Public Act 096-0094
 
HB4213 Enrolled LRB096 08588 DRJ 21432 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 Military Code of Illinois is amended by
changing Section 15 and by adding Section 20.5 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 1805/15)  (from Ch. 129, par. 220.15)
    Sec. 15. Assistant Adjutants General.
    (a) The Commander-in-Chief shall appoint from the active
officers of the Illinois National Guard, an Assistant Adjutant
General for Army and an Assistant Adjutant General for Air each
with a grade not to exceed Major General. Each of the Assistant
Adjutants General shall be appointed for a term coinciding with
the term provided for the Adjutant General in Section 14, and
shall serve with the compensation and responsibilities as
designated in this Act.
    (a-5) The Commander-in-Chief shall appoint from the active
officers of the Illinois National Guard an Assistant Adjutant
General to serve as head of the Division of Family Affairs
within the Department of Military Affairs, with a grade not to
exceed Major General. The Assistant Adjutant General shall be
appointed for a term coinciding with the term provided for the
Adjutant General in Section 14, and shall serve with the
compensation and responsibilities as designated in this Code.
    (b) The Commander-in-Chief may also appoint additional
Assistant Adjutants General for Army and such additional
Assistant Adjutants General for Air with the grades not to
exceed those authorized for the positions in the Joint Force
Headquarters of the Illinois National Guard.
(Source: P.A. 94-842, eff. 1-1-07.)
 
    (20 ILCS 1805/20.5 new)
    Sec. 20.5. Division of Family Affairs. The Division of
Family Affairs is created as a Division within the Department
of Military Affairs. The head of the Division shall serve as an
Assistant Adjutant General. The Division shall assist family
members of military members who are mobilized or in service
abroad. This assistance shall include, but need not be limited
to, advocacy to help such family members access all available
State services that are provided through the Department or any
other State agency.
 
    Section 10. The Department of Veterans Affairs Act is
amended by adding Section 1.2 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2805/1.2 new)
    Sec. 1.2. Division of Women Veterans Affairs. The Division
of Women Veterans Affairs is created as a Division within the
Department. The head of the Division shall serve as an
Assistant Director of Veterans' Affairs. The Division shall
serve as an advocate for women veterans, in recognition of the
unique issues facing women veterans. The Division shall assess
the needs of women veterans with respect to issues including,
but not limited to, compensation, rehabilitation, outreach,
health care, and issues facing women veterans in the community.
The Division shall review the Department's programs,
activities, research projects, and other initiatives designed
to meet the needs of women veterans and shall make
recommendations to the Director of Veterans' Affairs
concerning ways to improve, modify, and effect change in
programs and services for women veterans.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.