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
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.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
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.
§ 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:
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"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 a
veteran.
§ 9622. Veteran-owned business logotype.
(a) Logotype.--
(1) No later than 30 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.
(b) Application.--No later than 30 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 Veterans'
Trust Fund.
(e) Public notice.--Within 30 days of the creation of a
logotype under this section, the department shall post on the
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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
and notify the applicant of whether the applicant is approved to
use and display the logotype.
(g) 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
Veterans' Trust Fund.
(h) Report.--By March 31 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
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.
Section 2. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
may issue guidelines to implement and administer the addition of
51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 96 Subch. D.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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