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SB 1355

An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in State Veterans' Commission and Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs, establishing a pilot program to award grants for veterans traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Argall and 7 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania launches a three-year pilot awarding $150,000 yearly grants to up to three entities to develop and evaluate TBI/PTSD treatment for veterans.

Re-referred to Appropriations
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Bill Summary · SB 1355

Overview

SB 1355 (2026) from Pennsylvania would establish a pilot program within the state Department (in consultation with the Department of Health) to award grants for the development, implementation, and evaluation of treatment for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program runs for three years and allocates grants to selected eligible entities across three regions of the state. An annual reporting requirement provides accountability and program results to legislative committees.

Primary purpose and intent

  • Create a targeted, time-limited pilot to improve mental health outcomes for veterans with TBI and PTSD.
  • Support innovation in treatment approaches, including clinical interventions, therapeutic devices, and rehabilitative care.
  • Reduce suicide risk factors among veterans (depression, substance use, suicidality) and mitigate long-term effects of TBI/PTSD.

Key provisions and changes

  • Subchapter added: “Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment” within Title 51 (Military Affairs).
  • Definitions (Sec. 1741):
    • Eligible entity: including nonprofit organizations, academic institutions conducting related research, healthcare providers with neurorehabilitative expertise, and other entities approved by the department or Department of Health.
    • Treatment: clinical interventions, therapeutic devices, and rehabilitation care for veterans with TBI or PTSD.
  • Pilot program (Sec. 1742):
    • Establishment: Department, with Department of Health, to run the pilot for TBI/PTSD treatment grants.
    • Public posting: Guidelines and program information posted on the department’s website.
    • Applications: Eligible entities must apply with qualifications, proposed activities, expected outcomes, and plans focused on effectiveness, suicidality/depression/substance use reduction, and long-term mitigation of TBI/PTSD effects.
    • Regional design: Ideally selects one eligible entity from each of the eastern, central, and western regions of Pennsylvania.
    • Grants: $150,000 per selected entity per year for the duration of the three-year pilot.
    • Use of funds: Grants must be used as described in the program guidelines (Section 1742(a)).
    • Expiration: Authority to award grants expires three years after the effective date of the subsection.
  • Annual reporting (Sec. 1743):
    • By March 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the department must report to the Senate and House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees on grant awards, programs/projects funded, and evaluations of those projects.

Who is affected

  • Eligible entities (as defined) may apply to receive grants to develop and evaluate TBI/PTSD treatment programs for veterans.
  • Pennsylvania veterans with TBI/PTSD stand to benefit through improved access to and quality of treatment options funded by the grants.
  • State agencies (Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Health) will administer, oversee, and report on the pilot.
  • Legislative committees overseeing veterans affairs will receive annual program reports for oversight and evaluation.

Procedural and timeline details

  • Effective date: January 1, 2027.
  • Pilot duration: Three years from the effective date, with grants awarded annually to up to three entities (one per region, to the extent practicable).
  • Funding amount: $150,000 per selected entity each year.
  • Reporting timeline: An initial report by March 1, 2028, and ongoing annual reports detailing grants, program activities, and evaluations.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Focused investment in TBI/PTSD treatment research and clinical care could yield improved mental health outcomes for veterans and potential reductions in suicidality and related risk factors.
  • Geographic distribution aims to promote regional access to services across Pennsylvania.
  • The three-year window allows for initial evaluation of scalable approaches, but durability beyond the pilot is uncertain and would depend on program results and legislative decisions.

If you’d like, I can add a brief section on potential questions for stakeholders or model performance indicators that could be used in the annual reports.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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