.
15      The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
16   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 1      "Veteran-owned business."     A business owned or controlled by
 2   a veteran. A business is controlled or owned by a veteran if at
 3   least 51% of the ownership interest in the business is held by a
 4   veteran.
 5   § 9622.    Veteran-owned business logotype.
 6      (a)     Logotype.--
 7             (1)   No later than 30 days after the effective date of
 8      this paragraph, the department shall develop and design an
 9      official veteran-owned business logotype to be used by a
10      veteran-owned business.
11             (2)   The logotype shall not include any language that may
12      be construed as an endorsement by the Commonwealth and shall
13      only indicate that the business is a veteran-owned business.
14      (b)     Application.--No later than 30 days after the effective
15   date of this subsection, the department shall develop an
16   application for which a veteran-owned business may apply to use
17   the logotype under subsection (a). The application shall be made
18   available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
19   website.
20      (c)     Eligibility.--The department shall develop guidelines
21   with the criteria to establish veteran-owned status of
22   businesses applying for the logotype. The criteria shall be made
23   available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
24   website.
25      (d)     Contributions.--The department may provide a space on
26   the application where an applicant may voluntarily make a
27   contribution of any amount to be deposited into the Veterans'
28   Trust Fund.
29      (e)     Public notice.--Within 30 days of the creation of a
30   logotype under this section, the department shall post on the

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 1   department's publicly accessible Internet website a notice that:
 2            (1)   The logotype under this section is available for use
 3      by an approved veteran-owned business.
 4            (2)   Includes instructions on how to complete and submit
 5      an application.
 6      (f)   Notice of decision.--Within 60 days of receiving an
 7   application under this subchapter, the department shall decide
 8   and notify the applicant of whether the applicant is approved to
 9   use and display the logotype.
10      (g)   Penalty.--
11            (1)   In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law,
12      an individual commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if
13      the individual fraudulently holds the individual out to be a
14      veteran for the purpose of using a logotype under this
15      subchapter.
16            (2)   The full amount of each fine collected for a
17      violation of paragraph (1) shall be deposited into the
18      Veterans' Trust Fund.
19      (h)   Report.--By March 31 of each year, the department shall
20   prepare an annual report on the number of veteran-owned
21   businesses approved to use the logotype and the number of
22   applications received. A copy of the report shall be sent to the
23   Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the
24   Senate and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
25   Committee of the House of Representatives.
26      Section 2.    The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
27   may issue guidelines to implement and administer the addition of
28   51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 96 Subch. D.
29      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.



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