York County, PA Chapter 347 Veterans Affairs, Department of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of York County 8-23-1989. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 347-1 Preamble.

A. Whereas each county of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been given the authority by the Pennsylvania County Code[1] to establish a Department of Veterans Affairs;

[1] Editor's Note: See 16 P.S. § 101 et seq.

B. Whereas it is in the best interest of the welfare of the veterans and the families of veterans of York County that a Department of Veterans Affairs be established for the county by this chapter; and

C. Whereas this chapter was properly advertised and proper notice was given as required by law.

§ 347-2 Establishment.

A County Department of Veterans Affairs is hereby established and shall be known as the "York County Department of Veterans Affairs."

§ 347-3 Statutory authority.

York County, as a Class III county, hereby establishes the York County Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to the provisions of the County Code (Act of August 9, 1955) (P.L. 323, No. 130), Section 1923, as amended, 1985 Edition.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See 16 P.S. § 1923.

§ 347-4 Responsibilities and services to be provided.

The York County Department of Veterans Affairs shall have the responsibility of serving York County veterans and their families. This service includes:

A. Providing individual counseling for veterans and dependents.

B. Providing assistance in obtaining military administrative and medical records.

C. Providing emergency referral services.

D. Processing both federal and state benefits and assistance program applications (e.g., monetary, educational, disability, burial, memorials/monuments, etc.).

E. Administering the county burial benefits program.

F. Administering the purchase and distribution of memorial flags.

G. Administering the purchase and distribution of flag markers.

H. Serving as liaison with intracounty veterans organizations and other social service activities to coordinate efforts on behalf of all York County veterans.

§ 347-5 Powers and duties. [1]

A. The York County Department of Veterans Affairs shall have the responsibility of performing the specific duties in accordance with the County Code, Act of August 9, 1955 (P.L. 323, No. 130), as amended, 1985 Edition, Article XIX, Special Powers and Duties of Counties.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: See 16 P.S. § 1901 et seq.

B. In addition to 16 P.S. § 1901 et seq., the Board of County Commissioners shall have the following powers:

(1) Appropriations for military purposes.

(a) Appropriation for maintenance of National Guard. The York County Commissioners authorize moneys up to and including $1,000 to be used as maintenance funds in support of the following three National Guard Units located in York County: Battery A, 1st Battalion, 108th Field Artillery, Hanover; Battery F, 109th Field Artillery, York; 131st Transportation Company, York.

(2) Burial of deceased service persons and surviving spouses.

(a) Definitions. The term "deceased service person," as used in this subsection, shall mean and include any deceased service person who, at the time of his or her death, was serving on active duty or who died while performing military duties in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard.

(b) Funeral expenses of deceased service persons.

[1] The York County Commissioners authorize payment of $100 toward the funeral expenses of eligible service persons.

[2] Payments shall be made where the deceased service person died and was subsequently buried in a National Cemetery, e.g., Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pennsylvania.

(c) Burial of spouses of deceased service persons. The York County Commissioners authorize a payment of $100 toward the funeral expenses of deceased eligible spouses of deceased service persons.

(d) Markers for graves; headstones.

[1] The York County Commissioners will provide a flag holder upon the grave of each deceased service person who at the time of his or her death had his or her legal residence in the county, whether or not he or she died in the county and whether or not he or she was buried in the county, and upon the grave of each deceased service person buried in the county who at the time of his or her death did not have legal residence within the commonwealth. When such deceased service person shall have been a veteran of peacetime, the marker designated for his or her grave shall include a circular emblem with a star and the letters "U.S." encircled in a wreath.

[2] The construction of the flag holder will be a flat concrete block, eight inches square by four inches in depth, with a one-half-inch hole in the upper right-hand corner. A metal medallion depicting the conflict period or peacetime service will be embedded in the cement and mounted squarely in the center on the top.

[3] The York County Commissioners authorize a payment of $2.50 toward the installation of each flag holder to be paid to the installer of said marker(s).

[4] The York County Commissioners authorize a payment of $50 toward the installation of a government grave marker.

[5] The York County Commissioners authorize a payment of $50 toward the purchase of or installation of lettering on or the installation of a private marker.

[6] Payment will only be made for the amount of the expense up to and including $50.

(e) Burial plots. The York County Commissioners authorize an indigent burial fund of $2,500 to be used for the preparation, funeral, transportation, grave liner, etc., and memorial wreaths, veterans decorations, honor guard detail, etc.

(3) Memorial observances.

(a) Appropriations to veterans organizations for expenses of Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Independence Day. The York County Commissioners authorize a one-time annual payment of $100 for either Memorial Day or Veterans Day activities. A listing of eligible veterans organizations is maintained by the Director of Veterans Affairs.

(b) Flags to decorate graves. Flag specifications are as follows: each flag shall be twelve by eighteen (12 x 18) inches overall with 50 stars, mounted on a natural dowel, length to be approximately 32 inches, with gold-colored pointed spear and pointed at the other end and stitch type 301, known as "lock stitch," in accordance with Federal Specification DDD-S-751. They must be made in the United States.

(c) Director of Veterans Affairs.

[1] The applicant for Director of Veterans Affairs shall be a veteran with an honorable discharge.

[2] The applicant shall be professionally competent and capable of planning and administering the day-to-day operations, functions and budget of the Department.

