SB1493 Engrossed

LRB096 09102 AJO 19244 b






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    AN ACT concerning courts.

 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is dedicated to the urgent 
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task of strengthening and expediting the national defense under 
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the emergent conditions which are threatening the peace and 
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security of this nation;
 
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    WHEREAS, It is the considered judgment of the General 
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Assembly that the citizens of Illinois who respond to their 
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country's call to service are deserving of every benefit and 
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protection; and
 
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    WHEREAS, It is imperative that State government recognize 
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the State's citizens who have made the ultimate sacrifice to 
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protect the peace and security of this nation; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Court of Claims should be equipped to 
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provide for and assist the survivors of fallen service members 
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by increasing accessibility to the Court of Claims and 
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providing outreach services to the community, which will serve 
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to educate survivors as to their benefits and protections under 
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State law; and
 
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    WHEREAS, By recognizing these sacrifices, the State of 
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Illinois encourages its citizens to participate to the fullest 
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extent in the national defense program and thereby heightens 
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the contribution of our State to the protection of our heritage 
 


 






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of liberty and democracy; therefore
 
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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 Court of Claims Act is amended  by adding 
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Section 9.5 as follows:
 
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    (705 ILCS 505/9.5  new)
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    Sec. 9.5. Gold Star Families Assistance Program.
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    (a) Within the Court of Claims, there is established a Gold 
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Star Families Assistance Program, which is charged with the 
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responsibility of assessing the needs of and providing 
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information to Illinois Gold Star Families with regard to 
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claims filed pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act.
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    (b) As used in this Section, "Gold Star Family" means the 
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family members of an

individual who was killed in the line of 
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duty and who was employed or serving in a capacity defined  in 
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Section 2 of the Illinois Line of Duty Compensation Act. 
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    (c) Toll-free helpline.  The Gold Star Families Assistance 
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Program shall include a toll-free helpline dedicated to 
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families seeking information about the Line of Duty 
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Compensation Act, including, but not limited to, the status of 
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claims filed pursuant to that Act.  The helpline phone number 
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and information about the Gold Star Families Assistance Program 
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shall be provided to each person filing a claim under the Line 
 


 






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of Duty Compensation Act.
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    (d) On or before January 1 of each year, the Court of 
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Claims shall report to the Governor, both houses of the General 
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Assembly, and the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs the 
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following information:
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        (1) the number of claims filed with the Court of Claims 
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    pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act ("LODCA");
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        (2) the number of LODCA claims approved for payment by 
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    the Court of Claims during the preceding calendar year;
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        (3) the number and status of LODCA claims pending in 
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    the Court of Claims; and
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        (4) other information as may be requested by the 
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    Governor.