HB0120 EnrolledLRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b

1    AN ACT concerning 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 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38 new)
7    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
8    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is
9created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations
10regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not
11recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
12including exploring why certain service-related ailments are
13not recognized and determining what may be done to have them
14recognized.
15    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State of
16Illinois can improve the rate at which disability compensation
17claims are approved by the federal government and correct the
18disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs'
19approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and
20that which is approved for veterans in other states.
21    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as
22follows:
23        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's

 

 

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1    designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
2        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives,
3    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the
4    House Minority Leader.
5        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the
6    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
7        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of Veterans'
8    Affairs.
9        (5) One medical professional with experience working
10    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by
11    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
12        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans
13    organizations representing geographic diversity in the
14    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
15        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the
16    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of
17    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the
18    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee
19    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be
20    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee of
21    the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
22    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of
23    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this
24    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties'
25    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers,
26    and VITAS officials.

 

 

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1    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but may
2be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their
3duties.
4    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months
5beginning July 1, 2019, and at other times as determined by the
6Task Force.
7    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide
8administrative and other support to the Task Force.
9    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes
10its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study.
11The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and
12recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by
13December 31, 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this
14Section is repealed, on December 31, 2021.
 
15    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
16becoming law.