Pennsylvania SB 308: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in military educational programs relating to medical officer or health officer incentive program, further providing for definitions, for establishment of program, for program stipend, for additional incentives, for recoupment of incentive payments, for adjustment of stipend amounts and for eligibility; and making editorial changes.

Bill Text

HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 324 PRINTER'S NO. 896
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 308
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, BARTOLOTTA, KANE, J. WARD, FONTANA,
DUSH AND PENNYCUICK, MARCH 6, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,
JUNE 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in military educational programs
relating to medical officer or health officer incentive
program, further providing for definitions, for establishment
of program, for program stipend, for additional incentives,
for recoupment of incentive payments, for adjustment of
stipend amounts and for eligibility; and making editorial
changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 3209(a) and 3210(b) of Title 51 of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
§ 3209. Administration.
(a) Appropriation and administrative costs.--The General
Assembly shall appropriate funds to pay full-time and part-time
educational assistance grants under this subchapter. A portion
of the funds appropriated may be used to pay the costs of the
administration of this subchapter and Subchapter B (relating to
[Medical Officer or Health] Specialty Branch Officer Incentive
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Program).
* * *
§ 3210. Educational Assistance Program Fund.
* * *
(b) Appropriation.--All money deposited into the fund and
the interest the fund accrues are appropriated to the department
on a continuing basis to be used for the purposes provided for
under this subchapter and Subchapter B (relating to [Medical
Officer or Health] Specialty Branch Officer Incentive Program).
* * *
Section 2. The heading of Subchapter B of Chapter 32 and
sections 3211, 3212, 3213, 3214, 3216, 3217, 3223 and 3232 of
Title 51 of are amended to read:
SUBCHAPTER B
[MEDICAL OFFICER OR HEALTH] SPECIALTY BRANCH
OFFICER INCENTIVE PROGRAM
§ 3211. 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:
["Behavioral health officer." An officer who:
(1) holds a license to practice psychology under the act
of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52), known as the Professional
Psychologists Practice Act, or is a licensed clinical social
worker as defined in section 3 of the act of July 9, 1987
(P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social Workers, Marriage and
Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act;
(2) has malpractice insurance, is self-insured or
maintains insurance through a private employer; and
(3) meets any applicable Federal requirements for the
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Pennsylvania National Guard.
"Medical officer or health officer." An officer who is any
of the following:
(1) A resident physician.
(2) A physician.
(3) A physician assistant.
(4) A behavioral health officer.
(5) A public health officer or environmental science
officer.]
"Chaplain." An officer who serves in the United States Army
Chaplain Corps.
"Health care officer." An officer who serves in one of the
United States Air Force's following health care professions:
(1) Doctor.
(2) Nurse.
(3) Dentist.
(4) Allied Health.
(5) Administration.
"JAG officer." An officer who serves in the United States
Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.
"Medical officer." An officer who serves in one of the
United States Army Medical Department's six corps:
(1) Dental Corps.
(2) Medical Corps.
(3) Medical Services Corps.
(4) Medical Specialist Corps.
(5) Nurse Corps.
(6) Veterinary Corps.
"Member in good standing." A member of the Pennsylvania
National Guard who meets all medical, training, physical and
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educational requirements for service and who is a satisfactory
participant in all scheduled duties and training periods.
["Physician." An officer assigned to and serving in an
authorized Army Medical Corps or Air Force Medical Corps
position who:
(1) has completed a medicine residency program; and
(2) is currently practicing medicine in the United
States or its territories.
"Physician assistant." An officer who:
(1) is licensed as a physician assistant under the act
of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical
Practice Act of 1985; and
(2) meets any applicable Federal requirements for the
Pennsylvania National Guard.]
"Program." The [Medical Officer or Health] Specialty Branch
Officer Incentive Program.
["Public health officer" or "environmental science officer."
An officer who holds a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an
educational program accredited by an agency recognized by the
United States Secretary of Education in an environmental science
related field of study, including any of t