SB 1355

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
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2    Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and
3    Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, establishing a
4    pilot program to award grants for veterans traumatic brain
5    injury and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.
6    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8    Section 1.    Chapter 17 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
9 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
10SUBCHAPTER E
11VETERANS TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND
12POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER TREATMENT
13 Sec.
14 1741.   Definitions.
15 1742.   Pilot program.
16 1743.   Annual report.
17 § 1741.   Definitions.
18    The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
19 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
1 context clearly indicates otherwise:
2    "Eligible entity."       Any of the following:
3(1)   A nonprofit organization.
4(2)   An academic institution engaged in research with
5    respect to traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress
6    disorders.
7(3)   A health care provider with expertise in
8    neurorehabilitative therapies.
9(4)   An entity the department or the Department of Health <--
10    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR THE DEPARTMENT determines appropriate <--
11    for an award of a grant under this section 1742 (RELATING TO      <--
12    PILOT PROGRAM).
13    "Treatment."      With respect to a traumatic brain injury or
14 post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical interventions, the use
15 of therapeutic devices or rehabilitation care provided directly
16 to a veteran with a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic
17 stress disorder.
18 § 1742.    Pilot program.
19    (a)     Establishment.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, in   <--
20 consultation with the Department of Health DEPARTMENT, shall  <--
21 establish a pilot program to award grants to eligible entities
22 for the development, implementation and evaluation of treatment.
23    (b)     Posting.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall post <--
24 information announcing the pilot program and guidelines on the
25 department's DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S publicly accessible Internet <--
26 website.
27    (c)     Application.--
28(1)   Each eligible entity shall apply in the manner
29    determined by the department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  <--
30(2)   Each eligible entity shall provide, in the
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1    application, the eligible entity's qualifications, proposed
2    activities, expected outcomes and plans:
3(i)    For evaluating effectiveness to improve mental
4health outcomes among veterans.
5(ii)    To reduce suicidality and common risk factors
6for completing suicide, including depression and
7substance use disorders among veterans.
8(iii)   To mitigate long-term effects of traumatic
9brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders.
10    (d)    Regions.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, in  <--
11 consultation with the Department of Health DEPARTMENT, to the  <--
12 greatest extent practicable, shall select one entity each from
13 the eastern, central and western regions of this Commonwealth.
14    (e)    Award.--The department DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall  <--
15 annually award a grant of $150,000 to each of the selected
16 entities for the duration of the pilot program.
17    (f)    Use.--Each eligible entity awarded a grant under this
18 section shall use the grant as provided under subsection (a).
19    (g)    Expiration.--The authority to award grants under this
20 section shall expire three years from the effective date of this
21 subsection.
22 § 1743.    Annual report.
23    By March 1, 2028, and each year thereafter, the department  <--
24 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH shall submit to the chairperson and  <--
25 minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
26 Preparedness Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
27 minority chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency
28 Preparedness Committee of the House of Representatives a report
29 detailing the awarding of grants in the prior fiscal year,
30 describing the programs and projects that received grants and an
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1 evaluation of the projects.
2    Section 2.   This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
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