[3] Within one year upon assuming office, the applicant shall successfully pass a written examination, administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a test for accreditation with the Veterans Administration as a representative of the Adjutant General's Office for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

[4] Upon recognition by the Veterans Administration as an accredited representative, the applicant shall make application for a Jurat Officer Stamp through the Department of Military Affairs, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, Pennsylvania, at no cost to the county.

[5] The applicant shall make application to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to become a notary public. The seal is to be used in the performance of routine veteran duties only. No charge is to be assessed to veterans or their families for services rendered. All costs of the notary application will be absorbed by the county.

[6] In cooperation with the Recorder of Deeds for York County, the applicant shall make application to become a Deputy Recorder of Deeds, at no cost to the county.

[7] The York County Commissioners recognize that the York County Department of Veterans Affairs should maintain membership in the sixty-seven-county Pennsylvania State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs, PSACDVA. This membership carries with it certain obligations and duties (e.g., committee positions, representing York County at the annual association conference, etc.). York County is located in the Central District of the PSACDVA.

[8] The York County Commissioners will reimburse the Director for actual expenses incurred as the result of his or her attendance at scheduled meetings and training programs in accordance with County Code Article IV, Subarticle (c), State Associations, Sections 440 and 443.[3]

[3] Editor's Note: See 16 P.S. §§ 440 and 443.

[9] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall prepare, maintain and keep current an operational plan or calendar of events to be used as a guide that will provide direction to requisition, receive and distribute in a timely manner all materials in support of ongoing veterans programs and activities. The following is a current list of significant dates by the month:

[a] January.

	1: Compute flag and flag holder totals.
	2: Request flag bids.
	15: Request flag holders.

[b] February.

	1: Contact posts for delivery information.
	28: Award flag contract.

[c] April.

	10: Request that Data Processing produce three cemetery listings.
	15: Flag delivery deadline to bridge crew; cutoff for flag list entries.
	30: Deliver cemetery lists and green sheet packets to posts.

[d] May.

	17: Armed Forces Day.
	30: Memorial Day (observance).

[e] June.

14: Flag Day.

[f] July.

4: Independence Day.

[g] September.

15: Submit departmental budget proposal.

[h] November.

11: Veterans Day.

[i] December.

	1: Inventory flag holders.
	7: Pearl Harbor Day.
	31: Cutoff for flag holder entries.

[10] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall provide individual and organizational training programs for veterans services organizations, veterans services officers, human services agencies, community service organizations and interested veterans and their families to ensure the dissemination of updated information concerning veterans benefits.

[11] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall assist York County veterans services organizations and public and private agencies or entities in planning, organizing and coordinating available manpower, materials and facilities in support of veteran-related functions and activities.

[12] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall adopt and implement precautionary measures to mitigate the anticipated effects of an emergency as it impacts the veteran or the veteran's family.

[13] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall execute and enforce such rules, regulations and orders as the York County Department of Veterans Affairs may have adopted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

[14] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall cooperate and coordinate with any public and private agencies or entities in achieving any purpose of this chapter.

[15] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall have available for inspection in the Department office, located in the York County Courthouse, all plans, rules, regulations and records pertaining to the operation of the York County Department of Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the Veterans Administration and the Department of Military Affairs, Bureau for Veterans Affairs, for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

[16] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall provide prompt and accurate information regarding changes to existing local, state or federal regulations or legislation that impact the veteran community or veterans organizations to the York County Commissioners, appropriate officials and agencies and the general veteran public.

[17] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall make routine reports as requested to the York County Commissioners on the current status of the Department of Veterans Affairs, its personnel, programs and plans.

[18] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall execute and enforce such rules, regulations and orders as may be adopted and promulgated by the Department of Military Affairs, Bureau for Veterans Affairs, for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

[19] The Director of Veterans Affairs shall make timely recommendations to and secure the consent of the York County Commissioners concerning the development of plans, the acquisition of materials, supplies and equipment and the development of a budget for the Department, except as provided for in emergency situations.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.

§ 347-6 Approval and ratification of agreements.

The York County Commissioners shall:

A. Approve all expenditures of the Department of Veterans Affairs in advance.

B. Approve attendance and participation of personnel of the Department of Veterans Affairs at training sessions, seminars and meetings.

C. Review and approve any and all additions, deletions or corrections to this chapter.

§ 347-7 Acceptance of gifts and donations.

The Department will not accept any gifts or donations of moneys made by individuals or outside sources. Any moneys received as gifts or donations for services rendered will be given to the York County Veterans Honor Guard in recognition of its faithful service.

§ 347-8 Representation on other boards and agencies.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting the York County Director of Veterans Affairs from providing representation to other boards and agencies, such as outside veterans affairs advisory boards (e.g., Joint Veterans Council, Allied Veterans Council, etc.), veterans services organizations (e.g., American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc.) and veterans administration medical/health care and hospital committees, that coordinate with or otherwise impact the delivery of veterans programs and services.

§ 347-9 Official insignia.

The Pennsylvania State Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs (PSACDVA) has adopted the Pennsylvania State Crest as the association's official insignia.

§ 347-10 Applicability of state statutes.

The provisions of the County Code, Article XIX, Special Powers and Duties of Counties, Subarticle (a), Appropriations for Military Purposes, of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Act of August 9, 1955 (P.L. 323, No. 130),[1] shall govern the veterans affairs activities of the County of York and the York County Department of Veterans Affairs except in circumstances where the County Code, Article XIX, Special Powers and Duties of Counties, does not address local provisions or conditions provided for by this chapter.

[1] Editor's Note: See 16 P.S. § 1901 et seq.