|
|
Public Act 095-0294
|
| HB0670 Enrolled |
LRB095 07621 HLH 27771 b |
|
|
AN ACT concerning State 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 20 as follows:
|
(20 ILCS 2805/20 new) |
Sec. 20. Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force. The |
Illinois Discharged Servicemember Task Force is hereby created |
within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Task Force shall |
investigate the re-entry process for service members who return |
to civilian life after being engaged in an active theater. The |
investigation shall include the effects of post-traumatic |
stress disorder, homelessness, disabilities, and other issues |
the Task Force finds relevant to the re-entry process. The Task |
Force shall include the following members: |
(a) a representative of the Department of Veterans |
Affairs, who shall chair the committee;
|
(b) a representative from the Department of Military |
Affairs;
|
(c) a representative from the Office of the Illinois |
Attorney General;
|
(d) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the |
Speaker of the House;
|
|
(e) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the |
House Minority Leader;
|
(f) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the |
President of the Senate;
|
(g) a member of the General Assembly appointed by the |
Senate Minority Leader;
|
(h) 4 members chosen by the Department of Veterans |
Affairs, who shall represent statewide veterans' |
organizations or veterans' homeless shelters;
|
(i) one member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; |
and
|
(j) a representative of the United States Department of |
Veterans Affairs shall be invited to participate.
|
Vacancies in the Task Force shall be filled by the initial |
appointing authority. Task Force members shall serve without |
compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses |
incurred in performing duties associated with the Task Force.
|
By July 1, 2008 and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the |
Task Force shall present an annual report of its findings to |
the Governor, the Attorney General, the Director of Veterans' |
Affairs, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of the |
United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
|
If the Task Force becomes inactive because active theaters |
cease, the Director of Veterans Affairs may reactivate the Task |
Force if active theaters are reestablished.
|
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon |