SB0266eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0266 Engrossed LRB100 05187 MJP 15197 b

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is amended by changing Sections 2.01 and 2.04 and by adding Section 2.01b as follows:

(20 ILCS 2805/2.01) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.01)

Sec. 2.01. Veterans Home admissions.

(a) Any honorably discharged veteran is entitled to admission to an Illinois Veterans Home if the applicant meets the requirements of this Section.

(b) The veteran must:

(1) have served in the armed forces of the United States at least 1 day in World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Viet Nam Campaign, or the Persian Gulf Conflict between the dates recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or between any other present or future dates recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a war period, or have served in a hostile fire environment and has been awarded a campaign or expeditionary medal signifying his or her service, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;

(2) have served and been honorably discharged or retired from the armed forces of the United States for a service connected disability or injury, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;

(3) have served as an enlisted person at least 90 days on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and entered active duty before September 8, 1980, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;

(4) have served as an officer at least 90 days on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and entered active duty before October 17, 1981, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;

(5) have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States for 24 months of continuous service or more, excluding active duty for training purposes only, and enlisted after September 7, 1980, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;

(6) have served as a reservist in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard and the service included being called to federal active duty, excluding service on active duty for training purposes only, and who completed the term, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care;

(7) have been discharged for reasons of hardship or released from active duty due to a reduction in the United States armed forces prior to the completion of the required period of service, regardless of the actual time served, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care; or

(8) have served in the National Guard or Reserve Forces of the United States and completed 20 years of satisfactory service, be otherwise eligible to receive reserve or active duty retirement benefits, and have been an Illinois resident for at least one year before applying for admission for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary care only.

(c) The veteran must have service accredited to the State of Illinois or have been a resident of this State for one year immediately preceding the date of application.

(d) For admission to the Illinois Veterans Homes at Anna and Quincy, the veteran must have developed a disability by disease, wounds, or otherwise and because of the disability be incapable of earning a living.

(e) For admission to the Illinois Veterans Homes at Chicago, LaSalle, and Manteno, the veteran must have developed a disability by disease, wounds, or otherwise and, for purposes of eligibility for nursing home care, require nursing care because of the disability.

(f) An individual who served during a time of conflict as set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Section has preference over all other qualifying candidates, for purposes of eligibility for domiciliary or nursing home care at any Illinois Veterans Home.

(g) A veteran or spouse, once admitted to an Illinois Veterans Home facility, is considered a resident for interfacility purposes.

(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15; 99-314, eff. 8-7-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(20 ILCS 2805/2.01b new)

Sec. 2.01b. Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago. The Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago is established. The Department shall operate and maintain the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago.

(20 ILCS 2805/2.04) (from Ch. 126 1/2, par. 67.04)

Sec. 2.04. There shall be established in the State Treasury special funds known as (i) the LaSalle Veterans Home Fund, (ii) the Anna Veterans Home Fund, (iii) the Manteno Veterans Home Fund, and (iv) the Quincy Veterans Home Fund, and (v) the Chicago Veterans Home Fund. All moneys received by an Illinois Veterans Home from Medicare and from maintenance charges to veterans, spouses, and surviving spouses residing at that Home shall be paid into that Home's Fund. All moneys received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for patient care shall be transmitted to the Treasurer of the State for deposit in the Veterans Home Fund for the Home in which the veteran resides. Appropriations shall be made from a Fund only for the needs of the Home, including capital improvements, building rehabilitation, and repairs. The Chicago Veterans Home Fund shall be the Veterans Home Fund for the Illinois Veterans Home at Chicago.

The administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a locally-held member's benefits fund. The Director may authorize the Veterans Home to conduct limited fundraising in accordance with applicable laws and regulations for which the sole purpose is to benefit the Veterans Home's member's benefits fund. Revenues accruing to an Illinois Veterans Home, including any donations, grants for the operation of the Home, profits from commissary stores, and funds received from any individual or other source, including limited fundraising, shall be deposited into that Home's benefits fund. Expenditures from the benefits funds shall be solely for the special comfort, pleasure, and amusement of residents. Contributors of unsolicited private donations may specify the purpose for which the private donations are to be used.

Upon request of the Department, the State's Attorney of the county in which a resident or living former resident of an Illinois Veterans Home who is liable under this Act for payment of sums representing maintenance charges resides shall file an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any such person who fails or refuses to pay such sums. The court may order the payment of sums due to maintenance charges for such period or periods of time as the circumstances require.

Upon the death of a person who is or has been a resident of an Illinois Veterans Home who is liable for maintenance charges and who is possessed of property, the Department may present a claim for such sum or for the balance due in case less than the rate prescribed under this Act has been paid. The claim shall be allowed and paid as other lawful claims against the estate.

The administrator of each Veterans Home shall establish a locally-held trust fund to maintain moneys held for residents. Whenever the Department finds it necessary to preserve order, preserve health, or enforce discipline, the resident shall deposit in a trust account at the Home such monies from any source of income as may be determined necessary, and disbursement of these funds to the resident shall be made only by direction of the administrator.

If a resident of an Illinois Veterans Home has a dependent child, spouse, or parent the administrator may require that all monies received be deposited in a trust account with dependency contributions being made at the direction of the administrator. The balance retained in the trust account shall be disbursed to the resident at the time of discharge from the Home or to his or her heirs or legal representative at the time of the resident's death, subject to Department regulations or order of the court.

The Director of Central Management Services, with the consent of the Director of Veterans' Affairs, is authorized and empowered to lease or let any real property held by the Department of Veterans' Affairs for an Illinois Veterans Home to entities or persons upon terms and conditions which are considered to be in the best interest of that Home. The real property must not be needed for any direct or immediate purpose of the Home. In any leasing or letting, primary consideration shall be given to the use of real property for agricultural purposes, and all moneys received shall be transmitted to the Treasurer of the State for deposit in the appropriate Veterans Home Fund.

(Source: P.A. 99-314, eff. 8-7-15.)

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 5.878 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/5.878 new)

Sec. 5.878. The Chicago Veterans Home Fund.

Section 15. The Illinois Library System Act is amended by changing Section 8.6 as follows:

(75 ILCS 10/8.6)

Sec. 8.6. Illinois Veteran's Home Libraries. The State Librarian shall distribute annual grants for initiatives of library development and services within Illinois Veteran's Home libraries located in Quincy, Manteno, LaSalle, Chicago, and Anna upon the approval by the State Librarian of application from libraries. Grants made under this Section shall be made only from the Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. The State Librarian shall establish the criteria for awarding the grants by rule.

(Source: P.A. 89-697, eff. 1-6-97.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.