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| Public Act 096-0541 |
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AN ACT concerning courts.
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WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is dedicated to the urgent | ||||
task of strengthening and expediting the national defense under | ||||
the emergent conditions which are threatening the peace and | ||||
security of this nation; | ||||
WHEREAS, It is the considered judgment of the General | ||||
Assembly that the citizens of Illinois who respond to their | ||||
country's call to service are deserving of every benefit and | ||||
protection; and | ||||
WHEREAS, It is imperative that State government recognize | ||||
the State's citizens who have made the ultimate sacrifice to | ||||
protect the peace and security of this nation; and | ||||
WHEREAS, The Illinois Court of Claims should be equipped to | ||||
provide for and assist the survivors of fallen service members | ||||
by increasing accessibility to the Court of Claims and | ||||
providing outreach services to the community, which will serve | ||||
to educate survivors as to their benefits and protections under | ||||
State law; and | ||||
WHEREAS, By recognizing these sacrifices, the State of | ||||
Illinois encourages its citizens to participate to the fullest | ||||
extent in the national defense program and thereby heightens | ||||
the contribution of our State to the protection of our heritage | ||||
of liberty and democracy; therefore | ||
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 Court of Claims Act is amended by adding | ||
Section 9.5 as follows: | ||
(705 ILCS 505/9.5 new) | ||
Sec. 9.5. Gold Star and Fallen Heroes Families Assistance | ||
Program. | ||
(a) Within the Court of Claims, there is established a Gold | ||
Star and Fallen Heroes Families Assistance Program, which is | ||
charged with the responsibility of assessing the needs of and | ||
providing information to Illinois Gold Star Families with | ||
regard to claims filed pursuant to the Line of Duty | ||
Compensation Act. | ||
(b) As used in this Section, "Gold Star Family" means the | ||
family members of an
individual who was killed in the line of | ||
duty and who was employed or serving in a capacity defined in | ||
Section 2 of the Illinois Line of Duty Compensation Act. | ||
(c) Toll-free helpline. The Gold Star and Fallen Heroes | ||
Families Assistance Program shall include a toll-free helpline | ||
dedicated to families seeking information about the Line of | ||
Duty Compensation Act, including, but not limited to, the | ||
status of claims filed pursuant to that Act. The helpline phone | ||
number and information about the Gold Star and Fallen Heroes | ||
Families Assistance Program shall be provided to each person | ||
filing a claim under the Line of Duty Compensation Act. | ||
(d) On or before January 1 of each year, the Court of | ||
Claims shall report to the Governor, both houses of the General | ||
Assembly, and the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs the | ||
following information: | ||
(1) the number of claims filed with the Court of Claims | ||
pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation Act ("LODCA"); | ||
(2) the number of LODCA claims approved for payment by | ||
the Court of Claims during the preceding calendar year; | ||
(3) the number and status of LODCA claims pending in | ||
the Court of Claims; and | ||
(4) other information as may be requested by the | ||
Governor.
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