SJ0035 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0035 LRB098 11829 GRL 44984 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Veterans of the United States Armed Forces served their country selflessly and honorably; and

WHEREAS, Veterans face numerous barriers to stable employment and stable environments; and

WHEREAS, Returning veterans who have served since 2001 have an unemployment rate 3.2% higher than the general population, which is just one contributing factor to many economic hardships they may face; and

WHEREAS, All veterans have a higher risk of mental health issues, which may include, but is not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse; and

WHEREAS, Many contributing factors lead to veterans, who comprise 7% of the total population, being 13% of the homeless population; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois State Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives recognize the need to ensure for the well-being of all veterans, to better protect homeless veterans, and to help homeless veterans reenter society as productive citizens; and

WHEREAS, The licensing of halfway houses, shelters, and transitional housing programs that service homeless veterans, and oversight of such facilities and programs by local housing and community mental health boards, should be provided to protect the rights of homeless veterans; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Homeless Veteran Protection Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of one representative from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, chosen by the Director of Veterans' Affairs; one representative from homeless shelters, chosen by the Governor; one representative from the Department of Human Services, chosen by the Secretary of Human Services; one representative from the Department of Public Health, chosen by the Director of Public Health; and one representative from local governments, chosen by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall conduct a comprehensive study with the goal of determining necessary protections and oversights of homeless shelters to better protect the rights of homeless veterans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide staffing and administrative services to the Task Force upon request; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit a report of its findings to the Governor and the four legislative leaders no later than January 15, 2014.