HB0120 EnrolledLRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b



1    AN ACT concerning government.

 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly: 



 
4    Section 5. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is 
5amended  by adding Section 38 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38 new)
7    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
8    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is 
9created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations 
10regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not 
11recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 
12including exploring why certain service-related ailments are 
13not recognized and determining what may be done to have them 
14recognized.
15    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State of 
16Illinois can improve the rate at which disability compensation 
17claims are approved by the federal government and correct the 
18disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' 
19approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and 
20that which is approved for veterans in other states.
21    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as 
22follows:
23        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's 
 
 
HB0120 Enrolled- 2 -LRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b

1    designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
2        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, 
3    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the 
4    House Minority Leader.
5        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the 
6    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
7        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of Veterans' 
8    Affairs.
9        (5) One medical professional with experience working 
10    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by 
11    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
12        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans 
13    organizations representing geographic diversity in the 
14    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
15        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
16    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of 
17    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
18    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
19    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 
20    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
21    the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the 
22    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
23    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this 
24    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' 
25    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, 
26    and VITAS officials.
 
 
HB0120 Enrolled- 3 -LRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b

1    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but
may 
2be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their 
3duties.
4    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months 
5beginning July 1, 2019, and at other times as determined by the 
6Task Force.
7    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 
8administrative and other support to the Task Force.
9    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes 
10its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. 
11The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and 
12recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
13December 31, 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this 
14Section is repealed, on December 31, 2021. 
 

15    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
16becoming law.