HJ0091LRB098 20833 MST 58120 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The General Assembly is concerned with the health,
3safety, and welfare of all returning veterans of this country's
4armed forces to Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The rate of mental health problems and suicides
6for members of this country's armed forces remains startlingly
7high; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Between 2005 and 2011, the veteran suicide rate in
9Illinois was more than twice the rate for civilians; and
 
10    WHEREAS, 17.72% of all suicide deaths in Illinois are
11veterans; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
14SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Task Force
15on Veterans' Suicide to investigate the causes to and
16prevention of suicides among returning Illinois veterans of the
17United States Military; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, The Task Force shall consist of 8 members as
19follows:
 

 

 

HJ0091- 2 -LRB098 20833 MST 58120 r

1    1) one member appointed by The Speaker of the House of
2Representatives, and this member shall act as the chair;
 
3    2) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House
4of Representatives;
 
5    3) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;
 
6    4) one member appointed by the Senate Minority leader;
 
7    5) one representative from the Department of Veterans'
8Affairs, chosen by the Director of Veterans' Affairs;
 
9    6) one representative from the Department of Military
10Affairs, chosen by the Director of Military Affairs;
 
11    7) one representative from the Department of Public Health,
12chosen by the Director of Public Health; and
 
13    8) one representative of the Department of Human Services,
14chosen by the Secretary of Human Services; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet periodically at
16the discretion of the chair to investigate and form
17recommendations concerning the issue of suicides among
18Illinois veterans; and be it further
 

 

 

HJ0091- 3 -LRB098 20833 MST 58120 r

1    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force serve with no
2compensation; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall
4provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and
5be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Task Force on Veterans' Suicide
7shall present a report of its findings, which shall include its
8recommendations for legislation, if any, to the Illinois House
9of Representatives and the Senate on or before January 1, 2015;
10and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved after the
12submission of its report to the Illinois House of
13Representatives and Senate, thereby concluding its mission.