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| Public Act 096-1266 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning veterans.
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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 | ||||
amended by changing Section 15 as follows: | ||||
(20 ILCS 2805/15) | ||||
Sec. 15. Veterans advisory council. | ||||
(a) A veterans advisory council shall be established in the | ||||
State of Illinois. The council shall consist of at least 21 17 | ||||
members as follows: | ||||
(1) Four members of the General Assembly, appointed one | ||||
each by the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of | ||||
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, | ||||
and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, | ||||
preferably from a legislative or representative district | ||||
in which a State-operated veterans home is located. | ||||
(2) Six veterans appointed by the Director of Veterans' | ||||
Affairs. | ||||
(3) One veteran appointed by the commander or president | ||||
of each veterans service organization that is chartered by | ||||
the federal government and by the State of Illinois and | ||||
elects to appoint a member. | ||||
(4) One person appointed by the Adjutant General of the | ||||
Illinois National Guard. | ||
(5) One person appointed by the Illinois Attorney | ||
General. | ||
(6) One person appointed by the Illinois Secretary of | ||
State. | ||
(7) One person appointed by the Director of the | ||
Illinois Department of Employment Security. | ||
(8) One person appointed by each military family | ||
organization that is chartered by the federal government. | ||
No member of the council shall be an employee or | ||
representative of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. | ||
Members of the council shall serve without compensation or | ||
reimbursement. | ||
(b) At the initial meeting of the council, the members | ||
shall elect from among themselves a chairman. The members shall | ||
draw lots to determine the length of their terms so that 9 | ||
members have terms that expire on July 1, 2005 and the | ||
remaining members have terms that expire on July 1, 2006. | ||
Thereafter, all members of the council shall be appointed for | ||
terms of 2 years. | ||
The appointing authority may at any time make an | ||
appointment to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term of a | ||
member. | ||
(c) The council shall meet quarterly or at the call of the | ||
chairman or at the call of the Director of Veterans' Affairs or | ||
the Governor. The Department shall provide meeting space and | ||
clerical and administrative support services for the council. | ||
(d) The council has the power to do the following:
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(1) Advise the Department of Veterans' Affairs with | ||
respect to the fulfillment of its statutory duties. | ||
(2) Review and study the issues and concerns that are | ||
most significant to Illinois veterans and advise the | ||
Department on those issues and concerns. | ||
(3) Receive a report from the Director of Veterans' | ||
Affairs or the Director's designee at each meeting with | ||
respect to the general activities of the Department. | ||
(4) Report to the Governor and the General Assembly | ||
annually describing the issues addressed and the actions | ||
taken by the council during the year as well as any | ||
recommendations for future action. | ||
(e) The council established under this Section replaces any | ||
Illinois Veterans Advisory Council established under Executive | ||
Order No. 3 (1982).
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(Source: P.A. 93-779, eff. 7-21-04.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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