96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5398


 
Introduced 2/5/2010, by Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		





 







20 ILCS 2805/15











     Amends    the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Changes the composition of the veterans advisory council from 17 to 21 by adding one person appointed by the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, one person appointed by the Illinois Attorney General, one person appointed by the Illinois Secretary of State, and  one person appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Provides that one veteran or family member of a veteran (rather than one veteran) appointed by the commander or president of each veterans service organization or military family organization (rather than only each veterans service organization) that is chartered by the federal government and by the State of Illinois and elects to appoint a member shall sit on the council. Effective immediately.
  















LRB096 18576 KTG 33958 b

















 


 


A BILL FOR









 




  






HB5398

LRB096 18576 KTG 33958 b





  
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    AN ACT concerning veterans.
  
 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
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    Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is 
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amended  by changing Section 15 as follows:
 
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    (20 ILCS 2805/15)
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    Sec. 15. Veterans advisory council.
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    (a) A veterans advisory council shall be established in the 
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State of Illinois.  The council shall consist of at least 21 17 
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members as follows:
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        (1)  Four members of the General Assembly, appointed one 
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    each by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of 
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    the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
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    and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, 
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    preferably from a legislative or representative district 
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    in which a State-operated veterans home is located.
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        (2)  Six veterans appointed by the Director of Veterans' 
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    Affairs.
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        (3)  One veteran or family member of a veteran appointed 
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    by the commander or president of each veterans service 
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    organization or military family organization that is 
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    chartered by the federal government and by the State of 
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    Illinois and elects to appoint a member.
 


 






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        (4) One person appointed by the Adjutant General of the 
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    Illinois National Guard. 
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        (5) One person appointed by the Illinois Attorney 
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    General. 
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        (6) One person appointed by the Illinois Secretary of 
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    State. 
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        (7) One person appointed by the Director of the 
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    Illinois Department of Employment Security. 
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    No member of the council shall be an employee or 
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representative of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
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    Members of the council shall serve without compensation or 
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reimbursement.
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    (b) At the initial meeting of the council, the members 
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shall elect from among themselves a chairman.  The members shall 
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draw lots to determine the length of their terms so that 9 
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members have terms that expire on July 1, 2005 and the 
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remaining members have terms that expire on July 1, 2006.  
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Thereafter, all members of the council shall be appointed for 
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terms of 2 years.
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    The appointing authority may at any time make an 
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appointment to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of a 
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member.
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    (c) The council shall meet quarterly or at the call of the 
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chairman or at the call of the Director of Veterans' Affairs or 
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the Governor.  The Department shall provide meeting space and 
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clerical and administrative support services for the council.
 


 






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    (d) The council has the power to do the following:

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        (1) Advise the Department of Veterans' Affairs with 
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    respect to the fulfillment of its statutory duties.
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        (2) Review and study the issues and concerns that are 
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    most significant to Illinois veterans and advise the 
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    Department on those issues and concerns.
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        (3) Receive a report from the Director of Veterans' 
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    Affairs or the Director's designee at each meeting with 
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    respect to the general activities of the Department.
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        (4) Report to the Governor and the General Assembly 
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    annually describing the issues addressed and the actions 
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    taken by the council during the year as well as any 
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    recommendations for future action.
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    (e) The council established under this Section replaces any 
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Illinois Veterans Advisory Council established under Executive 
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Order No. 3 (1982).


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(Source: P.A. 93-779, eff. 7-21-04.)
 
 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.