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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1752 PRINTER'S NO. 1835
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1355
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, PENNYCUICK, ARGALL, BROOKS, LANGERHOLC,
LAUGHLIN, STEFANO AND VOGEL, MAY 28, 2026
SENATOR MASTRIANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS,
AS AMENDED, JUNE 23, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and
Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, establishing a
pilot program to award grants for veterans traumatic brain
injury and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 17 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER E
VETERANS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT
Sec.
1741. Definitions.
1742. Pilot program.
1743. Annual report.
§ 1741. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Eligible entity." Any of the following:
(1) A nonprofit organization.
(2) An academic institution engaged in research with
respect to traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress
disorders.
(3) A health care provider with expertise in
neurorehabilitative therapies.
(4) An entity the department or the Department of Health
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR THE DEPARTMENT determines appropriate
for an award of a grant under this section 1742 (RELATING TO
PILOT PROGRAM) .
"Treatment." With respect to a traumatic brain injury or
post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical interventions, the use
of therapeutic devices or rehabilitation care provided directly
to a veteran with a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic
stress disorder.
§ 1742. Pilot program.
(a) Establishment.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH , in
consultation with the Department of Health DEPARTMENT , shall
establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities
for the development, implementation and evaluation of treatment.
(b) Posting.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall post
information announcing the pilot program and guidelines on the
department's DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S publicly accessible Internet
website.
(c) Application.--
(1) Each eligible entity shall apply in the manner
determined by the department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH .
(2) Each eligible entity shall provide, in the
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application, the eligible entity's qualifications, proposed
activities, expected outcomes and plans:
(i) For evaluating effectiveness to improve mental
health outcomes among veterans.
(ii) To reduce suicidality and common risk factors
for completing suicide, including depression and
substance use disorders among veterans.
(iii) To mitigate long-term effects of traumatic
brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders.
(d) Regions.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH , in
consultation with the Department of Health DEPARTMENT , to the
greatest extent practicable, shall select one entity each from
the eastern, central and western regions of this Commonwealth.
(e) Award.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall
annually award a grant of $150,000 to each of the selected
entities for the duration of the pilot program.
(f) Use.--Each eligible entity awarded a grant under this
section shall use the grant as provided under subsection (a).
(g) Expiration.--The authority to award grants under this
section shall expire three years from the effective date of this
subsection.
§ 1743. Annual report.
By March 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, the department
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall submit to the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report
detailing the awarding of grants in the prior fiscal year,
describing the programs and projects that received grants and an
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evaluation of the projects.
Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
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