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| | 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3226 Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
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Creates the Veterans I.O.U. Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds that veterans are owed a debt of gratitude for their service; that there is a known and large gap between veterans and their
awareness of the resources, services, and benefits available
to them, especially in times of need; and that closing this gap begins
with being able to identify a veteran, which can eliminate the
disconnect between a veteran and the resources, services, and
benefits the veteran may need. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to develop, by rule, standards for
identifying veterans and making them aware of resources,
services, and benefits that veterans may need. Provides that the rules shall
require State agencies, local government agencies, as well as
licensed individuals and entities, to ask an individual at the point of initial contact if the individual has ever served in any branch of the
military of the United States, including the National Guard, reserve, or active duty. Defines "points of contact" to include, but not be limited to, stops by law enforcement,
arrest and booking, emergency room visits, visits to food
pantries, and visits to homeless shelters. Provides that if an individual affirmatively answers at the point of contact that the individual is a veteran, the veteran
shall be offered information and outreach in accordance with
the Department's standards. Requires outreach by
the Department to commence within 48 hours after the
initial contact and to include, but not be limited to: information regarding available resources, services, and
benefits; assistance in contacting providers of the resources,
services, and benefits; assistance in enrolling in the
resources, services, and benefits; and where available, support
for the veteran's family. Provides that outreach
regarding resources, services, and benefits shall not be
limited to resources of the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. Requires State agencies, local government agencies, and licensed
individuals and entities to comply with the Department's
standards that apply to them. Grants the Department rulemaking authority and requires State agencies,
local government agencies, and licensed individuals and
entities to comply with those rules.
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| | A BILL FOR |
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| | HB3226 | | LRB103 29918 KTG 56331 b |
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| 1 | | AN ACT concerning government.
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| 2 | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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| 3 | | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the |
| 5 | | Veterans I.O.U. Act.
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| 6 | | Section 5. Findings. Each of us owes a debt of gratitude to |
| 7 | | veterans for their service, no matter when or where that took |
| 8 | | place. However, veterans themselves, particularly women |
| 9 | | veterans, do not always identify as veterans. As a result, |
| 10 | | there is a known and large gap between veterans and their |
| 11 | | awareness of the resources, services, and benefits available |
| 12 | | to them, especially in times of need. Closing this gap begins |
| 13 | | with being able to identify a veteran, which can eliminate the |
| 14 | | disconnect between a veteran and the resources, services, and |
| 15 | | benefits the veteran may need.
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| 16 | | Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: |
| 17 | | "Department" means the Department of Veterans' Affairs. |
| 18 | | "Licensed individuals and entities" includes individuals |
| 19 | | and entities that are licensed by the State or a local |
| 20 | | government agency and have been identified by the Department |
| 21 | | of Veterans' Affairs, by rule, as individuals and entities |
| 22 | | that come into contact with veterans who may benefit from |