HJ0091 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0091 LRB098 20833 MST 58120 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly is concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of all returning veterans of this country's armed forces to Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The rate of mental health problems and suicides for members of this country's armed forces remains startlingly high; and

WHEREAS, Between 2005 and 2011, the veteran suicide rate in Illinois was more than twice the rate for civilians; and

WHEREAS, 17.72% of all suicide deaths in Illinois are veterans; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Task Force on Veterans' Suicide to investigate the causes to and prevention of suicides among returning Illinois veterans of the United States Military; and be it further

RESOLVED, The Task Force shall consist of 8 members as follows:

1) one member appointed by The Speaker of the House of Representatives, and this member shall act as the chair;

2) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

3) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

4) one member appointed by the Senate Minority leader;

5) one representative from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, chosen by the Director of Veterans' Affairs;

6) one representative from the Department of Military Affairs, chosen by the Director of Military Affairs;

7) one representative from the Department of Public Health, chosen by the Director of Public Health; and

8) one representative of the Department of Human Services, chosen by the Secretary of Human Services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet periodically at the discretion of the chair to investigate and form recommendations concerning the issue of suicides among Illinois veterans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force serve with no compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Task Force on Veterans' Suicide shall present a report of its findings, which shall include its recommendations for legislation, if any, to the Illinois House of Representatives and the Senate on or before January 1, 2015; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be dissolved after the submission of its report to the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate, thereby concluding its mission.