Public Act 101-0225
 
HB0120 EnrolledLRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b



    AN ACT concerning government.

 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
represented in the General Assembly: 



 
    Section 5. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is 
amended  by adding Section 38 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2805/38 new)
    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is 
created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations 
regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not 
recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 
including exploring why certain service-related ailments are 
not recognized and determining what may be done to have them 
recognized.
    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State of 
Illinois can improve the rate at which disability compensation 
claims are approved by the federal government and correct the 
disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' 
approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and 
that which is approved for veterans in other states.
    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as 
follows:
        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's 
    designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, 
    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the 
    House Minority Leader.
        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the 
    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of Veterans' 
    Affairs.
        (5) One medical professional with experience working 
    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by 
    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans 
    organizations representing geographic diversity in the 
    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of 
    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 
    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
    the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the 
    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this 
    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' 
    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, 
    and VITAS officials.
    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
may 
be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their 
duties.
    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months 
beginning July 1, 2019, and at other times as determined by the 
Task Force.
    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 
administrative and other support to the Task Force.
    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes 
its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. 
The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and 
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
December 31, 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this 
Section is repealed, on December 31, 2021. 
 

    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.