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HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 25, 509, 917,
985 PRINTER'S NO. 1693
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 64
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, PENNYCUICK, SCHWANK, BROWN, PHILLIPS-
HILL, COSTA, MASTRIANO, DUSH AND KANE, JANUARY 22, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,
MAY 6, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in military leave of absence, further
providing for military family relief assistance; in veteran-
owned small businesses, providing for veteran-owned business
logotype; and imposing a penalty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7319(g) of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
§ 7319. Military family relief assistance.
* * *
(g) Use of fund money.--The moneys contained in the fund are
hereby appropriated on a continuing basis to the Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs for the exclusive use of carrying
out the purposes of this section and for making payments under
section 9622(j) (relating to veteran-owned business logotype) .
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Section 2. Chapter 96 of Title 51 is amended by adding a
subchapter to read:
SECTION 1. CHAPTER 96 OF TITLE 51 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBCHAPTER TO READ:
SUBCHAPTER D
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS LOGOTYPE
Sec.
9621. Definitions.
9622. Veteran-owned business logotype.
9623. VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS COORDINATOR.
§ 9621. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Military Family Relief Assistance Fund." The Military
Family Relief Assistance Fund established under section 7319
(relating to military family relief assistance).
"Veteran-owned business." A business owned or controlled by
a veteran. A business is controlled or owned by a veteran if at
least 51% of the ownership interest in the business is held by
veterans .
§ 9622. Veteran-owned business logotype.
(a) Logotype.--
(1) No later than 90 days after the effective date of
this paragraph, the department shall develop and design an
official veteran-owned business logotype to be used by a
veteran-owned business.
(2) The logotype shall not include any language that may
be construed as an endorsement by the Commonwealth and shall
only indicate that the business is a veteran-owned business.
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(b) Application.--No later than 90 days after the effective
date of this subsection, the department shall develop an
application for which a veteran-owned business may apply to use
the logotype under subsection (a). The application shall be made
available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website.
(c) Eligibility.--The department shall develop guidelines
with the criteria to establish veteran-owned status of
businesses applying for the logotype. The criteria shall be made
available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website.
(d) Contributions.--The department may provide a space on
the application where an applicant may voluntarily make a
contribution of any amount to be deposited into the Military
Family Relief Assistance Fund.
(d.1) Fee.--The department shall establish a fee for use and
display of the logotype, to which the following shall apply:
(1) The fee shall not exceed $250.
(2) Fees collected under this subsection shall be
deposited into the Military Family Relief Assistance Fund.
VETERANS' TRUST FUND.
(e) Public notice.--Within 90 days of the creation of a
logotype under this section, the department shall post on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website a notice that:
(1) The logotype under this section is available for use
by an approved veteran-owned business.
(2) Includes instructions on how to complete and submit
an application.
(f) Notice of decision.--Within 60 days of receiving an
application under this subchapter, the department shall decide
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and notify the applicant of whether the applicant is approved to
use and display the logotype.
(g) Coordination with other departments.--The department
shall collaborate with other Commonwealth agencies to integrate
the veteran-owned business logo into programs that support
veteran-owned businesses.
(h) Website.--The department shall develop a publicly
accessible online database listing of veteran-owned businesses
that have been awarded the official logo.
(I) ADMINISTRATOR.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EMPLOY AN
ADMINISTRATOR TO OVERSEE THE CERTIFICATION, SUPPORT AND
PROMOTION OF THE LOGOTYPE AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.
(i) (J) Penalty.--
(1) In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law,
an individual commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if
the individual fraudulently holds the individual out to be a
veteran for the purpose of using a logotype under this
subchapter.
(2) The full amount of each fine collected for a
violation of paragraph (1) shall be deposited into the
Military Family Relief Assistance Fund.
(j) Costs.--The department shall use money in the Military
Family Relief Assistance Fund to pay costs related to the:
(1) development of the logotype; and
(2) administration and implementation of this section.
VETERANS' TRUST FUND.
(k) Report.--By March 31 1 of each year, the department
shall prepare an annual report on the number of veteran-owned
businesses approved to use the logotype and the number of
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applications received. A copy of the report shall be sent to the
Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the
Senate and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
Committee of the House of Representatives.
§ 9623. VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS COORDINATOR.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EMPLOY A VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS
COORDINATOR TO ASSIST VETERANS WHO OWN, OPERATE OR SEEK TO OWN
OR OPERATE A BUSINESS. A TELEPHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO
CONTACT THE COORDINATOR SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S PUBLICLY
ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITES.
Section 3 2. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
may issue a policy statement to implement and administer the
addition of 51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 96 Subch. D.
Section 4. This act shall take effect September 1, 2026, or
immediately, whichever is later.
SECTION 3. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1, 2027.
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