94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0040

 

Introduced 1/26/2005, by Sen. Miguel del Valle

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/2   from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67

    Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to conduct an annual review comparing the benefits that Illinois veterans receive with those benefits received by veterans in other states and U.S. territories. Provides that this benefits review shall be annually reported to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Congressional delegation. Effective January 1, 2006.


LRB094 04310 RSP 34337 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0040 LRB094 04310 RSP 34337 b

1     AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
5 amended by changing Section 2 as follows:
 
6     (20 ILCS 2805/2)  (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67)
7     Sec. 2. Powers and duties. The Department shall have the
8 following powers and duties:
9     To perform such acts at the request of any veteran, or his
10 or her spouse, surviving spouse or dependents as shall be
11 reasonably necessary or reasonably incident to obtaining or
12 endeavoring to obtain for the requester any advantage, benefit
13 or emolument accruing or due to such person under any law of
14 the United States, the State of Illinois or any other state or
15 governmental agency by reason of the service of such veteran,
16 and in pursuance thereof shall:
17         1. (1) Contact veterans, their survivors and dependents
18     and advise them of the benefits of state and federal laws
19     and assist them in obtaining such benefits;
20         2. (2) Establish field offices and direct the
21     activities of the personnel assigned to such offices;
22         3. (3) Create a volunteer field force of accredited
23     representatives, representing educational institutions,
24     labor organizations, veterans organizations, employers,
25     churches, and farm organizations;
26         4. (4) Conduct informational and training services;
27         5. (5) Conduct educational programs through newspapers,
28     periodicals and radio for the specific purpose of
29     disseminating information affecting veterans and their
30     dependents;
31         6. (6) Coordinate the services and activities of all
32     state departments having services and resources affecting

 

 

SB0040 - 2 - LRB094 04310 RSP 34337 b

1     veterans and their dependents;
2         7. (7) Encourage and assist in the coordination of
3     agencies within counties giving service to veterans and
4     their dependents;
5         8. (8) Cooperate with veterans organizations and other
6     governmental agencies;
7         9. (9) Make, alter, amend and promulgate reasonable
8     rules and procedures for the administration of this Act;
9         10. (10) Make and publish annual reports to the Governor
10     regarding the administration and general operation of the
11     Department; and
12         11. (11) Encourage the State to implement more programs
13     to address the wide range of issues faced by Persian Gulf
14     War Veterans, especially those who took part in combat, by
15     creating an official commission to further study Persian
16     Gulf War Diseases. The commission shall consist of 9
17     members appointed as follows: the Speaker and Minority
18     Leader of the House of Representatives and the President
19     and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint one
20     member from the General Assembly, the Governor shall
21     appoint 4 members to represent veterans' organizations,
22     and the Department shall appoint one member. The commission
23     members shall serve without compensation; and .
24         (12) Conduct an annual review of the benefits received
25     by Illinois veterans that compares Illinois veterans'
26     benefits with the benefits received by veterans in other
27     states and U.S. territories. The benefits review shall be
28     reported to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the
29     Illinois Congressional delegation upon the completion of
30     the report each year.
31     The Department may accept and hold on behalf of the State,
32 if for the public interest, a grant, gift, devise or bequest of
33 money or property to the Department made for the general
34 benefit of Illinois veterans, including the conduct of
35 informational and training services by the Department and other
36 authorized purposes of the Department. The Department shall

 

 

SB0040 - 3 - LRB094 04310 RSP 34337 b

1 cause each grant, gift, devise or bequest to be kept as a
2 distinct fund and shall invest such funds in the manner
3 provided by the Public Funds Investment Act, as now or
4 hereafter amended, and shall make such reports as may be
5 required by the Comptroller concerning what funds are so held
6 and the manner in which such funds are invested. The Department
7 may make grants from these funds for the general benefit of
8 Illinois veterans. Grants from these funds, except for the
9 funds established under Sections 2.01a and 2.03, shall be
10 subject to appropriation.
11     The Department has the power to make grants, from funds
12 appropriated from the Korean War Veterans National Museum and
13 Library Fund, to private organizations for the benefit of the
14 Korean War Veterans National Museum and Library.
15     The Department has the power to make grants, from funds
16 appropriated from the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, for
17 benefits authorized under the Survivors Compensation Act.
18 (Source: P.A. 92-198, eff. 8-1-01; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02;
19 93-839, eff. 7-30-04.)
 
20     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
21 1, 2006.