(330 ILCS 46/15)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 15. State charter requirements. To qualify for state charter status, a veteran service organization must:

(1)(A) Have been formed by and for veterans, have a board where a majority of its members are veterans, and have annual expenditures that demonstrate that a majority of the organization's expenses reflect support for veterans; or (B) have a paid membership of at least 15 individuals and be associated with a congressionally chartered organization.

(2) Possess tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service either under Section 501(c)(3) or Section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code and have the primary charitable purpose of providing service or assistance to veterans, their spouses, or their dependents.

(3) Possess a current certificate of good standing as an Illinois registered not-for-profit organization from the Secretary of State.

(4) Obtain and maintain ongoing registration and compliance under the Charitable Trust Act with the Charitable Trust Bureau of the Attorney General's Office or substantiation for an exemption.

(5) For organizations with veteran service officers, demonstrate that each veteran service officer possesses a valid U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs accreditation or that such accreditation is pending.

(6) Comply with the methods and criteria set forth under Section 9 of the Military Veterans Assistance Act if the veteran service organization has delegates and alternates or is in the process of selecting and submitting delegates and alternates to a county Veterans Assistance Commission at the time of application for State charter status.

(Source: P.A. 103-405, eff. 1-1-24.)