SB 64 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in veteran-owned small businesses, providing for veteran-owned business logotype; and imposing a penalty.

PRINTER'S NO.   25

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 64
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, PENNYCUICK, SCHWANK, BROWN, PHILLIPS-
        HILL AND COSTA, JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
        JANUARY 22, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in veteran-owned small businesses,
 3      further providing for definitions; adding miscellaneous
 4      provisions relating to veteran-owned business logotype and
 5      nonprofit membership association; and imposing a penalty.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    The definition of "veteran" in section 9601 of
 9   Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to
10   read:
11   § 9601.    Definitions.
12      Subject to section 9602 (relating to regulations), the
13   following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have
14   the meanings given to them in this section unless the context
15   clearly indicates otherwise:
16      * * *
17      "Veteran."    [An individual who served in the United States
18   Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the National
19   Guard, and who was discharged or released from service under
 1   conditions other than dishonorable.] Any of the following:
 2             (1)   An individual who served on active duty in the
 3      United States Armed Forces, including the Reserve and
 4      National Guard, who was discharged or released from service
 5      under honorable conditions.
 6             (2)   A reservist or member of the National Guard who
 7      completed an initial term of enlistment or qualifying period
 8      of service.
 9             (3)   A reservist or member of the National Guard who was
10      disabled in the line of duty during training.
11      * * *
12      Section 2.     Chapter 96 of Title 51 is amended by adding a
13   subchapter to read:
14                                 SUBCHAPTER D
15                           MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
16   Sec.
17   9621.    Definitions.
18   9622.    Veteran-owned business logotype.
19   9623.    Nonprofit membership association.
20   § 9621.    Definitions.
21      As used in this subchapter, the following words and phrases
22   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
23   context clearly indicates otherwise:
24      "Nonprofit membership association."       A nonprofit organization
25   whose mission is to support veterans, reservists, National Guard
26   members, their spouses and families.
27      "Veteran-owned business."     A business owned or controlled by
28   a veteran.
29   § 9622.    Veteran-owned business logotype.
30      (a)    Logotype.--The department shall develop and design an

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 1   official Commonwealth logotype to be used by a veteran-owned
 2   business.
 3      (b)     Application.--The department shall develop an
 4   application, criteria and affirmation upon which an eligible
 5   business may apply for a license to use the logotype under this
 6   section.
 7      (c)     Eligibility.--A veteran-owned business shall be eligible
 8   to be issued a license to use the logotype if:
 9            (1)   the business is registered with the Department of
10      State; and
11            (2)   at least 51% of the ownership interest in the
12      business is held by a veteran.
13      (d)     Verification of military service status.--
14            (1)   The department shall verify the military service
15      status of each business owner seeking status as a veteran-
16      owned business without additional verification, by confirming
17      that the business:
18                  (i)    Possesses a valid verification issued by the
19            Department of General Services as a veteran business
20            enterprise, including a veteran-owned small business
21            enterprise or a service-disabled veteran-owned small
22            business enterprise.
23                  (ii)    Possesses a valid verification issued by the
24            United States Department of Veterans Affairs through
25            VETBIZ or its successor.
26            (2)   Nothing under this subsection shall prohibit the
27      department from working with another State agency or an
28      additional third-party entity to establish veteran-owned
29      business verification.
30      (e)     Notice.--Within 10 days of the creation of a logotype

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 1   under this section and the establishment of the criteria
 2   necessary to use and display the logotype and the applications
 3   and instructions on how to complete and submit an application,
 4   the department shall post on a publicly accessible Internet
 5   website of the department a notice that:
 6            (1)   The logotype under this section is available to an
 7      eligible business.
 8            (2)   Includes the criteria necessary to receive a license
 9      to use and display the logotype and allows for access to the
10      applications and instructions on how to complete and submit
11      the applications.
12      (f)   Issuance.--The department shall issue a license to use
13   and display the logotype to an applicant deemed eligible under
14   subsection (c).
15      (g)   Penalty.--
16            (1)   An individual commits a misdemeanor of the third
17      degree if the individual fraudulently holds the individual
18      out to be a veteran for the purpose of obtaining a license or
19      using a logotype under this subchapter.
20            (2)   Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the full
21      amount of each fine collected for a violation of paragraph
22      (1) shall be deposited into the Veterans' Trust Fund.
23      (h)   Report.--By March 31 of each year, the department shall
24   prepare an annual report on the number of veteran-owned
25   businesses issued a license to use the logotype and the annual
26   applications and renewals of the license to use the logotype. A
27   copy of the report shall be sent to the Veterans Affairs and
28   Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the Veterans
29   Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of
30   Representatives.

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1   § 9623.   Nonprofit membership association.
2      Except as provided under section 9622(d) (relating to
3   veteran-owned business logotype), the department may contract
4   with a nonprofit membership association to perform the duties
5   and responsibilities under section 9622.
6      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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