94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB3201


 
Introduced 11/16/2006, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval - Larry K. Bomke - Kimberly A. Lightford
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













20 ILCS 2805/20 new










    Amends the Department of Veterans Affairs Act.  Subject to appropriations, requires the Department to
pay veterans service organizations for services provided by veterans
service
officers in processing claims and other benefits for veterans
and their
spouses or other beneficiaries residing in Illinois. Requires payment at
the rate of
$0.010 for each dollar of benefits obtained for veterans or their spouses or
other
beneficiaries. Sets forth criteria that a veterans service organization must meet.
















LRB094 21967 HLH 60463 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











SB3201

LRB094 21967 HLH 60463 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
20 as follows:


 
6
    (20 ILCS 2805/20 new)

7
    Sec. 20. Payments to veterans service organizations.

8
    (a)  In this Section:

9
    "Veterans service officer" means an individual employed by 
10
a veterans service
organization and accredited by the United 
11
States Department of Veterans Affairs
to
process claims and 
12
other benefits for veterans and their spouses
and

13
beneficiaries.

14
    "Veterans service organization" means an organization that 
15
meets all of the
following criteria:

16
        (1) It is formed by and for United States military 
17
    veterans.

18
        (2) It is chartered by the United States Congress and 
19
    incorporated in the
State of Illinois.

20
        (3) It maintained a state headquarters office in 
21
    Illinois for the 10-year period immediately preceding July 
22
    1, 2006.

23
        (4) It maintains at least one office in this State 
24
    staffed by a veterans
service officer.

25
        (5) It is capable of preparing a power of attorney for 
26
    a veteran and processing claims for veterans services.

27
        (6) It is not funded by the State of Illinois or by any 
28
    county in this State.

29
    "Veterans services" means the processing of the following

30
claims and other benefits for veterans and their spouses and 
31
beneficiaries:

32
        (1) Disability compensation benefits.

 


 






SB3201
- 2 -
LRB094 21967 HLH 60463 b




1
        (2) Disability pension benefits.

2
        (3) Dependents' indemnity compensation.

3
        (4) Widow's death pension.

4
        (5) Burial benefits.

5
        (6) Confirmed and continued claims.

6
        (7) Vocational rehabilitation and education.

7
        (8) Waivers of indebtedness.

8
        (9) Miscellaneous.

9
    (b) Subject to appropriations, the Department shall pay a 
10
veterans service organization for
veterans
services rendered 
11
on behalf of veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries by
a 
12
veterans
service officer employed by the organization. The 
13
payment shall be
computed at
the rate of $0.010 for each dollar 
14
of benefits obtained for veterans or their
spouses or

15
beneficiaries residing in Illinois as a result of the efforts 
16
of the veterans
service officer.
There shall be no payment 
17
under this Section for the value of health care
received
in a 
18
health care facility under the jurisdiction of the United 
19
States Veterans
Administration.

20
    (c) To be eligible for a payment under this Section, a 
21
veterans service
organization must document the amount of 
22
moneys obtained for veterans and their
spouses and 
23
beneficiaries in the form and manner required by the 
24
Department.
The
documentation must include the submission to 
25
the Department of a copy of the
organization's report or 
26
reports to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs

27
stating the amount of moneys obtained by the organization for 
28
veterans and
their spouses
and beneficiaries in the State 
29
fiscal year for which payment under this
Section is
requested. 
30
The organization must submit the copy of the report or reports 
31
to
the
Department no later than July 31 following the end of 
32
the State fiscal year for
which
payment is requested.

33
    (d) The Department shall make the payment under this 
34
Section to a
veterans
service organization in a single annual 
35
payment for each State fiscal year,
beginning with
the State 
36
fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2007. The Department must 
 


 






SB3201
- 3 -
LRB094 21967 HLH 60463 b




1
make the
payment
for a State fiscal year on or before December 
2
31 of the succeeding State fiscal
year.

3
    (e) A veterans service organization shall use moneys 
4
received
under this Section only for the purpose of paying the 
5
salary and expenses of
one or more
veterans service officers 
6
and the organization's related expenses incurred in
employing

7
the officer or officers for the processing of claims and other

8
benefits for
veterans and their spouses and beneficiaries.