103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5653
 
Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Stephanie A. Kifowit
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2805/38
    Amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act. Reenacts a provision concerning the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force repealed by Public Act 102-417. Changes the name of the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force to the Veterans' Services Task Force. Changes the frequency of Task Force meetings to at least twice a year and at any other times the Task Force deems necessary. Requires the Task Force to submit its report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2025. Repeals the provisions creating the Task Force on December 31, 2026. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR
 
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1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
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 reenacting and changing Section 38 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38)
7    (Section scheduled to be repealed on December 31, 2023)
8    Sec. 38. Veterans' Services Service-Related Ailments Task 
9Force.
10    (a) The Veterans' Services Service-Related Ailments Task 
11Force is created. The Task Force shall review and make 
12recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments 
13that are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans 
14Affairs, including exploring why certain service-related 
15ailments are not recognized and determining what may be done 
16to have them recognized.
17    Additionally, the Task Force shall assess ways the State 
18of Illinois can improve the rate at which disability 
19compensation claims are approved by the federal government and 
20correct the disparity between the U.S. Department of Veterans 
21Affairs' approval of disability compensation for Illinois 
22veterans and that which is approved for veterans in other 
23states.
 
 
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1    (b) The Task Force shall have 15 members, comprised as 
2follows:
3        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the 
4    Director's designee.
5        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives, 
6    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the 
7    House Minority Leader.
8        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the 
9    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.
10        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of 
11    Veterans' Affairs.
12        (5) One medical professional with experience working 
13    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by 
14    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
15        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans 
16    organizations representing geographic diversity in the 
17    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
18        (7) 4 members, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
19    chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the House of 
20    Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed by the 
21    minority spokesperson of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
22    of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be 
23    appointed by the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee 
24    of the Senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by the 
25    minority spokesperson of the Veterans Affairs Committee of 
26    the Senate. Those appointed to the Task Force under this 
 
 
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1    paragraph shall be members of different Illinois counties' 
2    Veterans Assistance Commissions, Veteran Service Officers, 
3    and VITAS officials.
4    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but 
5may be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing 
6their duties.
7    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and at 
8any other times it deems necessary once every 2 months 
9beginning on or before July 1, 2021, and at other times as 
10determined by the Task Force. Task Force members shall select 
11from amongst themselves a chairperson or co-chairpersons at 
12the initial Task Force meeting. 
13    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide 
14administrative and other support to the Task Force.
15    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes 
16its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study. 
17The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and 
18recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by 
19December 31, 2025 2022. The Task Force is dissolved, and this 
20Section is repealed, on December 31, 2026 2023. 
21(Source: P.A. 101-225, eff. 8-9-19; 102-417, eff. 8-20-21.)
 
22    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
23becoming law.