101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3216

 

Introduced 2/11/2020, by Sen. Cristina Castro

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/38

    Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Provides that the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months beginning January 1, 2021 (rather than beginning July 1, 2019). Requires the Task Force to submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2022 (rather than December 31, 2020). Dissolves the Task Force and repeals provisions on December 31, 2023 (rather than December 31, 2021). Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3216LRB101 20402 CPF 69951 b

1    AN ACT concerning veterans' affairs.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Act is
5amended by changing Section 38 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2021)
8    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
9    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is
10created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations
11regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not
12recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
13including exploring why certain service-related ailments are
14not recognized and determining what may be done to have them
15recognized.
16    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State of
17Illinois can improve the rate at which disability compensation
18claims are approved by the federal government and correct the
19disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs'
20approval of disability compensation for Illinois veterans and
21that which is approved for veterans in other states.
22    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as
23follows:

 

 

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1        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's
2    designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
3        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives,
4    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the
5    House Minority Leader.
6        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the
7    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
8        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of Veterans'
9    Affairs.
10        (5) One medical professional with experience working
11    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by
12    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
13        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans
14    organizations representing geographic diversity in the
15    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
16        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the
17    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of
18    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the
19    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee
20    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be
21    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee of
22    the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the
23    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of
24    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this
25    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties'
26    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers,

 

 

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1    and VITAS officials.
2    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but may
3be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their
4duties.
5    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months
6beginning January 1, 2021 July 1, 2019, and at other times as
7determined by the Task Force.
8    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide
9administrative and other support to the Task Force.
10    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes
11its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study.
12The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and
13recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by
14December 31, 2022 2020. The Task Force is dissolved, and this
15Section is repealed, on December 31, 2023 2021.
16(Source: P.A. 101-225, eff. 8-9-19.)
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18becoming law.