The following words and terms, when used in this chapter,
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise or
unless the governing statue, as amended, amends the meaning.
Armed Forces of the United States -As
defined at 10 U.S.C. §
101(a)(4).
Bureau -The Bureau of Veterans Programs,
Initiatives, Reintegration and Outreach of the department.
Department -The Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs of the Commonwealth.
Eligible relative of an eligible service
member -As conforms to
51 Pa.C.S. §
7319(j) (relating to
military family relief assistance), means the dependent spouse or dependent
child of the eligible service member or, in the case of applicants for
financial assistance to visit a hospitalized service member, the service
member's spouse, parent, sibling or child. An eligible relative must be a
resident, domiciliary, of this Commonwealth at the time of application for
assistance. An otherwise eligible relative may retain eligibility if absent
from the Commonwealth accompanying the eligible service member to military duty
in another state or country.
Eligible service member -As conforms to
51 Pa.C.S. §
7319(j), means any of the
following:
(i) A member of the Armed
Forces of the United States or its reserve components, including the
Pennsylvania National Guard, who is serving on active duty authorized under
10
U.S.C. or
32 U.S.C., other than active duty for training, for a period of 30 or
more consecutive days.
(ii) A
member of the Pennsylvania National Guard serving on State active duty,
authorized under
51 Pa.C.S. §
508
(relating to active duty for emergency), for a period of 30 or more consecutive
days.
(iii) A member in good
standing of any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States,
including the Pennsylvania National Guard, for a period of 3 years after
release from a tour of active duty, authorized under
10 U.S.C. or
32 U.S.C.,
other than active duty for training, of 30 or more consecutive days duration
when the need for assistance is directly related to the circumstances under
§
11.8 (relating to effective
date).
(iv) A member in good
standing of the Pennsylvania National Guard for a period of 3 years after
release from a tour of State active duty, authorized under
51 Pa.C.S. §
508, of
30 or more consecutive days duration when the need for assistance is directly
related to the circumstances under §
11.8.
(v) A former member of the Armed Forces of
the United States or its reserve components, including the Pennsylvania
National Guard for a period of 4 years after discharge if:
(A) The member was discharged for medical
reasons arising out of the member's military service.
(B) The medical disability that resulted in
the member's discharge was incurred in the line of duty and was not the result
of misconduct.
(C) The medical
condition giving rise to the discharge did not exist prior to the member
entering military service.
(D) The
medical disability was incurred while the member was serving on active duty,
other than active duty for training, or State active duty, for a period of 30
or more consecutive days.
(E) The
former member received an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge for
medical reasons.
(F) The need for
assistance is directly related to the former member's military service, to
exigent circumstances beyond the eligible member's control, or to a disability
incurred in the line of duty.
Exigent circumstances -As conforms to
51 Pa.C.S. §
7319(j), means emergency or
extraordinary situations or conditions resulting in an eligible service member
being unable to provide the necessities of living for the member or the
member's dependents due to factors beyond the member's control. The term
includes, but is not limited to, natural or manmade disasters, loss of home,
loss of employment, disability, or serious illness or injury.
Program -The Commonwealth's Military Family
Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP).
Qualifying period of military service
-Active duty, other than active duty for training, of a duration of 30 or more
consecutive days or State active duty authorized under
51 Pa.C.S. §
508 for
a duration of 30 or more consecutive days.
Resident of Pennsylvania -As conforms to
51 Pa.C.S. §
7319(j), means:
(i) An individual who is domiciled in this
Commonwealth. The individual must either physically reside in this Commonwealth
or be absent from this Commonwealth under military orders. An individual's
spouse or dependent who is domiciled in this Commonwealth who is stationed in
another state or country shall qualify under the program as a resident of this
Commonwealth so long as the person does not become domiciled in another
state.
(ii) An individual who
qualifies under the definition of "Resident Individual" in section 301(P) of
the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L. 6, No. 2), known as the Tax Reform Code of
1971.
VSO -Veterans services
officers.
