Bill > HB427

This bill amends Title 51 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to establish new requirements for notifying county veterans affairs directors about deceased servicemembers. Specifically, licensed funeral directors, funeral entities, and cemetery companies must notify the county director of veterans affairs within 96 hours of receiving the remains of a deceased serviceperson who was a legal resident of that county. They must also provide the deceased serviceperson's family with the contact information for the county veterans affairs director. This notification requirement applies to cemetery companies only in cases where they are providing interment for cremated remains and no funeral director or entity has previously been involved. The bill also includes definitions for key terms such as "cemetery company," "deceased serviceperson," "funeral entity," and "licensed funeral director," drawing these definitions from various Pennsylvania legal codes. The provisions of this bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment, with the goal of ensuring timely communication and support for the families of deceased military personnel.