093_HB3918

 
                                     LRB093 13657 DRJ 19519 b

 1        AN ACT in relation to veterans.

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

 4        Section  5.   The  Department  of Veterans Affairs Act is
 5    amended by adding Section 15 as follows:

 6        (20 ILCS 2805/15 new)
 7        Sec.   15.    Reimbursements    to    veterans    service
 8    organizations.
 9        (a)  In this Section:
10        "Veterans  service  officer" means an individual employed
11    by a veterans service  organization  and  accredited  by  the
12    United  States  Department of Veterans Affairs to process and
13    adjudicate claims and other benefits for veterans  and  their
14    spouses and beneficiaries.
15        "Veterans  service  organization"  means  an organization
16    that meets all of the following criteria:
17             (1)  It is formed by and for United States  military
18        veterans.
19             (2)  It  is  chartered by the United States Congress
20        and incorporated in the State of Illinois.
21             (3)  It maintains at least one office in this  State
22        staffed by a veterans service officer.
23        "Veterans services" means the processing and adjudication
24    of  the  following claims and other benefits for veterans and
25    their spouses and beneficiaries:
26             (1)  Disability compensation benefits.
27             (2)  Disability pension benefits.
28             (3)  Dependents' indemnity compensation.
29             (4)  Widow's death pension.
30             (5)  Burial benefits.
31             (6)  Confirmed and continued claims.
 
                            -2-      LRB093 13657 DRJ 19519 b
 1             (7)  Vocational rehabilitation and education.
 2             (8)  Waivers of indebtedness.
 3             (9)  Miscellaneous.
 4        (b)  The Department shall reimburse  a  veterans  service
 5    organization  for  veterans  services  rendered  on behalf of
 6    veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries  by  a  veterans
 7    service   officer   employed   by   the   organization.   The
 8    reimbursement  shall  be  computed  at the rate of $0.005 for
 9    each dollar  of  benefits  obtained  for  veterans  or  their
10    spouses  or beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result of
11    the efforts of the veterans service officer. There  shall  be
12    no  reimbursement  under this Section for the value of health
13    care  received  in  a  health   care   facility   under   the
14    jurisdiction of the United States Veterans Administration.
15        (c)  To be eligible for reimbursement under this Section,
16    a  veterans  service organization must document the amount of
17    moneys  obtained  for  veterans   and   their   spouses   and
18    beneficiaries   in  the  form  and  manner  required  by  the
19    Department. The documentation must include the submission  to
20    the  Department  of  a  copy  of the organization's report or
21    reports to the United States Department of  Veterans  Affairs
22    stating the amount of moneys obtained by the organization for
23    veterans  and  their  spouses  and beneficiaries in the State
24    fiscal year for which reimbursement  under  this  Section  is
25    requested.  The  organization  must  submit  the  copy of the
26    report or reports to the Department no  later  than  July  31
27    following  the  end  of  the  State  fiscal  year  for  which
28    reimbursement is requested.
29        (d)  The  Department  shall  pay  the reimbursement under
30    this Section to a veterans service organization in  a  single
31    annual payment for each State fiscal year, beginning with the
32    State fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2003. The Department
33    must  make  the  payment for a State fiscal year on or before
34    December 31 of the succeeding State fiscal year.
 
                            -3-      LRB093 13657 DRJ 19519 b
 1        (e)  A   veterans   service   organization   shall    use
 2    reimbursement moneys received under this Section only for the
 3    purpose  of  paying  the  salary  and expenses of one or more
 4    veterans service  officers  and  the  organization's  related
 5    expenses  incurred  in  employing the officer or officers for
 6    the processing and adjudication of claims and other  benefits
 7    for veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.

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