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| 1 | AN ACT concerning veterans.
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| 2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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| 3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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| 4 | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||||
| 5 | Veterans' and Military Discount Program Act. | ||||||
| 6 | Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly | ||||||
| 7 | finds that though there is no way to adequately repay our | ||||||
| 8 | nation's military personnel for their service and sacrifice, we | ||||||
| 9 | can demonstrate our gratitude by forging a collaborative effort | ||||||
| 10 | between businesses and government that will connect veterans | ||||||
| 11 | and active duty service members with merchants who choose to | ||||||
| 12 | honor their military service through special discounts and | ||||||
| 13 | promotions. | ||||||
| 14 | The Veterans' and Military Discount Program, created under | ||||||
| 15 | this Act, will enable veterans (those honorably discharged and | ||||||
| 16 | other veterans generally discharged for reasons other than | ||||||
| 17 | discipline, misconduct, resignation in lieu of misconduct | ||||||
| 18 | charges, unfitness for duty, voluntary resignation, or court | ||||||
| 19 | martial) and military personnel currently serving our country | ||||||
| 20 | to receive a discount on goods and services from participating | ||||||
| 21 | merchants, or another appropriate money-saving promotion of a | ||||||
| 22 | merchant's choice. | ||||||
| 23 | The Veterans' and Military Discount Program will be | ||||||
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| 1 | mutually beneficial, helping active duty service members and | ||||||
| 2 | veterans in the State save money with discounts on goods and | ||||||
| 3 | services, and helping business owners to enjoy increased | ||||||
| 4 | traffic and sales in their stores. | ||||||
| 5 | Section 10. Veterans' and Military Discount Program. The | ||||||
| 6 | Department of Veterans' Affairs shall establish and administer | ||||||
| 7 | a Veterans' and Military Discount Program that enables veterans | ||||||
| 8 | and active duty military personnel to use the following photo | ||||||
| 9 | identification at participating merchants to receive a | ||||||
| 10 | discount on goods and services or to receive another | ||||||
| 11 | appropriate money-saving promotion of a merchant's choice: | ||||||
| 12 | (1) veterans who have a valid driver's license or | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois Identification Card issued pursuant to subsection | ||||||
| 14 | (e) of Section 6-106 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or | ||||||
| 15 | subsection (c-5) of Section 4 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 16 | Identification Card Act; and | ||||||
| 17 | (2) active duty military personnel who have a valid | ||||||
| 18 | Common Access Card issued by the U.S. Department of Defense | ||||||
| 19 | indicating the cardholder's active duty status. | ||||||
| 20 | Section 15. Outreach program. The Department shall develop | ||||||
| 21 | and implement an outreach program to ensure that active duty | ||||||
| 22 | service members, veterans, and potential merchant-participants | ||||||
| 23 | in the State are made aware of the Veterans' and Military | ||||||
| 24 | Discount Program. However, the Department shall not be required | ||||||
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| 1 | to conduct such outreach in a county offering a similar | ||||||
| 2 | discount program. The Secretary of State may also assist in | ||||||
| 3 | promoting and disseminating information on the Veterans' and | ||||||
| 4 | Military
Discount Program. | ||||||
| 5 | Section 20. Rules. The Department of Veterans' Affairs | ||||||
| 6 | shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act.
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| 7 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
| 8 | becoming law.
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