103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5895
 
Introduced 11/12/2024, by Rep. Maurice A. West, II
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
330 ILCS 45/1  from Ch. 23, par. 3081
    Amends the Military Veterans Assistance Act. Defines "veteran" to mean any person who: (i) served on active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces and whose last discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable; (ii) served on active duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes, and was either awarded a service-connected disability or died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable; (iii) served in the National Guard or as a reservist in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for training purposes; or (iv) is determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, that in any case, the service of such person qualified under items (i) through (iv) was entered into or served in Illinois, or such person has resided in the State for at least one day, except for the purpose of determining the residential eligibility of a deceased veteran's dependents.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning service members.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Military Veterans Assistance Act is amended 
5by changing Section 1 as follows:
 
6    (330 ILCS 45/1)  (from Ch. 23, par. 3081)
7    Sec. 1. Definitions. As used in this Act:
8    "United States Armed Forces" means the United States Army, 
9Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. 
10    "Veteran" means any person who: (i) served on active duty 
11in any branch of the United States Armed Forces and whose last 
12discharge or release was under conditions other than 
13dishonorable; (ii) served on active duty in any branch of the 
14United States Armed Forces, including active duty solely for 
15training purposes, and was either awarded a service-connected 
16disability or died in such service under conditions other than 
17dishonorable; (iii) served in the National Guard or as a 
18reservist in any branch of the United States Armed Forces, 
19including active duty solely for training purposes; or (iv) is 
20determined to be a veteran according to the U.S. Department of 
21Veterans Affairs; provided, that in any case, the service of 
22such person qualified under items (i) through (iv) was entered 
23into or served in Illinois, or such person has resided in the 
 
 
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1State for at least one day, except for the purpose of 
2determining the residential eligibility of a deceased 
3veteran's dependents. 
4    "Veteran service organization" means a post, ship, camp, 
5chapter, or detachment of a congressionally chartered or state 
6chartered organization that (i) is formed by and for veterans, 
7(ii) has a paid membership of at least 15 individuals, and 
8(iii) provides responsible aid, assistance, or services to the 
9veteran community. 
10    "Administrator of military veterans assistance" means the 
11commanders of the various veteran service organizations, the 
12superintendent of a County Veterans Assistance Commission, or 
13other persons whose duty it is, under the existing statutes, 
14to care for, relieve or maintain, wholly or in part, any person 
15who may be entitled to such assistance under the statutes of 
16the State of Illinois. This Act shall not infringe upon the 
17mandated powers and authorities vested in the Illinois 
18Department of Veterans' Affairs.
19(Source: P.A. 102-732, eff. 1-1-23; 102-1132, eff. 2-10-23.)