Veterans Affairs Committee

Adopted in House on May 06, 2004

 

 


 

 


 
09300SB2844ham001 LRB093 20820 DRJ 49860 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2844

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2844 by replacing
3 the title with the following:
 
4     "AN ACT in relation to veterans."; and
 
5 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
6 following:
 
7     "Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
8 amended by adding Section 15 as follows:
 
9     (20 ILCS 2805/15 new)
10     Sec. 15. Veterans advisory council.
11     (a) A veterans advisory council shall be established in the
12 State of Illinois. The council shall consist of at least 17
13 members as follows:
14         (1) Four members of the General Assembly, appointed one
15     each by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
16     the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
17     and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
18     Each such member must be from a legislative or
19     representative district in which a State-operated veterans
20     home is located, and each such district in which a
21     State-operated veterans home is located must be
22     represented on the council.

 

 

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1         (2) Six members appointed by the Director of Veterans'
2     Affairs.
3         (3) One member appointed by the commander or president
4     of each veterans service organization that is chartered by
5     the federal government and by the State of Illinois and
6     elects to appoint a member.
7     No member of the council shall be an employee or
8 representative of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
9     Members of the council shall serve without compensation or
10 reimbursement.
11     (b) At the initial meeting of the council, the members
12 shall elect from among themselves a chairman. The members shall
13 draw lots to determine the length of their terms so that 9
14 members have terms that expire on July 1, 2005 and the
15 remaining members have terms that expire on July 1, 2006.
16 Thereafter, all members of the council shall be appointed for
17 terms of 2 years.
18     The Director of Veterans' Affairs may at any time make an
19 appointment to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of a
20 member.
21     (c) The council shall meet quarterly or at the call of the
22 chairman or at the call of the Director of Veterans' Affairs or
23 the Governor. The Department shall provide meeting space and
24 clerical and administrative support services for the council.
25     (d) The council has the power to do the following:
26         (1) Advise the Department of Veterans' Affairs with
27     respect to the fulfillment of its statutory duties.
28         (2) Review and study the issues and concerns that are
29     most significant to Illinois veterans and advise the
30     Department on those issues and concerns.
31         (3) Receive a report from the Director of Veterans'
32     Affairs or the Director's designee at each meeting with
33     respect to the general activities of the Department.
34         (4) Report to the Governor and the General Assembly

 

 

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1     annually describing the issues addressed and the actions
2     taken by the council during the year as well as any
3     recommendations for future action.
4     (e) The council established under this Section replaces any
5 Illinois Veterans Advisory Council established under Executive
6 Order No. 3 (1982).
 
7     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1,
8 2004.".