HB0120 EngrossedLRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b

1    AN ACT concerning 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 adding Section 38 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 2805/38 new)
7    Sec. 38. Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force.
8    (a) The Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force is
9created. The Task Force shall review and make recommendations
10regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not
11recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
12including exploring why certain service-related ailments are
13not recognized and determining what may be done to have them
14recognized.
15    (b) The Task Force shall have 11 members, comprised as
16follows:
17        (1) The Director of Veterans' Affairs or the Director's
18    designee, who shall serve as chairperson.
19        (2) 2 Members from the House of Representatives,
20    appointed one each by the Speaker of the House and the
21    House Minority Leader.
22        (3) 2 Members of the Senate, appointed one each by the
23    President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader.

 

 

HB0120 Engrossed- 2 -LRB101 02890 RJF 47898 b

1        (4) One veteran, appointed by the Director of Veterans'
2    Affairs.
3        (5) One medical professional with experience working
4    with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, appointed by
5    the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
6        (6) 4 representatives from a variety of veterans
7    organizations representing geographic diversity in the
8    State, appointed by the Director of Veterans' Affairs.
9    Task Force members shall serve without compensation but may
10be reimbursed for their expenses incurred in performing their
11duties.
12    (c) The Task Force shall meet at least once every 2 months
13beginning July 1, 2019, and at other times as determined by the
14Task Force.
15    (d) The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall provide
16administrative and other support to the Task Force.
17    (e) The Task Force shall prepare a report that summarizes
18its work and makes recommendations resulting from its study.
19The Task Force shall submit the report of its findings and
20recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by
21December 31, 2019. The Task Force is dissolved, and this
22Section is repealed, on December 31, 2020.
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24becoming law.