SB0082enr 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0082 Enrolled LRB095 07286 HLH 27424 b

AN ACT in relation to veterans.

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

Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by adding Section 20 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/20 new)

Sec. 20. Payments to veterans service organizations.

(a) In this Section:

"Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by a veterans service organization and accredited by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to process claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.

"Veterans service organization" means an organization that meets all of the following criteria:

(1) It is formed by and for United States military veterans.

(2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and incorporated in the State of Illinois.

(3) It maintained a state headquarters office in Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July 1, 2006.

(4) It maintains at least one office in this State staffed by a veterans service officer.

(5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.

(6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any county in this State.

"Veterans services" means the representation of veterans in federal hearings to secure benefits for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries:

(1) Disability compensation benefits.

(2) Disability pension benefits.

(3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.

(4) Widow's death pension.

(5) Burial benefits.

(6) Confirmed and continued claims.

(7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.

(8) Waivers of indebtedness.

(9) Miscellaneous.

(b) The Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to appropriation, the Department shall use moneys appropriated from the Fund to make payments to a veterans service organization for veterans services rendered on behalf of veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by a veterans service officer employed by the organization. The payment shall be computed at the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts of the veterans service officer. There shall be no payment under this Section for the value of health care received in a health care facility under the jurisdiction of the United States Veterans Administration. A veterans service organization may receive compensation under this Fund or it may apply for grants from the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, but in no event may a veterans service organization receive moneys from both funds during the same fiscal year. Funding for each applicant is subject to renewal by the Department on an annual basis.

(c) To be eligible for a payment under this Section, a veterans service organization must document the amount of moneys obtained for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the Department. The documentation must include the submission to the Department of a copy of the organization's report or reports to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs stating the amount of moneys obtained by the organization for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries in the State fiscal year for which payment under this Section is requested. The organization must submit the copy of the report or reports to the Department no later than July 31 following the end of the State fiscal year for which payment is requested.

(d) The Department shall make the payment under this Section to a veterans service organization in a single annual payment for each State fiscal year, beginning with the State fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department must make the payment for a State fiscal year on or before December 31 of the succeeding State fiscal year.

(e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys received under this Section only for the purpose of paying the salary and expenses of one or more veterans service officers and the organization's related expenses incurred in employing the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by changing Section 8h and by adding Section 5.675 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.675 new)

Sec. 5.675. The Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund.

(30 ILCS 105/8h)

Sec. 8h. Transfers to General Revenue Fund.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section and Section 8n of this Act, and (c), (d), or (e), notwithstanding any other State law to the contrary, the Governor may, through June 30, 2007, from time to time direct the State Treasurer and Comptroller to transfer a specified sum from any fund held by the State Treasurer to the General Revenue Fund in order to help defray the State's operating costs for the fiscal year. The total transfer under this Section from any fund in any fiscal year shall not exceed the lesser of (i) 8% of the revenues to be deposited into the fund during that fiscal year or (ii) an amount that leaves a remaining fund balance of 25% of the July 1 fund balance of that fiscal year. In fiscal year 2005 only, prior to calculating the July 1, 2004 final balances, the Governor may calculate and direct the State Treasurer with the Comptroller to transfer additional amounts determined by applying the formula authorized in Public Act 93-839 to the funds balances on July 1, 2003. No transfer may be made from a fund under this Section that would have the effect of reducing the available balance in the fund to an amount less than the amount remaining unexpended and unreserved from the total appropriation from that fund estimated to be expended for that fiscal year. This Section does not apply to any funds that are restricted by federal law to a specific use, to any funds in the Motor Fuel Tax Fund, the Intercity Passenger Rail Fund, the Hospital Provider Fund, the Medicaid Provider Relief Fund, the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund, the Reviewing Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Fund, the Voters' Guide Fund, the Foreign Language Interpreter Fund, the Lawyers' Assistance Program Fund, the Supreme Court Federal Projects Fund, the Supreme Court Special State Projects Fund, the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, the Good Samaritan Energy Trust Fund, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Facility Development and Operation Fund, the Horse Racing Equity Trust Fund, or the Hospital Basic Services Preservation Fund, or to any funds to which subsection (f) of Section 20-40 of the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act applies. No transfers may be made under this Section from the Pet Population Control Fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, for fiscal year 2004, the total transfer under this Section from the Road Fund or the State Construction Account Fund shall not exceed the lesser of (i) 5% of the revenues to be deposited into the fund during that fiscal year or (ii) 25% of the beginning balance in the fund. For fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2007, no amounts may be transferred under this Section from the Road Fund, the State Construction Account Fund, the Criminal Justice Information Systems Trust Fund, the Wireless Service Emergency Fund, or the Mandatory Arbitration Fund.

In determining the available balance in a fund, the Governor may include receipts, transfers into the fund, and other resources anticipated to be available in the fund in that fiscal year.

The State Treasurer and Comptroller shall transfer the amounts designated under this Section as soon as may be practicable after receiving the direction to transfer from the Governor.

(a-5) Transfers directed to be made under this Section on or before February 28, 2006 that are still pending on May 19, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-774) this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall be redirected as provided in Section 8n of this Act.

(b) This Section does not apply to: (i) the Ticket For The Cure Fund; (ii) any fund established under the Community Senior Services and Resources Act; or (iii) on or after January 1, 2006 (the effective date of Public Act 94-511), the Child Labor and Day and Temporary Labor Enforcement Fund.

(c) This Section does not apply to the Demutualization Trust Fund established under the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.

(d) This Section does not apply to moneys set aside in the Illinois State Podiatric Disciplinary Fund for podiatric scholarships and residency programs under the Podiatric Scholarship and Residency Act.

(e) Subsection (a) does not apply to, and no transfer may be made under this Section from, the Pension Stabilization Fund.

(f) This Section does not apply to the Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund.

(Source: P.A. 93-32, eff. 6-20-03; 93-659, eff. 2-3-04; 93-674, eff. 6-10-04; 93-714, eff. 7-12-04; 93-801, eff. 7-22-04; 93-839, eff. 7-30-04; 93-1054, eff. 11-18-04; 93-1067, eff. 1-15-05; 94-91, eff. 7-1-05; 94-120, eff. 7-6-05; 94-511, eff. 1-1-06; 94-535, eff. 8-10-05; 94-639, eff. 8-22-05; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 94-648, eff. 1-1-06; 94-686, eff. 11-2-05; 94-691, eff. 11-2-05; 94-726, eff. 1-20-06; 94-773, eff. 5-18-06; 94-774, eff. 5-19-06; 94-804, eff. 5-26-06; 94-839, eff. 6-6-06; revised 6-19-06.)

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