HB1217 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1217

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Kevin Schmidt

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Veterans' Licensure and Workforce Task Force Act. Creates the Veterans' Licensure and Workforce Task Force to advise the Governor and General Assembly and work directly with State agencies and institutions of higher education to improve and expand policies, services, programs, and opportunities for service members, veterans, and their families. Provides specified subjects for the Task Force to review and make recommendations on. Requires the Task Force to prepare and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before December 1, 2023, and to other specified agencies in electronic form. Provides that the Act is repealed on December 1, 2024. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning veterans.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Licensure and Workforce Task Force Act.

Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:

"Institution of higher education" means the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Illinois State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, a community college, as that term is defined under Section 1-2 of the Public Community College Act, any college under the Public Community College Act, and any institution that receives funds under the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.

"Military service member" means a current or former member of an active, guard, or reserve component in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force.

Section 10. Veterans' Licensure and Workforce Task Force.

(a) The Veterans' Licensure and Workforce Task Force is created. The Task Force shall advise the Governor and General Assembly and work directly with State agencies and institutions of higher education to improve and expand policies, services, programs, and opportunities for military service members, veterans, and their families.

(b) The Task Force shall review how various State entities and institutions of higher education within the State accept or deny military education, military training, military service and experience, community involvement, independent study, and professional and occupational licensing for various careers, as well as the licenses that military spouses and dependents carry from state to state. The Task Force shall review how Illinois recognizes or denies accreditation from regional and national accreditation boards and how that impacts military service members, veterans, and their spouses and dependent children.

(c) The Task Force shall review the costs that military service members, veterans, and their families undertake for re-certification and license renewal fees and the cost to the military service member, veteran, or their family member and to the government for again accomplishing higher education coursework that the military service member, veteran, or their family member has already accomplished through his or her military education and training.

(d) The Task Force shall review how Army, Air Force, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps credits are accepted from cadets and midshipmen by institutions of higher education.

(e) The Task Force shall make recommendations on how to make Illinois more veteran-friendly regarding education, training, and licenses already held by military service members, veterans, and their families, with the goal of reducing unemployment, homelessness, and financial hardships among its military service member and veteran population, attracting skilled veterans and their families to our State, and empowering trained military service members and their families to better provide for their families and contribute to our economy sooner.

(f) The Task Force shall review and make recommendations regarding professional and occupational licensing and the difficulties encountered by military service members, veterans, and their spouses and dependents, including, but not limited to, exploring the licensing of those persons with out-of-state licenses in equivalent occupations. The Task Force shall make recommendations on how to best effectuate the recognition of military experience for academic credit, industry-recognized credentials, and college degrees.

(g) The Task Force shall assess ways the State can improve the rate at which portability of licensures for military service members, veterans, and their spouses is approved by the State.

Section 15. Task Force members.

(a) The Task Force shall have 20 members, comprised as follows:

(1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson.

(2) Two members from the House of Representatives, appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the House Minority Leader.

(3) Two 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) The Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation or the Secretary's designee.

(6) A representative from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, appointed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

(7) A representative from the Illinois Community College Board, appointed by the Illinois Community College Board.

(8) A representative from the Illinois Articulation Initiative, appointed by the Illinois Articulation Initiative.

(9) Six representatives from a variety of veterans organizations representing geographic diversity in the State, including, but not limited to, members of various war eras, different branches, different service components, military spouses, and college veteran support services directors, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.

(10) Four 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.

(b) 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 quarterly beginning as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, and at other times as determined by the Task Force.

Section 20. Administrative support. The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

Section 25. Study. The Task Force shall perform a study, which shall review all of the following and make any recommendations the Task Force deems appropriate:

(1) Any materials produced by the Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force, which was created by Public Act 99-395, with an analysis of any shortcomings relating to military service members, student veterans, and Reserve Officer Training Corps members.

(2) The Educational Credit for Military Experience Act, with an analysis of any shortcomings relating to military service members, student veterans, and Reserve Officer Training Corps members.

(3) Professional and occupational licensing and the difficulties encountered by military service members, veterans, and their spouses and dependents, including, but not limited to, exploring the licensing of military service members with out-of-state licenses in equivalent occupations and how to best effectuate the recognition of military experience for academic credit, industry-recognized licenses, credentials, and college degrees.

(4) The costs and burdens that military service members, veterans, and their families undertake for re-certification and license renewal fees.

(5) The costs and burdens, both to the veteran and to the State and federal governments, for re-accomplishing higher education coursework that a veteran has already taken through his or her military education and training, as shown by the following:

(A) American Council on Education Military Guide;

(B) DD Form 2586 for Verification of Military Experience and Training;

(C) Community College of the Air Force;

(D) Air University;

(E) College Level Examination Program;

(F) Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support program;

(G) Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Subject Standardized Tests;

(H) Excelsior College Examinations;

(I) Air Force Institute of Technology;

(J) Department of Defense schools, such as the Defense Language Institute;

(K) DA Form 1059 for Army Service School Academic Evaluation Report;

(L) Non-commissioned officer evaluation reports;

(M) DD Form 295 for Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service;

(N) Joint Services Transcript, otherwise known as the Sailor Marine Corps American Council on Education Registry Transcript;

(O) Army American Council on Education Registry Transcript System;

(P) Coast Guard Institute; and

(Q) Servicemembers Opportunity College.

Section 30. Report. The Task Force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and to the Governor on or before December 1, 2023. An electronic form of the report shall also be provided to each relevant State agency, including, but not limited to, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Articulation Initiative, and to all public and private institutions of higher education throughout the State.

Section 35. Repeal. This Act is repealed on December 1, 2024.

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