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95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008 HB5647
Introduced , by Rep. Frank J. Mautino SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
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Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act. Authorizes the Department to make monthly (now, annual) payments to veterans service organizations from the Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund. Requires the organizations to submit documentation to the Department monthly (now, annually) for the payments. Authorizes the Department to transfer up to $1,000,000 appropriated from the Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund to the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund for grants to veterans service organizations.
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A BILL FOR
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HB5647 |
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LRB095 16741 JAM 42775 b |
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| AN ACT concerning State government.
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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 Department of Veterans Affairs Act is |
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| amended by changing and renumbering Section 20 as follows: |
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| (20 ILCS 2805/25)
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| Sec. 25
20 . Payments to veterans service organizations. |
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| (a) In this Section:
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| "Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by |
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| a veterans service
organization and accredited by the United |
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| States Department of Veterans Affairs
to
process claims and |
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| other benefits for veterans and their spouses
and
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| beneficiaries.
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| "Veterans service organization" means an organization that |
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| meets all of the
following criteria:
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| (1) It is formed by and for United States military |
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| veterans.
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| (2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and |
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| incorporated in the
State of Illinois.
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| (3) It maintained a state headquarters office in |
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| Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July |
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| 1, 2006.
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| (4) It maintains at least one office in this State |
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LRB095 16741 JAM 42775 b |
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| staffed by a veterans
service officer.
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| (5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for |
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| a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.
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| (6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any |
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| county in this State.
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| "Veterans services" means the representation of veterans |
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| in federal hearings to secure benefits for veterans and their |
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| spouses and beneficiaries:
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| (1) Disability compensation benefits.
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| (2) Disability pension benefits.
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| (3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.
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| (4) Widow's death pension.
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| (5) Burial benefits.
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| (6) Confirmed and continued claims.
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| (7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.
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| (8) Waivers of indebtedness.
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| (9) Miscellaneous.
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| (b) The Veterans Service Organization Reimbursement Fund |
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| is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to |
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| appropriation, the Department shall use moneys appropriated |
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| from the Fund to make payments to a veterans service |
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| organization for
veterans
services rendered on behalf of |
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| veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by
a veterans
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| service officer employed by the organization. The payment shall |
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| be
computed at
the rate of $0.010 for each dollar of benefits |
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| obtained for veterans or their
spouses or
beneficiaries |
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| residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts of the veterans
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| service officer.
There shall be no payment under this Section |
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| for the value of health care
received
in a health care facility |
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| under the jurisdiction of the United States Veterans
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| Administration. A veterans service organization may receive |
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| compensation under this Fund or it may apply for grants from |
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| the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, but in no event may a |
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| veterans service organization receive moneys from both funds |
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| during the same fiscal year. Funding for each applicant is |
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| subject to renewal by the Department on an annual basis.
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| (c) To be eligible for a payment under this Section, a |
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| veterans service
organization must document the amount of |
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| moneys obtained for veterans and their
spouses and |
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| beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the |
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| Department.
The
documentation must include the submission to |
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| the Department of a copy of the
organization's report or |
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| reports to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs
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| stating the amount of moneys obtained by the organization for |
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| veterans and
their spouses
and beneficiaries in the month State |
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| fiscal year for which payment under this
Section is
requested. |
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| The organization must submit the copy of the report or reports , |
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| and any other documentation required by the Department, to
the
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| Department no later than 15 days July 31 following the end of |
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| the month State fiscal year for
which
payment is requested.
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| (d) In addition to the requirement of subsection (b) that |
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| the Department use moneys appropriated from the Veterans |
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LRB095 16741 JAM 42775 b |
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| Service Organization Reimbursement Fund for payments, the |
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| Department may transfer up to $1,000,000 of those appropriated |
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| moneys into the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund for the |
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| making of grants to veterans service organizations as described |
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| in subsection (b). The Department shall make the payment under |
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| this Section to a
veterans
service organization in a single |
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| annual payment for each State fiscal year,
beginning with
the |
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| State fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department |
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| must make the
payment
for a State fiscal year on or before |
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| December 31 of the succeeding State fiscal
year.
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| (e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys |
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| received
under this Section only for the purpose of paying the |
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| salary and expenses of
one or more
veterans service officers |
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| and the organization's related expenses incurred in
employing
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| the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other
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| benefits for
veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.
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| (Source: P.A. 95-629, eff. 9-25-07; revised 12-6-07.)
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