HB1882 EngrossedLRB104 08597 KTG 18649 b

1    AN ACT concerning State 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 38.1 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38.1 new)
7    Sec. 38.1. Veterans' Services Task Force.
8    (a) The Task Force created by Public Act 101-225 and 
9repealed on December 31, 2023 is recreated as the Veterans' 
10Services Task Force. The Task Force shall review and make 
11recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments 
12that are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans 
13Affairs, including exploring why certain service-related 
14ailments are not recognized and determining what may be done 
15to have them recognized. 
16    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State 
17of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability 
18compensation claims are approved by the federal government and 
19correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans 
20Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois 
21veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other 
22states. 
23    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as 
 
 
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1follows: 
2        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the 
3    Director's designee.
4        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, 
5    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the 
6    House Minority Leader.
7        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the 
8    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
9        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of 
10    Veterans' Affairs.
11        (5) One medical professional with experience working 
12    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by 
13    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
14        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans 
15    organizations representing geographic diversity in the 
16    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
17        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
18    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of 
19    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
20    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
21    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 
22    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee 
23    of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the 
24    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
25    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this 
26    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' 
 
 
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1    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, 
2    and VITAS officials.
3    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but 
4may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing 
5their duties.
6    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and at 
7any other times it deems necessary. Task Force members shall 
8select from among themselves a chairperson or co-chairpersons 
9at the initial Task Force meeting.
10    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 
11administrative and other support to the Task Force.
12    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes 
13its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. 
14The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and 
15recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
16December 31, 2026. The Task Force is dissolved, and this 
17Section is repealed, on December 31, 2027.
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
19becoming law.